The Semi-weekly Shreveport news. [volume], August 29, 1862, Page 2, Image 2

About The Semi-weekly Shreveport news. [volume] (Shreveport [La.]) 1862-1864

Image provided by: Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge, LA

                
Published on Tuesday adl Friday.
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
Our Agents :
Mr. N. SELIGMAN, ...... Shrcvelport.
Mr. J. H. LOFTON, ....... Bellevue.
Mr. H. C. CLAn E,...... Vicksburg.
.Ir. D. D. O'BRIEN, ... New Orleans.
Mr. JOHN W. TABER,.. Natchitoc)ies.
Dr. W. S. DONALDSON,.... Mansfield.
F. B. BAILEY, ..Huntsville, Texas.
FRIDAY,....... AUGUST 29, 1862.
Vhen subscribers see n Red
pencil uark on their paper, it si=
fnies that the time paid fa haus
Expired. 0 1
The Enemy at Work.
We learn from Mr. A. L. Mershon, 1
of our city, thft he received a letterl
from the Commissioner of the General
Land office at Opelousas, in which
the writer says he believes from in
formationreceived, that Baton Rouge
and Bayou Sara, have been burned
by the Federals. The letter is dated
August 19th and as our latest dis
patches were up to the 17th from
Bayou Sara, we think the report
very probable, as the tenor of our
dispatches intimated that the Feder
als threatened to destroy those places.
The writer represents the plantations
on the coast as utterly destroyed.
The depredations and unucalled for
destruction of private property refer
red to, should be sufficient to cause
our people to reflect upon the fate
that awaits every place within the
reach of the enemy, which, on the
approach of the cursed foe, quietly
yields to their demands of surrender.
If ever there was a time for prompt
and immediate action surely tlhis is
it. Our people from this point to
the mouth of Red River, should with
,ut a disenting voice, apply them
selves to the task of doing what, in
their estimation, would prove detri
mental to the progress of the enemy
in reaching this sectien of country.
What the enemy contemplates do
ing should not for a moment be con-!
sidered. We must be prepared for
his coming, whether he comes or not,
and to accomplish thi;, we must to
the work without further delay, as
we have no time to lose in consulia
tions. Another seeming unimport
ant step, is, that strangers are not
sufficiently watched in their manou.
vres; it is our bounden duty to scru
tinize them closely, for we cannot
be too rigid. It matters not, if the
traveler's cloth is of fine ()r coarse
texture; whether he be known or
not, 'or what the title he may bear;
demand his papers, if he cannot pro
duce them, be his excuse what it
may, he ought not to be permitted to
move another step. In these days
we must expect to find people change
able, and the fact of a persons beingI
loyal or unloyal will be judged by
his actions, and if a traveler, by his
properly authenticated vouchers,
which ought to be in his possession.
By prompt action in the premises, we
could detect and bring to punish
tment all personas whose intentions
were not good.
'l'he fall sessi6on of the Mansfield
Feinale College will commence on
rhte 1st of October, next, as will be
seen by the advertisement. This
well known and old establishment
needs no recommendation from us.
'he healthy location and competent
faciulty, in itself, is sufficient to in
duce parents to place their daughters
in that institution.
Mr. J. N. Coleman, of the 3d Tex
as Cavalry, has laid us tnder oblhga
tijjs for late papers. Who comes
nort?
Prestdelt's lessage.
To t/e e&nate and HoWuse of Represean
tutices of the Cotffrderatc .States:
It is again our fortu1.e to meet for
developing measures necessary to the
public welfare, whilst our country is
involved in a desolating war. The
suffering endured by sone portions of
the people excite the deep solicitude
of the Government ; and the sympa
thy thus evoked has been heiglhtened
by the patriotic devotion with which
these sutfferings have been borne.
The gallantry and good conduct of
of our troops, always claiming the
gratitude of the country have been
turther illustrated on hard-fnought
fields, marked by exhibitions of indi
vidual proCwess which e:a. find bIut
few parallels in ancient or modern
times.
