Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-11-25
The Disturbed Condition of the Freed
mon.

mon.
We alluded, in yesterdays issue, TO the
approximations existing amongst many Of
the citizens Of northwestern Louisiana, in
regard TO contemplated instruction
among the negro population. We cannot
just appreciate, in the city the feelings Of
insecurity existing among the people in
the country. The white population are nj
most wholly unarmcd Acknowledging, in
good faith, their allegiance TO the United
States government and DESTROYS, by their
acts to impress its agents with an evidence
of submission to its authority, the citizens
have very generally complied with all the
regulations which these agents have cstab-
lshed amongst them. Tho result is, that
the white population are disarmcd, and can
not, without violation of existing rcgula-
tous, provide any means of resisting VIC
lepce which may be offered to them by any
portion of The population which. may be in
cited to instruction.
In reference to the negro population, on
tho contrary, our information is that they
are generally well provided with the best
rcvolvers, and, in many cases, with other
arms. A gentleman recently from one Of
the northern parishes, reports that the ne
groes in that section go constantly armed,
and occasion great uneasiness and dread to
the white population.
If the negroes had been leftto themselves
the kindly relations existing between them
and their former masters would probably
have never been disturbed. The new sys-
tenn of labor would have been indugurated
with feeling on the part of the citizen
that he must yield to the inevitable necessi-
ty of emancipation, and with q disposition
on the part of the negro to receive employ
ment from his former master, between
whom and himself e1isteda bond of attach
ment which can only be appreciated by
those who have grown up in the south, and
witnessed its existence. But mischevious
people from other sections have sedulously
inculcated in the Negroes mind feeling of
distrust and dislike for southern men,
They urge the negro not to be content with
freedom alone, but to assert their claims TO
the rights of the ballot-box. Even the late
chief of the freedmen's bureau, as an active
member of the universal suffrage" party,
lent his assistance to spread this feeling of
dissatisfaction. Without any authority of
law, the agents of the party have, we I'M
derstand, very thoroughly procured the
registration, by their secret commits sioners,
of most of the negroes in the State, with
n view to holding separate election for
their own candidates. From this action,
there necessarily arises in the mind of the
ignorant negro, belief that he is already
entitled to the right Of franchise claimed
for him by these revolutionsts and a feel
ing that freedom implies entire license, lie
is disposed to assert his claims in the most
violent manner. The presence of an or
ganized body Of negro soldiers, dispersed
through the different parishes, the general
disarming of the white population and the
military rule exercised over them, give evil
dence to the ncgros mind that he is him
self the special object of the nations care,
and that his most unreasonable claims will
be enforced by the government which has
given him his freedom. Already there ex-
lists in his mind belief which occasioned
the recent circular from the freedmen's bu-
reau, that the coming first of January will
be day for holding. high carnival over the
division, amongst the negroes, of the spoils
of their form II masters.
We have reason to think that from these
various causes there exists among the freed
men general feeling of discomfort and
expectancy, liable at any time to break out
into insurrection' There is correspond
ing feeling of apprehension on the part of
the white population, who, disarmed as they
are, and deprived Of the power Of organi-
cation, are NECESSARILY dependent upon the
government Tor protection.
The remedy for this unfortunate state of
things is easy. Let the negro troops be
removed entirely from sections Of country
where they ineite the freedmen tohostility.
If soldiers are necessary to enforce the po-
lice regulations established forthe country,
let white soldiers be sent to enforce those
regulations. We believe with Mr. Lincoln
and Mr.. Douglas, that this is a government
of white men, and that they alone should
make and execute its laws.
If sufficient number of white troops
are not subject to the orders Of the COM
mander. let goycrnor Wells, in connection
with Gen. Candy, organize the militia in
the country parishes and place them, at the
proper time, in the United States service.
If any doubts exists as to the fidelity of
such troops, let them be placed under COM
mand Of officers Of the regular army, who
will find the citizens Of Louisiana as true
TO their renewed allegiance TO the govern
ment as any troops now in the army.
If the AUTHORSHIP do not direct their at
tention to this important subject, We fear
that the agricultural interests Of the coun-
try win be seriously imperilled by an aban-
Comment Of the fields and q con gregating
Of the white population in the villages rs
security against hedangers which they ap-
o. CresceHt