The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-06-06
The sItuntlon tn Texns.

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We desire to present through your
columns a brief sketch of affairs In
Northern Texas since the assumption
of the command of the Fifth Military
District by General Hancock, and the
issuing OF his order No. 40. Murder
and all kinds OF crime are fearfully on
the increase. Desperadoes are ruling
the country. There Is but one law in
force, and that the will and wish OF
desperadoes and outlaws. Union men
are leaving the country to save their
lives, and all loyal men feel that they
must have protection, or sacrifice their
lives at the hands of assassins and
rebel cut thrOats. Here Is an example
OF the YenomOus spirit that prevails in
this country; Hon. Joshua JOhnsOn-a
true Union man, and one of the seven
that voted against secession in the Con-
vention of lS6I-was assailed by a
band of desperadoes shortly after the
troops were removed from Titus conn
ty, where he resided, and ordered to
leave the country at once. or he would
surely be killed.
In few days they called at his plan
tatiOn, killed three freedmen, and or
dered the hands to leave the place in
one week. They then robbed the freed
men of everything OF value. even ta-
king their bedding and wearing appar-
ell. The desperate villains then robbed
the house while Mrs, Johnson and the
children were alone, threatening to
burn it II she did not leave. They even
carried their wicked designs SO far as
to destroy the provisions of the family,
even to the eggs that were on the table
for the next meal. One plantation of
MIR. JOhnson's was worked by sixty
hands and 800 hundred acres of corn
ana cotton planted. The hands were
forced TO leave the country with their
crops growing finely, they and their
employer ruined for being loyal men.
Where are "the good peopleH" where
is the 'civil lawh that Gen. HancoCk's
order No: 40 could sse preserving the
peace aud protecting men in their right
TO life, liberty, and the pursuito of happi-
nessf Echo an sweIs "where?" and every
body says nowhere" Is this the peril
OF loyalty Ii so, how long is this
state OF things 10 exist? Is there to be
no protection for loyal men? The muir
der OF freedman is no crime. a
white man strikes freedman with u
pick-axe in the breast, the murderer
leaves for a few days and returns, and
no notice is taken of the murderer.
Another freedman is stabbed by an ex-
Confederate desperate, the freedman
dies in about "a week, The murderer is
tried before q committing court, and
admitted to bail for three hundred dol
lars! Another murderer, named Rose,
cuts treedman's throat, and the des-
perado is committed and held to bail
on five hundred dollars; he gives straw
bail and makes no hesitancy in threat
ening the lives of half a dozen leading
Republicans, just from political preju-
dice. When the deputy sheriff Ia true
Republtcan), lYas trying to take Rose
to Jail after his commlttal, he refused
to go, and the sheriff called upon Dam
lei Sanford Tan ex-rebel and Demo-
craft the city marshal, to assist him.
The marshal refused and Joined
the prisoner in abusing the sheriff. The
conduct of the marshal was most out
rageous and shameful, calling the dep
uty sheriff, in the presence of the pris-
oner, add Radical niger lover, &c.
This is the civil law in Texas. A loyal
officer is unable to do his duty with the
present administration. To be Yam
kee is to be abused, traduced, scorned
and maltreatcd, If not murdered in cold
blood.
God forbid that this state OF outlawry
and mobocracy should continue. Con-
gress must 90 on with their good work i;
success Will crown their efforts. If
Congress backs down this country be-
longs TO the rebels.
An attempt WAS made TO blow up the
office of the Union IntelLigcnccT, u rad
ical paper published by the Hon. a. ID.
Norton, on the morning of the 9th inst,
causing the suspension of its publica-
ton.
Tho loyal people arc. becoming de-
spondent; they look to the Govern
ment for protection and relief, but it
comes not. ... G. S.
JEFFERSON, TEXAS, May 10, 1865.