New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-13
TEXAS.
EFFERsoN-THE.MURDER OF sMITH-THE GEN
ERAL STATE OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FOR


IMMIGRANTS.
JEFFERSON, Texas, June 16.-The chief
city this section the State Jefferson is at the head
OF bayou lake emptyinG into the Red River and Is
about seven hundred miles from New-Oreans The tout
ensemble OF the place is anything but agreeable The
streets are not paved, and always kneedeep with
mud, except when the dust sweeps through them In
binding clouds The city has almost ten thousand In
habtants several churches shop every few doors
gambling bells in abundance and many other abodes OF
vice, but no common schools. am unable to say much
about the people for have had but little opportunity
being a" id Yankee" to make their acquaintance
have no doubt, however, that there many " high
toned and chIyarOus gentlemen" among them Az pre-
the place much excited the trial OF the muir
dcrer OF Smith. Among those charged with the crime
are many of those hgh.tonrd chiyalrc knights The
constitutiOnatity OF the trial by Military COMMISSION
openly questioned and rebel newspapers and correspond
ents vie with one another in lying abont the cruelty OF
Gen Bue and his officers toward the prisoners Ihey as
SORT that they-ths prisOners-a subjected 20 all kinds
OF torture that men are arrested and from the bosom
OF their families the most trivial charges OF which
they are kept In ignorance ana a TINS WnonT 9
out OF whole cloth. The writer OF this has seen quite
number OF the arrested and knows thnt II tey nnu
mttee, their lives would have been short indeed
That there law.abiding citizens IN N0rth'eastern
and desire a speedy reconstruction undoubtedly true,
but the who years before the war; and during he
war; held the lawless rens OF power, are just as Ou
to-day as they ago, and wond rejoice
10 see the flag OF our common country rampled IN lno
dust Moreover the animus Of the people generally Is
total disregard OF organic law Human lie i OF scarcely
any account, shoot one another as they would SOUR
res and they do not do this In fair and open ed put
instantly and without warning. Assassination, not the
duel their And yet these men are not desperd
any one down who doubted their claim su this state on
society Is not to DO wondered at when we consider the
public II was the refuge OF the outlaws assasns and
thieves OF the United States Here they congegateh ana
here they settled giving that tone to the body pouc
which has existed to this day. Talking with gentleman
the other day who has lived In Texas thirty years ne
ffan1
said that he feared that when the United States forces
Withdrawn the State would pass through terrible
ordeal and that things would be worse than before the
war. II Baker and other desperadOes could then
hold whole counties In aject fear aud submission Why
states troops have not yet withdrawn and hope
that before they are the worst OF these men WI" nave
Every day OF them Is either shot or arrested
Bob Lee" has been killed. and nearly all OF Bakers men
aS fe6 asna Rg in owo COUNTY
and especially the city OF Boston, place containing an
deserted and of unenviabe notorety In Boston Captain
Kirkman OF the Freedman's Bureau was murdered aud
~ was thought that the life OF any United states oincer
who should dare TO venture there would be ioreed LAST
February however me & @ ON ~, I
fiutry there with mere handful OF men He lmme-
datey went TO work In bold and fearless manner ar
rested esperadocs and awcss men, and taught tho eO
pie that they must respect the hoatng In th.r midst
lie has emnenty succeeded There fofeW, u any ues
peradocs In tho county drunkenness and lawess beha
Viour among the things that were the freedmen
protected IN their rights aud the people ceetuy
spot" a,
one word about the advantages that Texas offers TO the
Northern Immigrant Notwithstanding tue TACT tat ne
must pass from civilization almost 70 barbaTs ana give
M time home comforts, suffering many prNatons,
he will IN the end be amply repaid FOR the sacrifice Land
Is cheap selling many instances NJ 'ty or seYentynYo
cents an acre and the soil yields abuudanuy Of cotton and
corn There plenty % fine timber aud the praires fur
nh excellent pasurage for the thousands Of cattle roam
Ing them. what Texas wants laborby labor mean
not only who shall WORK beneath the brOnlng sun,
but also the modern appliances of labor which are almost
unknown here. would not recommend any man To come
here aouc or accompanied only by his family They must
form companies, luy tract % land and settle on IT,
comfortable house hOud be erected for the freed
men aud others unable 10 take stock In the company.
The people % the state would Offer hndrance 10 this
plan but would De glad thus 10 dispose OF their nncult
waited aud unoccupied lands. | have heard many men
living here auxiOusy express desire FOR something Of
this KIND for they believe that tho time Il not very far
distant when they not rely on negro labor alone 10
indeed true that The negro race here does not Increase
and multiply it did before the The death rate
among the freedmen people is sad 10 be greater than the
ratio OF births. Furthermore, therc are many men who
would prefer white labor IL IL only few days since
largo planter the Red River asked me about the feas
biity OF getting Irish German immigrants 10 come
here Something should be done Immediately in this
for IL will not be long before the Southern Pacific
Railway will be constructed through NORTHEASTERN
Texas and then land will be greatly enhanced IN value.
The planters this year expect very large cotton crop