The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-10
MIS- sis SIPPI.

CustOns..A Sensible OGicer's Treatment
OF che Negroeg-Presidcnt Johnson's
rds. OF Freedom and Its Meaning, &c.
OUR COLUMBUS CORRESPONDENCE.
COLUMBUS. Miss, June 20, 1896.
A LAND BARBARiAss
Since my last letter have returned from Macon 70
this point weary and disguised with my iorngnts
perience with the natives OF this country. when trav
eer sets study people he goes prepared 70 hve
with the part OF them, and become not only accii-
their country but accustomed to Their customs
Livingstone found attractions among the Arcahs' nhn
and Kane among the Esqumaux, and Vambery among ,e
hahometans of Persia and the results OF their exist
ence among those barbarans been entertaining duo
dccino volumes Of much value The South is a far more
interesting field and wonder The embryo Iivngstones
and vaberys have not before discovered The people
berDarous have stranger customs, and are
BIZ far pore interesting study than any race have ever
heard o. any disposed still to look upon the South
people The " hvarous noble people" tnat romance
has characterized lhem would not recommend Trip
70 ths region now while the whole Southern race may
be said 10 be distobip The war has unveiled them
and they present in character many of the deormities
which dressy belle sometimes displays inadvertently
when caught in the charming employment Of disrobing
nave living for fortnight in their midst sharing
their poverty and studying their habits, and am now
DO in this Collaboration country Their food is coarse
but their habits coarser Their garments are by no
neans ne but their seusibes less delicate. The
men arc stupidity ignoant--nconcaivaby so--and are
lacking ia energy vor and I'll the characteristics of man
hood 10 degree so astonishing 10 new Yorker that
do not fancy shall ever recover from my amazement
Their whole employment IN. life appears 10
be TO grIlnbe at their hard fate and the
tcruel treatment Of the Yankee government in
taking all their slaves They vary This existence occa
| sionay by quaYrelllg with their former slaves and
bringing them before Colonel c. II. H. Johnson, com
handing this post and the sub drct Of Northeast Mis-.
sssppi in order TO complain OF them for deserving the
plantation and refusing TO Some Of the disputes
between the former master and late slave, TO which
Colonel Johnson is at times compelled TO lis.en are
highly amusing If IL not plain that the con. ent
petition OF srch scenes Is wearing Johrsons life out
| Hs patience is nearly gone. lie remarked TO me few
ties Of private life ~ used 20 wonder how Andy John
son, when was stationed at Nashville, had the sublime
sit and listen u the long wndci stories Of his for
| mcr conEtituens. By George, | can't conceive
now ne ever lived through IT, ! don't wonder
siqnls: trust tia. after my term Of service is over
! may never see one ehher, and il the negroes give
| the President half as much trouble they Go me
think II will be long while before he takes any steps
! give ihen the right OF suf'rlee.'
TROUBLE VIII TIE gEaRoEs
! Colonel Jchnsans dislike for the negroes arises
think, from the trouble which his position as commander
ofth district gives him Ec found them taking
leaving the plantations, biz oscking In the woods and
Killing the cattle and hogs TO subsist on Snvcrd ci
zens were murdered by OF the lawiess He
has since reduced them to terms put them work told
them in order which he issued that ''iu the words of
their best friend and that wise statesman Andrew
Johnson, freedom meant liberty TO work ard eujoy the
fruits of their labor and ordered that they be put
to work. He has given work to nearly two
thousand % those who PREVIOUSLY living on
the government. Now only few helpless negro wOmea
and Children besides the white objects of charity who
very numerous subsist on tic government rations
His experience with tho black people has made Colonel
Johnson q strong anti negro suffrage man, though
favor of the aboliion of slavery He thinks thew arc
not any CAPABLE Of wisely ENJOYING the great
privilege OF voting than the foreigners who
shores, and wth whom term OF residence, If no other
lnd by no manner OF means vel qualified to vote
white school boys OF sixteen. "Gradua emancipation
from their he THINKS is the step towards
making nsn o. the
All Of which Is true far my experience goes but
the candid truth is thai, generally speaking, the great
whit the srperiors in education morals of the negroes
Both racas have 70 be educated, have TO be
red from the bondage of ignorarce in which
the stakeholder has Kept both the regocs The spoor
white trash before they will b. allie 20 Judge correctly
what Is best for their interest and welfare If any one
wishes to comprehc nd how it was thai the rebel Leaders
so successfully deluded this people their accursed
rebellion, ard to see how completely the poorer whites
became mere tools In the hands of the richer planters
he has only to South and how totally ignorant
and fearfuily depravcd these poor whites
nEpRAyrTY OF TIE w,IEy.
have neither space, tine inclination to sey mach
about the women. Thcdepravly among them is fearful
ners coarse and rude and positive as the assertion
is true virtue is the exception not the rule with them
SOUTHERN SOCIETY.
notice that favortc topic with the Northern press
~ the obstruction OF the Southern social system"
Tho fact Is that there social system in the south
outside Of the three four hundred thousand slave
holders and that society is thoroughly destroyed
IL was MS hollow as the conscderacy and heaross
The poor whites part Of that social system
ana II VIII be years before respectable social system
Is again established here unless Northern emf grafton
does it,
General H. II. Grierson, who Is In command Of all the
cavalry forces Of the Department OF the Gulf has placed
and Macon Miss and Tho district commander has placed
him in command Of the district TIE following is the
order Of Colonel Johnson, assuming Command
HEADQUARTERS SUB DISTRICT NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI
COLUMBUS Miss, June Is, 1885.
In accordance with orders from Headquarters Dis
trct OF Mississippi hereby temporary command
Of the subDstric Of Northeast Mississippi comprising
Chickasaw, ftawamba, Ponotoc. Tsbamngo ana Tppab'
ii. In addition to their present duties the officers Of
the brigade staff heretofore announced will and
perform the duties Of their respective departments reat
ing TO the district G. N L. JOHNSON
Colonel Thirteenth Indiana cavalry, commanding.
ORDER TIE NEGRoEs
The following is Colonel Johnsons order iu regard 10
the negroes which had such beneficial effect in reducing
the number Of those living in dleness at this point OF
General orde.-No O.
BxADouARrERs Poer,
COLUMBUS, Miss June T. 1885.
There being large accumulation OF negroes at this
post depending on the government for support this
Of deness being prejudical the interest Of the
government, the community and themselves II is hereby
Ordercd-
That they return to their former homes or seek EN-.
poyme elsewhere until such as the laws of the
United States applying TO the regulations labor are
promulgated
They win be protected against cruel or nhuman
treatment but they must work. II is not the purpose
or intention Of the government 10 support them In
idleness.
They will be given ten days time 70 obtain employ
ment and provide for their subsistence, at which
time the issue Of rations will DO discontinued. BY
order Of Colonel g. NJ L. JOHNSON,
Commanding Post
Ed. REp, Lieutenant and Acting Assstapt Adjutant
General
Arrivals and Departures.
ARRIVALS.
MISUNDERSTANDING City Of Balti vore-Mrs Hepburn
and servsnt Miss Jonson Hunting lady and nurse Mrs
kreeae Mrs Dow Mr. Malone and lady Miss Buck Mr. PORT