The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-11
Chs caew Orleans Crescent.
TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY IL, 1868.
LETTKR FROM TEXAS.
LAGRASGB, TEXAS, Jan.

aLAOhANbh, lEAASJ JhI. Oh loOos
To THE Editor OF the New Orleans Crescent:
l have written you several letters from La
Grange, but do not know whether you received
fhem or not as have only received one copy OF
the CREsCENT. Business here is unusually dull
though presume much better than in most OF the
Southern States. Planters have been, as yet, IA.
able to procure labor On any terms to carry on
their plantations this year. dark prospect
looms up in the future, and men are beginning 70
ask themselves the question, what il TO become
OF US 2" II il an admitted fact in political econ.
Omy, that all occupations in life all branches Of
industry, are supported by planting and farming
interests, and become active or inactive increase
or decrease, in proportion TO the successful or un-
successful cultivation Of the soil. In other words
all interests and occupations in life are dependent
upon the agricultural. This being the case, the
prospect for the future is a dark and gloomy one.
In the South the shattered condition of labor the
bone and sinew Of peoples prosperity aud hap
piness, is enough of itself TO parayze all induS-
trial pursuits in life and check the wheel Of trade
and Improvement.
The registration board has Just closed its session
ofabOut week, in LaGrange, revising their books
and permitting the illegally dsfranchised under
the acts Of Congress, TO register. At least, such
are Gen. HancOck's orders, and il remains 70 be
eeen whether the general occupies simply a mere
siDecuTe position or not.
The general passed through our town a short
tine since on bis way to Austin, the capital OF the
state. he was called upon by great many Of
our citizens. and received them very ahably and
kindly. Our band discoursed some excellent
music in welcome to the general, whl being In.
uoduced 10 the crowd, made few remarks per
uneuf 20 the occasion. he said he was nc speaker,
but simply a soldier. That his duties we're mil.
taTy and not civil and advised thelpeople to be
quiet and peaceabe, as al disturbances among
them were misrepresented by the Northern p lper5
70 their injury and prejudice. He stated that he
he'd been on the frontiers OF Texas, and knew the
people well enough 10 know that these exaggerated
reports on the part Of some Northern papers we're
In most instances without foundst on and levod
81 NrNuNI i Ill -
and impressed The people very faVoraby with bis
vii inRness and disposition to do what he cOu
for them IN their distressed and calamtous cOnii-
ton. He looks like he intended doing his duty
his whole duty. He goes 70 Austin, il is to be
hoped, 10 instruct certain high officials in civil se.-
vice in regard to their duties, and how far thew
can 60 IN removals from and appointments II
Chice, and at tie same time the impOlicy as well
as illegalty in times of peace Of institutng mill.
tary commissions for the purpose Of trying citizens
whose oflenses are purely and entirely G VII, and
belong to the jurisdiction OF the civil cour s. He
viii lind work before him, and, it is to be hoped
OF the, Augesn stables.
It's thought by the planters that they will not be
able to employ the freedmen until after the election
which takes place next month. Ii is thought they
are drilled and advised by their supposed radical
friends not TO change Counties or even to hire
themselves To, or have anything to do with the
" white trash" until after the election. Be this as
1t may III certain they not disposed at pres mt
~ thltl LLNo any ttuLhCLs Win inc whites, do
anything except job work, and that barely sufIi.
clent 10 supply the wants Of animal life. They
are IN very destitute condition, and are really !
TO be ptied, irresponsible as they are for their
present condition. Rights aud privileges have |
been conferred upon them which they nayer |
asked or desired, and in their ignorance they have
fallen prey 10 wicked and designing demayogles. |
Whist is to be the result, God only knows All |
that IS left US Is hope in overriding Providence
IN that great Being who, we are told watches over
the acts and conduct OF men, and who "heIrsth |
even the cries of the raven"
Our people are very much divided in regard TO
Their duty and best interest in the approaching
election IN this State for a convention The law.
abiding and conservative portion of the people
had come to the conclusion TO stay away from the
pois ana not take any part either for or against
the new order OF things, as the reconstruction |
acts did not force them TO take part but simply
LETT their action in the premises discretionary with
They came 10 this conclusion In the |
nope that such course would, perhaps, save
them from negro supremacy and yassalage until
The conservatives in the North should throw on
their leihargy and come TO the rescue OF dc.
.nolished government, torn and shattered COnst-
tuition, and, In fine, the great principles of Amer.
can constitutional liberty. But recently a cOnser-
yatiye convention has been held in Houston |
which adopted resolution advising the people
TO vote for delegates 10 a convention and at the
same time 10 vote against a convention IAN
afraid this will be firebrand in the conservative
ranks.
in view of this fact the citizens OF Fayette
county held meeting at LaC'ranCe, in their court
house, few days ago, to take into consideration
what was best 10 be done under the circum.
stances. They adopted resolutions condemnng
The action OF the Houston convention, and resDlv.
ing TO adhere rigdly to their former determine
lion 10 avoid taking any part in the dark political
tragedy now being enacted in their midst, aud
trusting to the "quiet, sober thought" of the
Northern people to rehabilitate them with the
tights and privileges Of American citizenship,
without being subject to the vassalage of negroes
rhav oad in lin Of oil |
BY the recent elections in the North. Shall we,
ust when the friends of law and order in the
North are beginning TO come TO our rescue, turn
bur backs upon them, and throw ourselves into
he hands of JacObin cabsl, bent upon the
destruction of every vestige of constitutional
liberty? Forbid it, Heavenl Forbid it, shades
Of the founders of American civil liberty!
W. S. B.