Our armny has nat faltered in any
of the various trials to which it hais
been subjected, :rand the great body of!
the people has continued to maniftfst
a zeal and unanimity which not only
cheer the battle-stained solJier, but
give assurance to the fir'iends of con
stitutional liberty of onr tintl triunmph
in the pending struggle against d.s
potic ursurpation. I
Ihe vast arnry which threatened
the capitol of tihe Cenfederacy has
been defeated andl driven from th
lines of investmints, and the enemy. j
repeatedly foiled in his efforts for its
capture, is now seeking to raise new I
armies, on a scale such as modern his-i
tory does not record, to effect that sub
jugation ofthe South so often pro
claimed as on the eve of accomplish
mnent.
T''he perfidy which disregarded
righits secured by compinact, tie ldl:I
n ss which tramphld on obligations
made sacredl by every consideration
of honor, have beetn i ntenusilied by the
mialignity cugendere-d Iby tch't.at.
'l'h ee jpassi, ,ns have chlange-l tl heclnr
actwr of th, hostilities wagi, by our
enemlis,who are bercoingmt d :-ill ,s
regardfl of the uasages of civiiized
Swar, and thie dict:ttcs of urm:Nite.
Rapine and wanttn destrui'tiin of
private pr,,pert', war up,,n non-cii
batants. nmurder of captives, bli,dv
threats to atvenge the de:,th of an in
Svading .sIdi-ry by the ;laugl.ter of't
unarmed citizens, ordrs of banisih
ment agamilist liact,t'ul famIilies enga
god in lihe cuitivatiin ,f the so,il, are
.ozlle ut t le Ifleitils ut e'l },V our 1i1?hi
less invadetrs to ,ilfortce the hui tni--ion
ot a t' free lpe,,lh. to l;,reign sway. ( ,ll
fiscatiuoin bills, of a character s, atro-
cious as to ensure, if executed, tlin
utter ruin of the en.tire poltulatini of'
of thieae States, arc paIscd by thei;r
Congress aind approved by their Ex
ceuti rc.
* The monev'd obliga, ions ,if the
Confederate 43toverotiment arw forged
by citizens of the United States, and
publicly advertised for saile in their
cities with a noutoriet v which sutfficient
ly attests the knowledge ofthe lir (;ov
ernment; and its complicity in the
crime is further evitnced by the fact
that the soldliers of the invading ar
mies are foundl suimplied with large
quantities of these forged notes, as a
means of despoiling the count:-y jeo
pi; by fraud out of such portions of
their property as armed vilence may
fail to reach. Two, at Icicst of tlhe
Generals of the L'Unite:d States are en
gaged, uuchecked by thetir Govern
ment, in exciting servile insurrection,
and in arming aia t aining slaves for
warfrn e against their mastcrs, cit izelis
of the Confe-deracy. Another hasu
been found of instincts so bruutal as to
invite the violence of his soldiery
against the women of acaptured city.
Yet, the rebuke of civilized menn
has failed to evoke from the authori
ties of the United States one mark ( f
disapprobation of his acts : nor is
there any reason to suppose that the
conduct of Benjamin F1. Iutler has
failed to secure from hisGovernment
the sainction and applause with w rich
it is known to have been greeted by
public meetin's and portions of the
press of the lnited States. To in
quiries made of the Comnmander-in
Chief of the armies of the United
States, whether the atrocious conduct
of some of their military commandants
met the sanction of that Government
answer has been evaded, on the pre
text that the inquiry was insulting,
and no method rieemains for the sup
pression of these enormities but such
retributive justice as it may be found
possible to execute.
Retaliationin kind. for many of1
them is imnpracticable, for 1 haveliad
occasion to remark in a former Vws
sage that under no excess of provoca
tion could our noble-hearted defendi
ers be driven to wreak vengeance on
unarmed men, on women, or on child
ern. bqt stern and exemplary pun
ishment san aind must be meted out to
the murdeiers and felons, who, dis
gracing the profession of arms, seek
to make public war the occasion fort
the commission of the mi"ut monstrous
crimes.
