The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-15
Every Man must Do his Dutv.

THE CossTIrUT1oN.-The time has been, when that
very word appealed to the hearts and consciences OF
men, with a magic power. But that time is past. A
new era has opened upon us-a new law has been i'm
posed upon US, the rule of the majority first, followed
in due time and as a necessary consequence, by the
depotism Of q faction. While expressly legislating
" outside the Constitution, to deprive sovereign States
and sovereign citizens of their inalienabIe and con-
stitutional rights, this u~surping faction Uses the vocab-
ulary of liberty, to conceal their nelarious designs.
4 constitution is submitted for ratification, not sug-
gested by the country or in accordance with the wishes
Of our people, but manufactured by the tools and
agents Of our enemies, in order to insult and degrade
as. Imperial Rome required its subjugated enemies to
pass under the yoke, but the Vindlctive animosity of a
Radical and usurping Congress, not content with for
bidding our return to the Union, even as eTring and
repentant States, as ~cogquals in that Union, have so
ordered our return, so planned " reconstruction" that
we, the white men of Louisiana, must not only pass
under the yoke Of Radical triumph, but must rsenter
the Union Of our fathers, marching in the rear Of our
own slaves. ITO your tents, 0 Israel y 1t ha. not
yet come to this; and by the sacred memories of our
ancient liberties! let it not come to this-the bitter-st
trial ever imposed upon a free and a brave people
Every man must do his duty
WAKE Up, Business Men OF New ORLEANs.-It is
time the business men Of New Orleans were opening
their eyes and looking after their future welfare. AL
ready they have lost nearly, if not quite, two-thirds OF
their best customers in this section for Western pro.
duce. 1t has been demonstrated beyond cavil, that
our merchants can lay down here Western produce,
ahipnai 1iract from Ct TOui1 of loss priroS th.n II
can be bought in New Orleans by the cargo, under
their present system Of business. We noticed last
week a large consignment of bacon and lard on the
levee, direct from St. Louis, which cost, laid down
here, seventeen cents per pound. The New Orleans
press dispatches Of the same date quoted the same ar
ticles at nineteen cents per pound. There is a large
commission house in this city which has for some time
past been filling bills for Western produce at New
Orleans quotations as furnished by the press dis
patches, which as a general thing are lower than their
Jobbing rates. Is it any wonder then that two thirds
Of the Western produce and tobacco received here
comes direct from St. Louis? The merchants of JEFF
ferson, too. are waking up to the importance of this
new avenue of trade, and large quantities of hides
which formerly went to New Orleans now 90 direct to
St. Louis. The saving of freight, insurance., and above
all the perquisites of the New Orleans merchants are
not to be thought lightly of, and if the latter do not
bestir themselves they will wake up some fine morning
with the fact staring them in the face that they have
run off some of their best customers. They wellknow
the nature of the unnatural disease which is eating
into their vitas, as we'll as the proper remedies neces-
sary to effect a radical cure. Delays are always dan
gerous, but in this case they are doubly so. Already
active steps have been taken by our merchants, as,
sisted by their enterprising friends in St. Louis, look
ing to a much larger traffic between the two places,
which, when contaminated, will tend to the mutual
benefit of both parties, but to the detriment of the
New Orleans produce dealers, aud her business men
generally. "Shoot, Luke, OR give up the gum"