Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-05-06
AFFAIRS On THE RED RIVER.

The correspondent Of the New York
"World," writing from Alexandria, La, on
the 9th ult., says:
Cotton was the ereh. s:!ple hsre, inter.
spe1sed with few sugor farp.s. DuriCs tte
past year but little cotton las been raised the
Confederate authorities having permitted !:
only in special caa1i. Sggar ia here il larea
quantities, and the Gr:nv ia rcTc:sng in sugar
and molasscs. All tho ii:aiy negroes have
been sent TO Texas. many Clniiiics having
moved also. Rapids end Nutchitoches, among
the wealthiest parishes in L3usiana, con-
tained at our advent, by computation. about
thirty thousand bales Of old cotton, much OF
which was unhailcd. On account Of the
action Of the authorities, the rebel General
Taylor has ordered his scoutS to burn al the
cotton within five miles Of the river. This
was said TO be in consequence Of his H5cer-
tanning that tho cotton was absolutely seiZei,
without payment vouchers, or ether ccrtt-
cates.by the navy.
Five thousand bales have been burned in
Rapdes parish alono in G single week.
The action of tbe navy Gauges .aDch ecTrrise
ii, Il j EctS ho;oes G.,!.si ~ IL
allowed to bo shipped by any Friya'G cdsen.
All is seized and shipped ny tho navy. Tan
New National ielt here Yesterday 6itl tSen-
ty-fye hundred bales. Tic ent:rc amCuat in
thia and it's tributary streams Is esti:na;sd at
two hundred Thousand bales.
With what authority, Or under Wat ruie,
admiral Porter presumes 20 aet, !s unknown.
No hing less than q specific authority from tho
President could justify hs course in sc"tlDs
his crews into the country and condemning
the property Of citizens IL y naval prize. L.
point of fac;, the courts have decided u the
East that the North and Susqurhanaa src NOT
"inland seas )" it is unlikely .hat The Red
River will be when it can be bridged by I. sim
gle boat.
sPOLIATlON AND VANDALISM.
There is one fact more calculated IL tonch
the heart than the wholeslle transaction
have just referred TO, which may have some
connection, if, indeed, it DO not the cause.
refer to the spirit Of robbery and destruction
which seems to have entered the hearts Of
what We would fain believe were once bon ri:
bic men, wearing thei. ooUntry's Uniform
The first great departure TO this !amcntab!c
path was undoubtedly on tho lu'e raid Of Gen.
Sherman, in which, While the mill. aut honscs
were destroyed, there were bcsidca iilaumcra-
bio miDor outraged perlormcJ. When once
the license goes unpunished, the most danger
Gus exccsses follow. Let the idea prevail that
superior officers cnuntenmncc devastation, a3d
share in the spoils Of war, 10 tho extent Of
ship loads of cotton, and the pri7atcs will soon
begin TO operate in iewelry, watches and pet
ty thefts, as well IS deliberate outrage.
On this campaign thcrc has beca the m,:t
wsnton vandalism. have referred to one or
two cases coming to my knowledge: Recent
events have made matters appear worse.
saw On the streets of Aleyaldra-aud any
officer might have seen the same-soltiers
beating up silver cake basket into q smaller
compass. The floors aud hearthstuncs of
many houses are dug up in search Of coin and
valuables. Tho house of ex Coagrcssman
Ryan WAS made n wreck, aod his costly WORKS
of art maliciously hacked aud dtstrpyei.-
There are more revolving crimes a1d Outrage,
perretratcd both on women and b.lpess De-
sroes. A s7ir;s Of i!sbOIcal and irrational
maevolence is prevalent, whicl ID stocking
and Iiaddcring 10 think Of Gen. $ eTl.an
must shun the responsibility Banks
troops behave better--and he will hS grievad
to learn that many of his old friends abovt
Alexandra. Igili % au.Ing Tia suif:iera. l.
will be recollected that Sherman was for many
years president Of military college four
miles from here.