The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-03-31
An Interesting Subject.
Communicated

We find no fault with him for any honest endeavol
to make his journal OF estabiishlngth the snpTem
acy of law and Order but we Go Object TO efforts OF
The part of himself or any else which tend to the
suspension Of all law and the substitution of system
of violence more terrible and destructive to public
peace than what is commonly termed outlawry itself
as demonstrated by recent atrocities OF the militia Ill
Arkansas and Tennessee.
The editors statements are incorrect, and his com
ments are tmed and mischevoGs, while his threats
beray not only undue intimacy with the powers oil
Radcasm but even (if we did not know him too well
participation in Radical hatred and malice toward US
He sets out by saying " In our last issue congrat
ulated our readers on the profound quiet which OBJ
tanned throughout this section" and then proceeds to
alarm and startle Us by by stating-what did not
know" that our community is right now suffering
torments from the outrageous conduct Of jay hawkers
who hover about Greenwood, and make raids negro
quarters On both sides of the line that is tie line OF
/ Louisiana aud Teas About two months since the
moral sense of our community was outraged, upon
hearing that en- certain night, a number Of outlaws
from distance had visited the Page place." in the
vicinity Of Greenwood, with a view TO robbng and
| pIfering and had murdered resro man. We have
never known general indignation at the murder
of an innocent white man, than manifested by our
people on hearing of this outrage. In the meantime
murders of white men by negroes have been noticed
| in the public prints, and usually cicting from tie
PEOPLE generally about the expression Of feeling
and tie comment as to the necessity OF bringing Il e
Offenders 10 Justice. Inc eulOF VI TIE now
| ever writes for 70 other purpose than to make the
false impression that all crimes committed against
negroes only, and that WITH at least the negative ap
progal Of our people.
| Upon inquiry learn that band Of desperadoes
from Texas, province under military rule, have
been committing depredatiGns in Harrison county,
near the line. Their robberies are committed wher
ever they can get most plumber. One robbery within
this State and the line, has been committed by
them, but white man, citizen of prominence, is the
sole sufferer. There is some alarm and much just in
dgnation existing among all classes in the vicinity of
these depredations, but there is feeling action
indicating a INITIATED sentiment" resulting, the ed-
tor says from prejulces of race" we feel assured
that every effort will be made to bring the offenders
to justice, and hope that the military, who have
full sway in Texas will do their duty. We declare it
without hesitation that pitiaed sentiment will o.
struct their efforts.
The editor further says civil law has thus far been
Intellectual i'll bringing them hat is, offenders against
negroes justice for these reasons and then gives
the first rcason-"he white people UNIV ilng to pull
ISL white men for killing negroes" a more deliber
ate and cruel saudcr against already misrepreserted
and suffering people coud never have been conceived
and uttered by Charles Sumner. There people in
Shreveport and i'll Boston who prefer partial enforce
ment of the laws, but venture that a community
more unanimous than ours in its desire to have
equal and impartial enforcement OF the Laws can be
found nowhere.
| In the case of the State vs. Pittman and Henley
tried before the District Court o Caldo parish at its
last regular session. it clearly demonstrated that
| no partially in this particular exists among Two
respectable young men were accused with the murder
OF a negro two negroes testified against them and
two white men, coroborated by two colored witnesses,
testified that the accused could not have committed
the offtnse they represented by able counsel,
and were found guilty. From such instances pre-
sumo the editor draws his inference of an unwilling
ness part to punish Il white for killing
negro. Really, it thought and feared that
anxiety to combat any such pre- supposition had inu
enced the jury too far, and that the young men, Pitt
man aud Henley, were improperly convicted. This,
however is aside from our purpose, and is mentioned
signal proof of the alsty Of the editors assertion.
Another reason which he gives "a most poen-
tial one VIII! lawnbidng citizens have not given in
formation is their dread Of the outlaws Vengeance.
All law-abiding citizens in all communities are
to br upon themselves the special luminosity OF law
breakers by taking active part against them, but
such considerations have perhaps less weight with US
than among good citizens of other localities.
determined population when setting their faces against
wrong is hard to lie found, as evidenced by our gal
liant struggle against the scalauags and carpet-bng-
gers, WHO seem now TO enjoy the confidence of our
editor, and through whose agency be is pocke.ng
some of our haI d earned dollars.
He further says that these miserable crcatures-that
is the outaws-are taking advantage Of this r;tated
public sentiment by appealing to the prejudiccs Ct
race Sc. In other words, lie is prepared to assert
what is not a fact that there is among our people
vitiated public sentiment resulting from preudices Of
We have already denied this and can refer 10
the records Of our courts to prove our denial. We
mention this Latter assertion only to show the editors
persistence in his determination to make the impress
sion abroad that force is needed to sustain civil au-
thority. in midst account of our preiudiccs
against the negro. We surprised that this man
who has lived among so long should avail! himself
of the position to which we have elevated him, to
IN md uprchanrp Irinr 1utnI1 rnIam
ties upon us, and when take into consideration that
lie was before tie war a bitter sccessipnst of the
blood drinking order, surprise would be greater
were noa matter Of common experience that many of
these ante SecessOnlstS making fair weather
with Radicalism.
At the conclusion Of most verbose and stilted
paragraph this law and order editor declares for lynch
law in the good ole Texas sly, c." We believe that
lynch law has been uniformly reprobated by good citi
zens everywhere, and for part, should regret
10 see it introduced among US in present tranquil
state. Lynch law is, however, only local evil and
local in its effects, but if the terrible scourge with
WHICH the editor in sort of grim exultation threat
ems us should be visited then will constitutions law
and order be every where subvcrtca. If Grant and
Sheridan ride roug!slod over the whole coun-
try east Of the Rio Grande" and he saws such
campaign will open, :" what use to pirate about law
and order East of the Rio Graude lisa large terri
tory, including Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts and
several other provinces bn the editor says that when
Sheridan " turns loose his he'll hounds there will be
safety.
lie further offenders not to indulge in fam
cied security The Yankees, he says, ARE posted
upon the anteceGents OF every man in this country"
We congratulate the editor upon having been admit
ted into the very sauctorum of Radical COM
fdence, and we bespeak of him, in advance IL good
word in favor when these hell hounds get warm
npon the track Of our antcccdents. One who enjoys
such close intimacy with Radical potentates must
surely haye some influence with them. Commend US
Doctor, and when you oot-e speak Of ante war an
tcoedents pray, forget not to mention that some of
were branded sabmssionss by the g gado Gazette
BECAUSE o. itccd to being precpitated into a war
against the Union. Now let inquire how g the
Yankees" as he calls them, have become posted upon
the antecedents OF tcrery man in this country"
We presume that the editor, vel! number of US
has looked into little volume, tecenty gotten up at
the Republican office in New Orleans, which purports
to give the anteceden;s q some Of us. number Ct
witnesses, including negroes sca!awags and carpet
baggerS, not to mention such iilustreus flames AS Mud
gett McEean aud Lowell, have contributed their
budget of information to antecedeats One Solo
mon Thomas, freedman, charged with every crime
known to the decaogue, and who fed from this COM
figures extensively in this precious volume as most
reliable witness. Sol Thomas, the editor ought to
know, is supposed never in his whole life to have told
the truth This same respectable Witness among other
things testihes that two of our most respecta
BILE citizens committed the murder of which Pittman
and Henley were convicted So, them when Sheridan
and lis ehounds get after U.s. these citizens who are
as innocent Of the crime the editor himself WILL we
u