Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1870-08-20

10 the Editors of The Dallas Herald:
DsAn Sirs-Dack all right upon the
places made memorable by associations ol
other days, and tonight, write within
few hundred yards OF where in Oj, afcr a
hard ride of twenty miles with McPher. on s
raid, made good my escape by the small
pontoon, to tho west bank OF The Ouchltn,
and drew then for the first time for eight
months an easy free breath. You arc
aware, Monroe is the terminus Of the first
section Of the great Pacific Railroad. The
war and high water lad greatly damaged
the road--since, however, 1t has again been
put in order to Vicksburg, aud the cars
arc making daily trips to that city. War
news tonight is not ilattcring, and people
arc generally settling into lie conviction
lllut there will be fight. Cotton down and
gold up. Speculation stands in obcyanc',
till the telegraph shnll have spoken again.
Many and material changes lere since
left. ] cannot see for the better, in many
respects. Planting conducted usually up
on the principle Of share with the freed
men. As yet there are no white laborcis
here, and The plan Of tenants (by far bet
teri has not obtained. 1t is said freedmen
are working well, but conline themselves
mainly to the making OF cotton and small
quantity Of corn-no permanent improve
mcn!s of moment being made by them
Tho obscrvant eye detects an increasing
dependence upon the whites among thla
largo class of the population Of LOUISIANA
They are commanded and obey much after
tile manner of othe. days. uni not in
clincl to the opinion that many OF them
are adding much to their resources. The
years earnings most generally 60 for cali
60 aud mustang ponies. 1t has been pleas.
antly reior,ed upon me not unireqLently,
"Y our Texas ponies destroy (eaD all the
corn We make here every darhey must
have pony, and lie must be fed Without
mistake there is tiIany one here. Tie
freedmen are getting tired OF politics. and
cannot be got 10 the polls, without consid-
cradle political manipulation. So also,
tlcuyl at first much delighted with it, they
are growing more reluctant TO serve OH
iuries, seeming to beg in to realize within
themselves their utter disqualification 1T
present for these intelligent responsbiii-
lies. These arc omens,I think, Of good
At the same time decline of interest in
schools and education is very marked
among them. Why, seems 10 be nnaccount'
able. for well-nigh all the school fund OF
this State, under tile existing regime, falls
10 the colored pobulation!
Their social status is as far from that OF
the whites, as in days of yore--the, lines
drawn deep and wide as ever, while the
interest and sympathy cf ante bellunl
times, are unmistnkably wanting. They
- potbap rnpynln n
lgiously. Once Louisiana was vast mis-
sionary field:swilh some of nc denomina.
tons. Churches were built, men were paid
by the owners to preach and enlightcn
christianity to the negro. And in other
days il was deemed a christian privilege 10
miffistcr 10 them, and q commendation to
posses the requisite qualification for SO
delicate a labor. Not every preacher, by
any means, was deemed o suitable man
for the- -"Colored Missions of Louisiana.
Alas. how changed have not yet seen
white man whose business it is to serve
them with the word of life. "Why is this,
ask, "My dear sir preachers reply,
"they do not want us, they prefer their own
color and their own sort" This may ap-
pear a small item at first sight, but as
straws tell the direction of the wind, 1t re-
auires no profound philosophy to discover
in this and kindred facts, the coming des-
tiny of the colored race, morally and reli-
giously, left TO themselves, Their faith, II
faith Yea could call it, ana their worship,
ii many instances since % have assumed
features Of heaihcnisn GHi superstition
absolutely revolving
ssTHE CHAINED CIRCLE. Soon after free
dom took effect, two very ignorant men en-
-'s place claimed lobe called to put
forward for their less enlighied brethren q
species Of worship, which came TO be called
tiThe Charmed Circle" They drew large
ring on the ground and demanded admit
tance into the church II suppose The true
clurch) by entrance into this ring upon
certain statements of religious expert
epce.n These 'exptriensesT consisted oi
visions. frances, visits 10 heaven, visits 70
hell. Of slrnBge sights, wonderful scenes,
&c. &C.. sueh as, went up narrow road,
and cent and went passed q heap Of col
orei folks, bot no body else, and When
got 10 heaven found there was 10 white
nan there. The service consisted Of bol-
loving. shouting, dancing and all sorts Of
uild and inmo1srais physical operations
The srcifernsnt rrsT via and furious, IN
III he Whites became alarmed fer results
A fer sc-srrl fthsnss proposed 70 chsek j.