The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-28
of the New Orleans Crescent


MARKET-THE DISTRICT COURT AND CRIMINAL
CASES.
Special Correspondence Of Orleans Crescent
PARISH OF PON1E COUPEE, April 2l, 1868.
Considering the number Of candidates, the
thirst for Office and the general comp xiOn
of the registry, this parish did as well
was hoped for at the late election. Many Of
the best informed negroes did not vote. though
solicited by native born white men to do They
renamed quietly at their work from vague idea
that political matters were prog essing too rapidly
for the ultimate good Of their race. The negro
will trust and coDiide in the Southern white man
iu all things except those which concern his pO-
litical status. When negro suffrage was fest pro-
posed the radicals were fearful that this vote
would be Influenced by the white population OF
the South, and radcalism will find to its sorrow
and confusion that it will be so influenced the
moment it has been finally forced upon US aud es-
tablished as an element of the government of
tn, Sc States.
The corn crop Of this parish, on lands which
have escaped overflow, has been seriously injured
by the cut worm and by a small white worm
which destroys the germ of the seed corn. Many
fields have been replOwed and replanted, and in
general the stand is thin and defective. Mixing
The seed corn with tar and ashes, tar and lime,
coal tar, or saturating it with coal oil, has not
preserved it from the ravsges of these destructive
insects. Garden vegetables have suffered from
like depredations. The overflow daily extends
over more of our fields and will continue to do
so until the Mississippi falls. While that river re-
mains on a stand there is no hope OF the water
subsidiDg; it runs in faster than il runs Of.
Cane looks promising, and has been more ex-
tensyely planted than II has been since the war.
Many who were very anxious TO plant were una
bic TO purchase seed cane, which sold here last
winter at S275 the acre. Cotton is showing itself
above ground, in good stand and healthy look,
but has not received the almost exclusive atten-
ton with which in past years it was nurtured.
We are advised, and properly too, by the New
Orleans press 10 cultivate a variety of crops, aud no
longer to rely solely upon cane and cotton. BIT all
farmers need SOME money to defray usual family
expenses, and there are but few who do not now
REQUIRE much more. What crop, save cotton or
cane, can they raise with hope to meet the latter
requirement! New Orleans is our natural mar
ket, and to ii should be sent the produce OF the
State intended for commerce, and from it, in
return, should be obtained all the farmer must
have and cannot raise himself. Yet there is
hardly an instance of a shipment of corn, peas,
etc., from this or adjacent parishes TO the city,
which gave the shipper much money as he
could have obtained on his own place for the
articles shipped; and in numerous cases, both
before and since the war, the shipments did not
pay freight and other charges. And it is also
true that the planter living fifty miles above the
city and having a correspondent in the West, can
obtain pork and other supplies from st. Louis
cheaper than be can get them from New Orleans.
He saves the high rates of freight demanded on
the Lower Mississippi; he is not made to cOntri-
butte TO the payment Of the excessive wharfage,
storage, rents, insurance, commissions and high
priced provisions which seem inseparable from
New Orleans.
Probably everywhere the producer derives less
profit than those who subsequently handle the
fruits OF bis labor, and that similar restrictions
upon commerce which make food dear, exist in
all places. In this parish, at time when its in
hsbtsnts were almost famishing and the police
Jury deemed il too onerous to levy any tax, the
same body exacted license of $500 from ea ch
trading boat.
For the first time in many months, we have had
a session Of the District Court, Judge POsey, of
| Baton Rouge, presiding. Few civil cases were
| tried, but judgments were obtained on many old
| debts. Five men stood charged before it with
murder. Two were negroes, for the murder and
| robbery Of peddler named Kern. Another, was
q negro, for the murder OF one Of his own color
ON Mr.. Phps's place. This man has repeatedly
acknowledged his guilt, but before his apprehen-
SION Mr.. Philips had TO claim the protection of the
| military from the threatened violence Of the ne :
groes on False river. The fourth was white man
for killing negro. His case was fully inyestlga-
ted by the late agent OF the freedmen's bureau,
who declared il TO be one Of necessary self de.
| fense. The last was that of white man accused
Of killing another white man in some private
! quarrel. His case was sent to another parish for
trial the trial of the others was continued, be-
cause of the absence of witnesses. A number OF
negroes, charged with offeDses Of less magnitude,
who bad been long in jail, were discharged on
their own recognizances.
A murderous attempt was made. some ten days
or more since, to kill and rob stOrekeeper on
False river. The villains bored augur holes in the
store, through which they several times fred upon
the storekeeper and his wife, who, aroused by
the noise, lighted q candle. The latter made q
vigorous and successful defense, and two negroes
| have since been arrested who are thought to have
| formed part Of the band.
| Very incomplete election returns have reached
me. The parish Offices absorbed attention, and il
the struggle for them the vote respecting the Con
| stitution was neglected, and / fear the same re
| suit will be found wherever the Democracy had
no pledged tieketin the field. The present noun
tents OF the parish Offices generally succeeded II
retaining their positions, or in obtaining better
1 ones. T.