The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-18
We have been permitted to copy the Hollow

i nav interest our readers in the description {
our sister town.
i NArcH1rocHRs. March 1o--Dear B,--We al
rived here this morning. and / have spent
good portion of the day in wandering roun
this old looking town. A stranger always feei
lonely in strange place; but here the eV'
dences of Spanish origin presents themselve
SO constantly to the eve that Icould scarce tore
aside the conviction. that we were passln
through the cemetery of a former generation
and throughout the day my fancy has bee
filing its studio with sketches OF ruined TO"
ers, antiquated castles, and other such remin
iscenses of the feudal age.
The towns situated upon the banks oil VIVA
was once Red River, Immediately above til
/ confluence of old Cane River; but the torme
stream having by cut-offs changed the cours
of its current, now runs some miles to the east
ward, and has left this place an inland town
and though it would in all probability hay
been large and fourishing city, there re
mains not now chance for its becoming NOR
than place of secondary Importance VIVA
would Shreveport become should old lied %.
another move desert her now crowded wharf
Is not such change possible, if not probable
Along the channel where it formerly flowed
there now runs but small branch with
volume of water not so large as Doggy bayou
in its ordinary stage.
Natchitoches is built like New Orleans, il
the form of crescent, upon sandy alluvia
level, skirted at an average distance OF 25l
yards from the river by succession OF low
pinehills, upon which are some handsome ano
prettily located dwellings,. Upon one OF the
most beautiful of these hills in the rear OF the
lower part of town lies the graveyard.
The population is more diversified than any
other place have visited except New Orleans,
consisting principally of Americans, French
and Spanish creoles-the two latter classes
speak the same language, which is indeed ap-
parently the prevailing tongue in point OF num-
bers, and into one of these two classes the old
Spanish race has been absorbed. But during
this transition many of the houses were con-
structed, and as at San Antonio and elsewhere,
among old French and Spanish towns, are re-
markable for their steep roofs, extensive gal
leries and passages, with quite profuson OF
attic and dormer windows. The streets are
narrow, crooked and irregular, sometimes turn
ing abruptly round some old building, and again
resuming their former direction. 1t appears
that many of the buildings were constructed
before the town was properly laid off. After
leaving the very wide, regular and adequate
streets of Shreveport, the contrast is remark
able.
I find good many business houses, proba-
bly, nearl as many as with us, but they appear
to have much smaller stocks and to do much
smaller business. The stocks are mostly much
assorted; good many fancy articles, and sew
eral French millinery establishments, giving
occupation to some half dozen hands each.
One custom in society among the French, l
particularly admire, which is that the ladies
stay at home and attend to their household
duties during the day and visit in the evening
or after tea. Several residents of this place
contemplate moving very soon to Shreveport.
One gentleman enquIred of me the prospects
for hotel business. He has been engaged in
that business in New York and came here, but
is not satisfied with appearances.
There is not AS much interest manifested
here in regard to the Opelousas railroad as in
Caddo and DeSoto. The country over which
the road will pass is a very fine one for the
construction, and that portion between Mans
field and Natchitoches, very poor pine hills.
The land is valuable for its timber, but preterea
nihil p.
MoIsE ON GARLAND.-The house of repre-
having, few week ago, passed a re-
solution calling upon the attorney general to
explain why Garland was acquitted of the
charge of embezzlement, he has returned the
following answer: 1.-The last resolution adopt
ed by the house of representatives, desires me,
$50 far as practicable, to inform this house on
what grounds W. H. Garland, defaulter for
large sums of money, was lately acquitted be-
fore the first district court of New Orleans" I
have no knowledge on this subject other than
that possessed by the house. The resolution
of the house, passed by an unanimous vote, i'm
plies its conviction that Garland is ga defaulter
for large sums of money" and l concur in the
that Garland was guilty of the charge
of which the jury acquitted him. Their rea-
sons for the verdict rendered have not been
made public, and are not known to me. In nv
opinion, Garland's guilt was as clearly proved
as II he had risen IN court and acknowledged it.
The jury decided otherwise, and are under no
egal responsibility for their verdict. 1t is not
'he first time that a jury has decided against the
aw and evidence, and probably will not be the
asst. Nor am [ able to make any suggestion of
mode to control the conscience of Jury -
A rather lame response to the resolution: but
perhaps, Garland owed his acquittal to the in
capacity of attorney general Noise to conduct
he prosecution.
The Lexington { Missouri Express states that
large company has been formed in Massacbu-
;etts and New York, for the purpose of enter
ng all the vacant lands in Missouri The hon
James II. Birch, formerly of Missouri. but now
II Philadelphia, is the originator of the move
nent' and is to act as agent of the COMPANY
Ind make the entries. The Express remarks
nat II the scheme succeeds, the parties impli-
lated Will not only amass large fortunes. but
thousands OF actual settlers, owning small farms.
Viii be deprived of all chance of enlaroino their
except by passing through the hands
u 'hese spectators, whose only aim is extor-
ION. The object of these specu]ators sbould be