The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1863-04-01
For the South w estern.


MEssRs. EDIToRs:-I ask the liberty OF offer
ing few remarks to the public through the col
umns of the South Western, in regard TO tht
proceedings of the last legislature and more es
pecally the militia law, would not presume tc
do so had not heard and read much against the
militia law, | for one well know that the members
which composed our legislature are patriotic ahO
not doubt but what they did as they honestly
thought the very best they could for the State ano
country, but | must be permitted to say that
regard some Of their official acts exceedingly I'M
! fortunate to the State as we'll as to themselves
They as educated and intelligent men ought not
to have struck a blow tending to stop the editing
and publication of newspapers, such thing could
only be despotic in character and entirely I'M
satisfactory to the constituency which they are
/ in duty bound to represent according TO primer
! pies Of liberty in the highest degree. L also
! think that ministers of the gospel. and doctors
who were engaged in the professional discharge
| of their duties at the commencement OF the war
are as much entitled to exemption those who
have been so engaged fora longer term of years
| have heard the militia law denounced as being
partial unconstitutional despotic and ought not
to be complied with would ask the members
of the legislature if they think that those who
are forced into the service by law as they think
partial, unjust, and despoic will be OF any real
service towards defending the State, think that
soldiers entertaining the feelings which they do
could not and would not do any good, and, unless
the law is revised and modified, | cannot hope to
see good results from its operations, have heard
it asserted by good citizens that majority OF the
legislators are slave owners, and that II they want
their property, houses and hreSldes protected ana
defended they ought to go along and help to DO
the fighting. ! think myself that it v as in very
/ ~, Lee, Mt
presive military law and exempt themselves, these
are not proper times for them TO be discussing
nice constitutional questions as to whether they
have or have not the right to go forth and do
battle for their rights liberties and all else that
is dear to them, and | hope that they will not
think ii hard task to shoulder their guns and
90 with those whom they force to 60, am very
much afraid that if this was to be the programme
that we would soon have very mild and KIND
militia law, ! can see no good cause why our
LEGISLATORS should not face the music, indeed they
must do it, or take back seat for all future time
to come | also hope that our Legislature will
look well to the cultivation OF the land hen all
those who inject to the late militia act are
taken away from their homes, there Will not IN
my opinion be a white male person OF Bny age
left or more than onetourth OF the farms and
plantations on which slave labor is employed in
the case how much surplus Of bread and meat I
will Caddo parish make for the year 1863. viii
venture the prediction that not enough of bread |
and meat can be produced that we have reason /
able seasons because there is not a man who I
ever managed and Oyerseed slaves but what will
really say that they would not left to themselves |
and their own management make enough to Ike p /
them from starving there are many members OF +
the legislature who are planters and know the
truth of what | say, and ! would ask oar legis I
Iators to think well before they act, but few men
are left in spanish and no doubt but what may
other parishes are in like condition, we have
large number Of soldiers families 10 provide for, /
meat and bread must be raised for the armies OF
the State ana Confederate States, taxes to be paid |
these things must be done, or we will find our
country in worse situation than she would /
otherwise be if we had no militia Law, now the
question is if two-fourths Of all the white male
population Of this parish 70 Ced unay from
their homes may we expect tn Slaves Of their |
own accord to make a supply OF provisions sutf I
cent to feed and clothe themselves and then have /
large surplus to send our armies, soldiers, tami |
lies, &c | answer no, and he who would place /
any reliance in such resources would only see /
tue folly Of his Judgment, / would have our leg /
stature not to forget that our armies have 10 rely
and look to the cotton States to feed and clothe /
Of the most productive lands in the cotton States
and | consider it a matter Of the very greatest
importance to see that every foot Of land in our
possession in these cotton States be made to WELD
the very utmost. What is the condition of our
army at Vicksburg, have they enough to eat, /
am afraid not-Dr. Lacey suggests that the men /
90 to the war and the ladies attend to the out
door duties Of an oversecr, I will only say that .
he knows much more about most anything which /
he could imagine than lie does about the manag-
ing and cultivating crop with slaves. lam not
liable to militia duty, have been prompted to
speak and say what have said from motives Of |
5 tfcty and protection to cur cause and armies
Respectfully,
y CITIZEN OF WARD No. 5.
Spring Ridge, La, March 20, 1868.
The FooD QrEsTIoS.-We took new fit of the
blues yesterday conyersing with an intelligent