Deeply as we regret the charact'er
of the contest into which we are about
to be forced, we must accept it as anll
alternative which rtceiut iianift'ita
tations give uits little hope, Cal be
avoided.
Tl'.e exasperation of' failure has
aroused the worst passions of'oluretne
mies : a large portion of tlhir pe',ile,
even the cleri'iiymn, now e"ngage in
uriln an excited populace, to theil ex
i trelllt outfeocit " ; and llthing remains
bat to vindicate our rights and to
maintain our existence by employing
against our foe every cnertgy and c';
cry resource at our disposal.
I append for your inllfrmation a
copy of the papers exhibiting the ac
tion oflIt. ( ,.viritmitt tl, to the I res
et..It time, tair the rt I 'rs.- 1 ttftlte' utt
rats. conlllitel i ol ou.lr P,.ople. ()ther
Ineasuresnow' in prog'rnes will be sub
luittetid ,,'rt.f'tt-r.
I:: inviting ytiur attention to the.
lecislatioti whictl the neceýs;itics of
our cundition r('quire tiu-,e conntect,.d
witli the pre'secutiotu of the war coin
ranlid almost unidivided att etinliit.
The acts passed at ,toulr last sos
1i n) intC:di d ti .It , tr'i o . the untli. tli
ft'negt , y ,% ,-Hertnel enr',ilmnmt, and to
irenet r t' ile;t l ti lt' l'it'S overning
trilopl in tll h,s. i,,h.v, , ts.thilt
nt 'xc crel't -l criti pi-n that, ita s t ui i hli to
itbe regrettkttl.
'Thit txiietlt'tt 'rV it I as #a ' t l n
thus s,'lt.,whti t "htu i ,t-rit to,,'kl ht it 1 i'
ft hflit",itd thati ill ;inly t':ht Stt ite
tIll" "',': ii . Ulla l tiid ht a s with 'ld it."
dtl :u C iti' , thli t :. t r t " n'i U 11I1k lt te flewt'
j:S ,tutl's, oItuI'-i-' [ '1 li tlt'tven i onil t t'
vt'rl' ret' rt great war', alt'R tllll' -f ii
videt d withI ' ti t-ll ateri nlk cit.ssIrI ter
cntritctitl5 h,-ttiitit' s toiln t. ,I t :Wi
'scalt'. a: the il 'rl its lduti-s. riti ,
you. wh, itr,# int;,rtnl'I of .h It"t t- nt
itt',1 t 1-(s ,' ti t' (t o nvt''', tlnd ttt, n.tlt (
thrtlg"i: i : ttbutflly iied y i l thet ; tl.'.
:sIki r- ltim t.' t.-, i, l t l, p,,r. -,,o . tl'ltu.
l'-liant'te )t" h ,]aherd to.t ecure tihs gr,+at
hj 't.d. it, i can ihs t ditg i.t' thU
ita Is for ctlta lishting that -ert ieil' .
Sop 'lratiin o , f th tt e and t'oinftr
ptie _Utove:'id llltt-lits which' is -sentialto
t it twell hei'n of' both at .aoc'tll titlS,
but with is Inttw itundisltIlsabit tki
their ver'iy exi-ta'ce,. Andt it a'oy
Iegislattryn shilt l ctenti toi il t lt' tlir c
priatefor:u ju t ii ng itrre:'csof ,,pi- t
lon, it will he anV 'hla' ure as well :e,
dutyl to +o-opeti at", r ill ality v lli '1 ir'
thrvicat may b detvised tor ret.ciin
just care Fr t tlt publie tltrfense w is
prolper df: are nconv rti-lte itto scir t
Serious suceptibiliticn of the 1tatren l
i the means proposed byritith.
for fa rport ofing the Spcretary f tion of
Treasury wi t is n our ptaeople toi,
oteratior.s .dtllat department. It wiil
stte, sthat withe matttio that tof con
Bred:t of the government securities
laterfd det, notwithstan within r thii ats,
lilt'u tabioo ot' o r mlilit:ury ,,peratio1ns..
