The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-08-29
LETTER FROM pLAauEMlNE.
PLAouEMrNE, August Is, 1869.
2 Star and Catholic Messenger:

PLAQUEMINE, August 10, lcoS'
Editors Morning Star and Catholic Messenger:
Having taken the world easily for some time
past, must now send you whole chapter OF
the annals of Baronius brought down." and
will begin with the '.r5
WEATHER AND CROPS
The weather for sometime past has boon
favorable for the sugar crop, and with con-
tinued favorable season our planters viii real
ize good returns for their years labor. The
season is backward and the cane small, but
recent rains have started it to growing finely.
The corn crop of this section is fne-suffi-
cient to meet all home demand-a fact your
correspondent is delighted to chronicle. The
South can and should produce her own bread,
and must do 1t, or remain pitifnliy dependent
in the future.
There is not in this parish very much cotton
in cultivation, but what is being grown looks
well and promises good yield, although there
has been reported in some localities, but as the
season is pretty well advanced, no great injury
is apprehended from his advent.
The fruit crop has been tolerably good.
Plums, peaches, figs, grapes, melons, etc, were
plentiful and of fine flavor Two melons, one
weighing forty whine and the other fifty-one
pounds, have been raised near this place this
season.
Our country is sadly in need of labor We
have freedmen enough for present need ii they
would work, but they are lazy and unreliable,
and these not very commendable characteris-
given Cufiey for sometime past. s-
Trouble is anticipated with, the, freedmen in
our parish about the beginning of the sugar
making season. Some of their leaders urge
them to strike for higher wages, in the hope
that the alternative of yielding or losing his
crop may force the planter to 4 compliance, no
matter how unjust the demand. An additional
supply of labor brought into the country now
would teach the freedman good lesson. but
the question is, whence is that supply to he
obtained John Chinaman seems to be the
I,lN
good for many reasons. This our people adj
nit, and fear that his introduction into orr
country, in the number sufficient to countcracG
the evil disposition and tendency of the freed
men, will lead to surfeit that will be ruinous
to the best interests OF the country in the end.
We get small credit, however, for our ideas in
the matter, for although all feel must
secure additional labor, or to a certain extent
lay aside the culture of sugar and cotton, our
desire to Try few Chinese, in the lrupe of ulti-
mately securing some white labor and rcgula-
ting the kind we have, is urged upon such
immigrants as may wish to come among
the strongest reason why they should avoid MS.
Even the New York Fr6eman's Journal, with all
its proclaimed fairness, has joined in the Puri-
tan cry. II the Freeman had the alternative
presented it of closing up shop or employing
for time, in the hope of doing better, a few
:" Celestials," think the Pigtails would find
employment Verify the poor South has time
of it to succeed in her honest endeavor to.get
up i'll the world again, but succeed she will
Chinaman OF no Chinaman.
THE COURTS.
Last month orr District Court which con-
venes three times year, in session here
and although have had two three ses-
sions under the new regime, the contrast is so
striking and painful that one can reflect
upon it moment without feelings of sadness
and regret. The Grand Jury was composed of
two white men and fourteen colored. OF the
colored members of this grand inquest, one-a
free man before the war-made good juror,
being man of some education, but the re-
ton in far less important duties than that of
grand jurors. This is bad enough but was
made much worse III empanneling the petit
ures. Nearly every one of these was COM
posed entirely of colored men, and in twelve
OF fourteen true bills found by the grand Jury,
but tro convictions were reckoned by the Dis
trict Attorney, though he did his duty, and
bad in some of the cases the clcarest evidence.
This is indeed 4 sad picture, and it is not sur
prising that crime shouldsbe rapidly on the in
srense in our midst. Our District Judge, Hon.
Z. I. Posey, could only express his dissatsfac-
lion, NShich he did in most emphatic terms, at
what was passing before BIN, but was power
ess to do more.
Our Parish Court, which meets once n month,
s presided over by an old planter, but the
Jules for growing corn and cane do not apply
o law, his honor, i'll rendering his decisions, is
lot unfrcqucntly in II position where toss-up
would be as correct way for determining the
natter as any other within his reach. !
OUR SCHOOLS
lave now vacation-the Academy of St BAIL
laving terminated its scholastic year on the
It'll inst. with nice little exhibition and dis
ribution of prizes. The affair was pleasant
me. and was considerably enlivened by the
presence of the Orphan Band from st.
IaryS Asylum, i'll your city. The little fell
ows composing this band attracted consider
bile attention during their-stay here, and were
he recipients of y purse containing s4t Aeie4t
o buy -" bon-bOns" for longer trip than they
lad in contemplation.
THE ASSUMPTION
vas duly celebrated here, and all would have
passed off with the eclat customary in our COM
nunity, but for the rain which took place in
he evening st. Johns Church was beaut- 7
ally decorated, and all arrangements were in /
rider for fine procession, but it had to be de- I,
erred We hope the 18th of December next /,
will be more Propitious for such a display in !
lonor of our heavenly Mother.
PELICAN. |
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