The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-28
Thou Shalt Not XIII

i u0CS HOt OlIu5 US some IfeSn Tale OF violence
There is scarcely county, town or village il
the country that has not its chronicle Of blood
Every day the cry of murder arises in tht
4 land every day the blood of some victim 0
savage passion or cold -blooded revenge as
cends to heaven. There is scarcely a country
even among the mi-barbarous nations, where
\ there is less regard for human life. or less re-
spect for law, human or divine. There is no
a country in the world where more wives arc
made widows, and more children orphans
than in ours. Our laws for the protection Of
human life are all sufficient, but SO loosely
enforced are they, that a man may take hu.
man life on the open street, in broad daylight
with more impunity than he can steal five dol
lars from bis neighbours pocket
And, yet, we claim to be civilized people,
and profess to be christians. But we should
remember that our character as a people, in
the history Of the times, viii depend not on
what we may say Of ourselves, but what other
people may think Of US, and their opinions
will be formed by our actions, and not by our
claims or professions. The protection Of hui
man life is the very foundation stone of civil
sation if we permit the laws on our statute
books, made to secure that, 10 become a dead
letter, and their violation to become a daily
occurrence among us, what is the value of our
ciyisation ? Christianity says Blessed
are the meek, for they shall inherit the land -
F" Blessed are the merciful, for they shall OBJ
tain mercy" BLESSED are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called the children Of God .
But when we have cultivated the very oppo-
site to all this, until we have become 50 ia
miiar with The shedding Of blood, that we can
look upon that human beast of prey, the muir
derer, without shuddering, and when we show
to the world that we set a higher value upon
money than we do upon human life, how can
we call ourselves christians ?
Whskey. no doubt, has something to do
with the majority of the homicdes committed
in the country for intoxication is a species of
frenzy with some men, and in that state thev
are prompt to do what, in their sober moments,
they would never think Of doing while there
are others who, whatever their malice, always
require liquor to screw them up to the killing
point. Many Of those deeds of violence are
due 10 the impression entertained by too many
Of our people, that the prompt use Of weapons
is an evidence of bravery. There never was
greater mistake. A readiness to meet an
J
armed, may in most cases, though not in all,
be considered an evidence Of bravery, but to
draw pistol or knife upon an unarmed man,
or to attempt to use either before an adyersa-
ry is equally prepared, is the clearest proof of
cowardice lis true, the prcvocation in some
cases may be of so aggrayating a nature, such
as the violation of domestic right and the de-
struclioE Of domestic peace, that a man may
be exasperated to such degree as to lead him
to believe that he was warranted in taking a
life which he considered forfeited BY the Gus
toms Of society in all ages, and that, without
giving his adversary an equal chance. But
when a man makes himself Judge, jury and
eZecuuoner in case like this, he is not acting
in accordance with civilization, for that does
not admit the right of individual vengeance,
nor with christianity, for that teaches US to
forgive our enemies he is simply carrying
ont the law of savage life, and though human
sympathy, making allowances for the in6rm-
must abide tie law OF God which no human
act can escape.
For a large proportion Of those homicides
there is no sufficient cause, and no iuStfca-
ton whatever. A difference of opinion upon
some trivial matter gives Use to an alterca-
ton aggravated by the rude and discourte-
GUS manners Of our people, an insulting ep-
tibet follows, then blow, lastly the weapon,
and perhaps one of the parties, without d mo-
ment's preparation, is sent into the presence
of his God, while the other when he recov-
ers from his excitement, finds, If he is man
of any feeling, that has planted in his heart
the seeds of remorse that will permit him to
know no peace while he lives.
When David had overcome his enemies, and
extended his power from the borders Of Egypt
to the Euphrates, in the pride and vanity Of
his heart, he gave orders that census should
be taken Of the people Of Israel in order that
lie might glorify himself in their strength.
Now David, knowing as he did that the
strength of the Jews lay not in their numbers
but in the favor Of God, was guilty in adopt
ing a policy which was calculated to lead the
Jews to forget God and rely upon their own
strength. So God sent him word by the
prophet Cad that, for his punishment, he must
choose one of three evils: a seven years fam
inc, three days pestilence, or an unsuccess-
full war Of three months. OF these, David
chose the pestilence, for he said, 4" it is better
that l should fall into the hands of the Lord
(for his mercies are many thaninto the hands
of men" In three days seventy thousand
men persisted from Dan to Bersabee. If from
this pride and vanity Of David and the tendon
cy to which they led God thoughtit right to
infict SO terrible punishment, what ought to
be expected by country where Gods law is
so constantly violated, wEere human life is SO
little regarded, and whence the smoke of blood
shed by violence is ever ascending day and
night. Could we complain, if that God who
said d" another commandment give l unto you,
that you love one another" in punishment of
our wickedness, our forgetfulness Of Him, and
our hatred of each other, instead Of one, should
lffiTct the country with all three-war, pesti-
ence and famine. MI
WEDDISG OF THE FUTURE EMPRESS of Rus
5rA.-A lively correspondent Of the London
Telegraph thus describes the glories of the
Wedding garments of the princess Dagmar. as
,een by him at " the top Of high place, in
Paris:
The first glory deyeloped-the presentation