The l.e:islation of the last stesion
provided thfor the are as of sirted froms
with the bonds of the (;rovertnr)y ot;
f The, ",,prt.. oft the .Reres~tary of
War, which is submitted, contains -
numerous suggestions for the legis- e
lation deemed desirable, in order to I
add to the efficiency of the service, t
invitees your favorable consideration,
especially to those recommendations
which are intended to secure the pro. t
per execution of the conscript law, I
and the consolidation of companies,
battallions and regiments, when so t
reduced in strength as to impair that I
uniformity of organization which is s
necessary in the army, while an un- t
due burthen is imposed on the treas- ,
urv. The necessity for some legis- 1
lation for controlling military trans- 1
portation on the railroads, and im
proving their present defective con- e
dition, forces itself upon the atten- 1
tion of the (Governmetit, and. I trusst
you will be able to devise satisfacto- t
ry measures for attaining this pur- i
post.
The legislation on the subject of i
general officers involves the service i
in some difficulties which are pointed I
out by the Secretary, and for which f
the remedy suggested by him seems s
appropriate.
In connection with this subject, I
ani of opinion that prudence dictates s
some provision for the increase of the
army in the event of emergencies not
n,,ow anticipated. The very large in
crease of forces recently called into
the field by the President of the Uni- e
tedt States may render it necessary
he:reafter to extend the provisions of
the conscript law so as to embrace i
persons between the: ages of thirty- e
live amnd f,irtv-five year-. The vigor i
and efliciency of our present forces,
their condition, and the skill and abil
ity- which distinguish their leaders, 1
inspire the l,eliet that no further en
rollhnent will be necessary. But a
wise foresight requires that, if a t.
ees-it y should lhe suddenly develop
t(d d4uring the recess of Congress re
il liring increased tforces for our cte
fi;.st. m.eans shuld oxi.t for calling 4
s11olh iorc,- into the tield without
await:ng the re-as.,. hrliing of the le
gisl:ctive departlnt-tit of tlhn Goveru
Il tlhe el-ct i n and appointment of 1
ofticers for th. provisional arumy, it
was to be anticipate d that nistakes
, ,i:dl be tmiade', and incompntent of
tlic.-s ,t' all grades introduced into
thei service. In the athI-tnce of ex
leIricncee, antl with ,.o reliable guide
t,r s.lect ion,. Exectrt i ve appoint ments
a- w;el, :ts elections, have hent somie
tini,.s uAtortunate. The good of the
srvi ic', the interests of our country,
retirlr,.' that somen eatns be devised
to;" withdrawing the commissions of
t,fiice'rs who are incomllietent for theA
,iuties r-equired by their sensibility
than the judgment of a court martial.
Within a recent period we have
effected the oblject so long desired of
an arrmangtment fir an exchanget of
prisoners. which is now being execu
ted by delivery at thel points agreed
iupon, and which -il!, it is hoped,
-p.edily restore our brave and un
tfIrtuinate countrymen to their places
in the ranks of the army, fionm which
Itv t he fortunes of war, they have
i Ee :o; r a time, separated. The de
tails ,f the tarrangem.ent will be com
,nunic:,t,rCd to you in a'special report,
when further progress has been made
in their executiou.
Of the particulars concerning the
,operations of the War Departmtent
vou will he informed by the Secre
tary in his report and tlle accomupa
nying dlocunntetts.
T'I'h, rieport of the Secretary of the
Navy, embraces the operations and
present condition of this branch of
the public service, both afloat and
ashore. , the construction and equip
tnment of armed vessels, at lnomte and
abroad, the manufacture of ordnance
stores. and the establishmennt of work
shops, and the development of our re
sources of coal and iron. Some leg
islation seems essential for securing
crews for vessels.
