Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-20
Letter from vick.burg.


Law and 0rder-Stealing their Rul
ing Pdssion-Recent Order Of Gen
Ord-Neo Rdflroad Enterprise The
Lumber Trade, Etc, Etc
Correspondence Public Ledgor.l
VIcKsBuRa. August le, 1861.
Politics is in Stdfu quo at present,
and excites little attention. The regis
ters closed their labors on the tenth and
are now bringing their reports to head
quarters. The newly enfranchised will
all vote the Radical ticket, when the time
arrives for them to vote, the same as was
the case in Tennessee. There is no
doubt of this, as the Radicals have their
emissarics in every direction reading
and circulating their documents among
them. All sorts of simple, foolish and
mons Shsical ideas are being put into the
darkies' heads and they believe what
their pretended friends tell them.
The majority Of negroes in this part
of the country are far different from those
in Tennessee They are more vicious
and less intelligent Many are but a
single degree above the brute creation.
This is particularly so with those whose
parents we're brought directly from AZ
rica A feeling of insecurity pervades
the minds of many with regard to the
future. Some think trouble will result
from the effects Of their new teachings.
They have peculiar idea Of their new
position, and the manner many Of them
cpnstrue the laws made to govern them
is often amusing.
Some days ago, near Lake Providence,
a gentleman found an estrsy horse. He
had him posted as the law directed.
The owner was darky, and when he
appeared was called upon to prove his
property, which, Of course, was right
The negro went to the nearest bureau
officer and got az order for his animal.
On his return he gathered a couple Of
hundred colored neighbors, many of
whom were armed with pistols and shot
guns, and at night they proceeded to the
gsntleman's house. Upon nearing it
they halted and sent in regular flag Of
truce asking parley, and without show
ing their order the horse was demanded
During the conference some Of the party
found the animal, and without further
ceremony he was captured rie CT
armts. This is an example of their
idea of law and order. Their
inclination to steal seems to be on
the increase, in accordance with their
ideas of self superiority. Nothing is safe
from their holds unless under strong bolts
and bars. Several days since gentle
man living on plantation near Carolina
Landing, caught one in the act OF butch
ering hog in the woods. The darky
took to his heels, but was brought to by
a pistol shot and broken shoulder.
When he gets well other stealing adven-
lures will be engaged in. The same gen
tleman caught another in an act of theft
and fred load of buckshot into him.
The load of powder was so small that his
skin was only penetrated. A surgeon
picked the shot from the wounded darky S
body, causing him to yell loudly during
the operation, but this will not stop his
stealing notions Killing is the only
thing that will do any good.
During my stay here l have made the
acquaintance of Col. Vernon, of the
Times. He is a whole souled, clever
gentlemen, very active and enterprising,
and during his career has been engaged
in many ventures. lie likes the'newspa-
per business, and reports his paper in n
fourishing condition.
Gen. Ord has just issued an order in
relation to employers who have attempted
to defraud their laborers Of their earn
luRS, Dl ulbNlibolih hhthi "ishONs nv
ding the crop now growing, as their con
tracts demand. He says that it is only
low class of men who have been guilty
of this outrage, and he calls upon all
gentlemen farmers TO aid in protecting
the laborer.
The subject of building railroad to
tap the New Orleans, Jackson and Great
Northern r. X. near the Louisiana line,
to afford close connection with New Or
leans, is being agitnted with a prospect
of final success at no distant day. The
road will pass through rich cotton re-
gion and will render the pine forests Of
Southern Mississippi more accessible at a
time when it is much needed. The cy-
press swamps above the city have here
tofore supplied all demands for lumber.
CREOLE.
"reminiscences Of the War.