Shreveport semi-weekly news. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-10-07
Freedmen In Louisiana,

bune Of the 9th ult. The editor. 1t
seems, derives his information. as to
the happy state Of things among the
freedmen in this State, from the
Frecdmcn's Bureau. But does the
editor believe one word of what he
savsl If he does. he certainly is
more silly than we ever imagined it
possible for any one to be. He says
:. In all the communities Of freedmen
degree Of order and industry reigas
that is very pleasing to see.'
And this is the kind Of intortna-
ton sent to the North by the Freed
mems Bureau; audit seems that there
are ignoramuses that believe it.
The truth is, there is no such thing
as industry among the freedmen in
this State. If the editor Of the 1ri-
bune could be induced TO visit Shreve-
port or any other town OF the State,
he would probably be brought TO
realizing sense Of the immense capa-
city for lying possessed by the mem
beers composing til. Freedmen's Blu
reau. II, would witness here thou
sands of iIl.. and worthless negroes.
dirty, lazy ragged, living from hand
to mouth, stealing everything that
they can lay their hands upon. and
absolutely refusing all honest labor
by which to earn a living. We could
give the philosopher Of the Tribune
fact after fact, occurring under our
immediate observation, showing that
every word that we have uttered is
strictly true. Then if he will visit
the pianters-and he will fiud many
of them intelligen, and worthy OF his
association-and open his eyes to the
truth he will acknowledge that the
iplautcrs are the worst abused men
on earth, and that they have to deal
with problem that all I'll" yankees
in christendom cannot solve. that fs,
to make the negro work without the
authority OF Il master.
We will conclude our remarks by
this statement No political party
can long exist and carry the free he
gro. The ruin and desolation thai,
immediately follows in the wake, the
rapid relapse of the negro into bar
barism. and his utter degradation
and refusal to labor will be sure to
overwhclm amy party with ruin. A
party can carry the slave and -four
ish, but the free negro will destroy
: any party as Mr.. Greedy will find
Tie article from the Tribune is as
follows:
Those who clamor against the
freedmen in the South as a degraded
class, who are either starving, in the
calaboose, or breeding instructions,
should look at the conditions of affairs
in Louisiana. Here is State that
! before the war had 326,726 slaves
and 1851 free people of color. The
free negroes of Louisiana embrace in
their ranks some of the wealthiest
: and most respectable people of the
= State, and as class have always
been highly respected. They do not
fall under the definition of freedmen
: as now accepted. OF the freedmen
d proper it is estimated Ahat nearl y
= 10000 are old enough to vote. The
records of the Frecdmen's Bureau
show that out of the whole number
there are not thousand maintained
: at Government expense, these being
: most probably negroes who have
= been thrown out ct home and labor
by the abandonment of plantations,
together with the old and infirm. In
all the communities of freedmen a
c degree of order and industry reigns
that is very pleasing to see. The
only trouble the officers Of the bu.
reau have is from the old Bourbon
G slavel1lders, who never learn and
=, never forget anything. They can,
:" not abandon the whip. the hound, the
iron collar, and the bludSeon. Not
l. withs,anding this obstacle. all along
the plantation sections schools HI.
establislc and the freedmen ri.
y taught These schools have now
r 10000 schoiars-young minds who
are, we hope, to lead and disciplin,
the colored race. and be the father.
= and mothers of new and enlightened
: generation
General Prices FdmIy-The n