The difficulties now experienced
on this point are fully stated in the
Secretary's report, and I invite your
attention to providing a remedy.
Tle report of the Postmaster Gen
eral discloses tlhe embarrassment
which resulted in the postal service
from the occupation by the enemy of
the Mississippi river and portions of
the territory of the didferent States.
The measures taken by the depart
ment for relieving these embarrass
ments as far am practicable are de
!ailed in the report. It is a subject
-f congratulation that dunrirg the trn
months that ended 3d March lust the
expenses of the Department were
largely decreased, whilst its revenue
was augmented, as compared with a
corresponding period ending on the
30th June. 1861, when the postal sys
tem was conducted under the author
ity delegated to the United States.
Sufficient time has not yet elapsed
to determine .whether the measures
heretofore devised by Congress will
accomplish the end of bringing the
expenditures of the Department
within the limits of its own revenues
by the 1st of March next, as required
by the Constitution.
I am happy to inform you that, in
spite both of blandishments and
threats, used in profusion by the
agents of the government of the Uni
ted States, the Indian nations within
the Confederacy have remained firm
in their loyalty, and steadfast in the
observance of their treaty engage
ments with this Government. Nor
has their fidelity been shaken by the
fact that, owing to the vacancies in
some of the offices of the agents and
superintendents, delay has occurred
in the payments of their annuities
and allowances to which they are en
titled. I now advise some provision
authorizing payments to be made by
other officers, in the absence of those
especially charged by law with this
duty.
We have never-ceasing cause to be
grateful for the favor with which
God has protected our intfant Coufed
eracy, and it becomes us reverently
to return our thanks and humbly ask
of his bounteousness that wisdom
which is needful for the performance
of the high trusts with which we are
charged. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Richmond, Va.. Aug. 18, 1S62.
Look Out for Bad Money.
During this week we have seen
somine wrthless money in circulation,
and it would be well if our city au
thorities would try to ferret out the
person who is practicing this fraud
upon strangers and unsuspecting per
s,,ns. We give the following descrip
tion for the benefit of the public:
''The bills are printed on French
note paper, about 5 inches long at d
12 inches wide. The denomination
is of 82 and 83, which is printed on
the face of the bills in Red ink. the
main bill being printed in Black. On
the left hand end of the bill is the
cut of a steamboat. The date (No
vember, 21, 1861) is printed in a
curved line, in large type. At the
bottom of the bill will be seen the
imprint of this establishment, thus:
"Printed at the News Office, on Texas
street." One of the signatures shown
to us was IV. J. Wl'Vittica, signed
with Blue ink.
The bills were printed nine months
ago for Capt. Samn. Head, now in the
army, who issued a small amount and
shortly afterwards called them in
for redemption. It is evident that
these unsigned bills have fallen in
possession of some unconscious indi
vidual who isusingthem to advantage.
Any person receiving them should
immediately call on the Provost Mar
shal and have it traced to the person
who is guilty.
Mr. II. C. Clarke, Bookseller, of
Vicksburg, will accept our thanks
for favors received.
THE RETOR(T COURT'EO.S.--A Fourth
street merchant said to his hired man
the other day: "Hlere latrick, here
is fifty dollars; now go and enlist in
some good regiment, right away; en
list in seme regiment, I don't care
what one it is." " I'm obliged to
you but would rather be excused,"
said Patrick. "Here's a hundred
dollars," pullingi the roll out of his
pantaloons pocket, "Here's a han
dred dollars if you'll enlist in some
Sgood regiment.-Cincinnati Com
mercial.
It being hinted to a lawyer, who
was wearying the Court with a long
dull argument, that he ought fo bring
it to a close, he angrily replied, "I
will speak as long as I please!"
You have spoken dlonger than you
p'o.as already," said his antagonist.