The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-08-07
Texas.
THE FREEDMEN-THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES
REFUSE TO PUNISH CRIMINALS

THE REIGN OF TERRoR-THE MASSACRE OF
THE FREEDMEN-THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES
REFUSE TO PUNISH CRIMINALS.
GALVESTON. Texas July 16.-Colonel Sin
clair, the officer appointed tosuperintend reg
istration in the Northeastern counties of the
State, reports from GAINESVILLE, Red River
county, depicting miserable social condi-
ton of anarchy and crime. Rufiianism DOM
ineers over society, and controls the law
Reconstruction and everything tending to-
ward civilization and order is fercely and
brutally opposed Colored registrars dare not
accept their appointments, and the Boards
OF Registration are threatened with death.
Judge Latimer, Agent of the Freedmen's
Bureau, has resigned. Being without troops,
he was in constant peril, and was also nat
urally unwilling to make of his position
mockery by witnessing and recording wrongs
that he had no power to redress.
The Unionists are strong in numbers, but
completely terrorized. If they dared, they
would petition that the county be placed
under martial law but they are disheartened,
passive and dumb. They fear to organize,
hold meetings, or to openly express sentl-
ments of loyalty to the national govern
ment.
In word, the flames of Rebellion are not
quenched, but smothered only, and ready to
break forth on the least occasion. Civil law
is dead, and its officers so many utilities.
The only official who shows disposition to
do his duty is the sheriff CT the county, and
he is powerless, being alone Murderers,
against whom the sheriffs holds indictments
for the worst of crimes, ride freely into
town. The sheriff calls upon the people to
help him make arrests, and they refuse
He reports them to Judge Mabry, who fines
them 800 for refusing, and RENTS the fine.
The criminal rides off in triumph, and is the
hero of the occasion.
In this atmosphere of outrage and MUIR
der the freed people are, of course, the deep
est sufferers. They have generally received
no pay for last years labor, and are now
held by their employers in condition of
servitude that has oil the bitterness of slav-
cry without any of the alleviations that the
sense of ownership and of property threw
round the old system. The colored people
are beaten daily, and shot at will by gangs
of cut-throats that infest the country. In
some localities the freed people will not go
to the woods alone, because of the daily
wanton murders.
One of these williams, named Guest, stands
preeminent in infamy. He has been known
to kill three colored men in single day
As he rides along the road whole fields 81
hands drop their tools and run for the
woods.
| One planter informed the officer that his
laborers lived in such terror of this man.
that when he sent them to the woods to cut
fuel. he had to accompany them armed He
rides freely in and out of town. has troops
of admirers and friends, and no one dares
| to arrest him. He was once surrounded on
! the open prairie by four men who, at the
risk of their lives, captured and brought
him to town. But the civil authorities
! lodged him in Jail secured by common
! paddock and did not even station guard
He escaped, of course There are dozens Of
| such men in this tier of counties, who rank
as heroes in the eyes of their abettors, who
never weary of harboring, defending and
sounding their praises.
The Freedmen are held down by the shot
gun and the six-shooter. They are sfraid
even to make complaints against the OPP
pressions they endure; they know that Con
! gress has granted them suffrage; they are
ignorant of their rights as citizens, and they
will be allowed neither to register mr. to
vote unless strong cavalry force with ener-
| getic officers be sent to rule with strong
hand and summary powers this pandemo
mum.
General Griffin promptly on receipt of this
report, ordered a cavalry company to Hunts
vile, and will do all in his power, with in.
sufficient means, to enforce order, arrest
murderers. develop loyal sentiment, and
protect both black and white in their rights
J of citizenship.-Ne~ York Tribune.