New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1867-06-04

The Situation-First Mass Meeting in the
state-smith County, and Tyler-Camp
Ford: A Sad II emem m brancer-The Freed
mems bureau; Its District Head and
Working, Prospects, etc,
Correspondence of the Republican. ]

Correspondence of the Republican
TYLER, Texas, May lj, 1867
As yet but little has been done in Texas
toward reconstruction under the recent
acts OF Congress. Throughout this section
of the State the people seem generally dis
posed to "get in from the wet" as quickly
as possible. Now and then, some man,
whose fury has not abated since Lees sur
render, talks as though he would like to get
into another fight, but this kind of takers
are few, and becoming daily more far be-
tween"
A short time since there was very large
meeting in Tyler, composed mainly of freed
men who were anxious TO take a hand in
shaping future affairs. Mr.. J. Easley, O
Hopkins county, presided over the meeting.
Hon. NJ. L. Armstrong, Of Lamar county,
Amos Morrill, Esq, of Travis, and Hon. Z. B.
Turner Uaited States district attorney, to.
gether with Willis Ingram, William Taylor,
William Baxter, Luke Gotf Lewis Thomp.
son, Logan Lucas, Esau Johnson, George
Nichols, and other freedmen spoke. There
was much enthusiasm at this meeting, and
those wko were instrumental in getting it
up were highly gratifed at its temper and
spirit. They regarded it as success.
United States (Wcstern) district court has
been in session and terminated its labors,
Judge 7. II. Duval, of Austin, presiding, A.
P. Blocker acting as United States marshal,
and E. B. Turner as district attorney, all
staunch and reliable Union men. Compare
lively little business was transacted. An
indictment was found against the deputy
postmaster at Marshall for taking a $50 bill
out of a registered letter. The case was con-
tinued and the party released on bail.
Smith counly has heretofore been ranked
foremost in eastern Texas. The supreme
| and federal courts hold their sessions at
| Tyler. Tyler is quite pretty place of
| about eighteen hundred Inhabitants.
| Every business house and every dwell
| ing in the place is occupied. The
| settlers of town and county were prin-
| cipally from Alabama and Georgia. Very
few are from the North or from beyond the
waters. The people before the war were
rich, but like Jeshurun of old they "waxed
| fat and kicked" They could not stand
prosperity; and it goes mighty hard with
them to endure adversely. You can judge
pretty well of the character OF the popula-
ton when | tell you that in the entire
county but fifty votes were cast at the cleo
ton of February 20, 1861, against secession.
The people went it with a rush, and they
stood manfullY up to the question by max
ing pretty much of clean sweep OF 1T in
going into the Confederate service.
Four miles from Tyler is u place of which
history will ever tell for barbarities there
manifested during the terrible days of the
rebellion. / allude to Camp Ford, where
| thousands of the boys in blue when cap
tured, were kept in duranCe vile. No one
who was there will ever forget the spot.
stopped there and spent couple of hours
looking about the Old stoCkade, and could
not but think of the hcart-rending scenes
that had occurred there. | went to the in.
closure, the last resting place OF many a
| gallant soldier of the republic. and with
sorrowful heart walked amid the tombs oil
the departed. few months ago, Major
Hutchins, of the Sixth cavalry, with a SQUAD
of men, came down from the post at Sher-
man and spent several days here fixing up
the inclosure and making the graves of the
brave bows who fell in the cause of civil
liberty. Side by side will be seen the inscrip.
tions of soluers' names from Maine, from
Michigan, from Ohio, from Illinois, from
Massachusetts, and almost every other loyal
State.
They sleep their last sleep, they have
fought their last battle. No sound shall
awake them to glory again But ages hence
citizens of those States will make it an
object to visit this spot and pay homage &c
their remains. Hence they viii go animated
| with more Determined spiTtt 10 naihlaln
the integrity of the Union aid to perpetuatt
our republican government
Smith county was one OF the largest
slaveholding counties in the State, and the
freedmen have from the first had their in
terests locked after by the federal authori
ties. Professor Lgnaski was for time il
charge of the bureau here, but at this timt
Colonel d. L. Montgomery, of the army. i!
in command. His district comprises tbs
counties of Smith, Wood, Van Zandt, Hen
derson, and the north half of Cherokee. II,
is an accomplished gentleman--an office
true to his Rag and devoted TO the cause. II,
will command respect, if he does not &C
quire popularity.
As far as | have observed in travelling
along the public roads, the farms are vel
titled, and the promise for the coming crol
Is fair. The freedmen generally are doinl
well, but there is q great scarcity of hands
Ny next will be from the interior.
NAB.