Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-14
For the Waterman.
Letter from Louisiana.
rms rollrlcAL SITUATION N TnAr s1ATF.

promise was, that | should write you after
had been south sufficient length Of time to
enable me to understand the true state Of things
there. Now, notwithstanding the length Of
time which has elapsed, have to confess that
my knowledge Of the state Of things Is still
very limited and superficial have, however,
learned these facts that the present state Of
society is very complicated, and not to be readily
comprehended by persons coming from the
North; that the evil is deeply rooted, much
more 20 than has generally been supposed ; and
Furthermore, that to make up a hastyVerdict as
to the state Of things here would be quite un-
safe, as might, by further investigation, he
compelled to reverse it,
But you must understand that am super
animated man my health is very prccarious.
4" When would do good, evil is present with
me-" And Il is is true whenever attempt to
Pot my thoughts upon paper. have not
written before because, under the circum-
stances, felt myself totally incapable to do
justice to the case.
That the community here is in a sad predica-
ment is not to be doubted, and the prospect Of
any immediate relief is not at all encouraging.
Such is the present disposition Of the people
that no Efficient remedy is to be expected, I'M
less it be the establishment of strictly
military form Of government. This would re-
store order and give satisfaction to all parties.
1t is indeed, the only authority which, in the
present exigcncy, can or will be respected.
Until there is a great change in society here
for the better, the two classes. of people, which
are nearly equally divided as to numbers, can
not be made to work tremendously together,
nor can the one party be made peaceably to
submit to the rule of the other. There is not
a sufficient unanimity Of feeling among the diff
lerent classes to enable them to establish any
thing like an honest state government
The war that abolished slavery, swept away
with it every yestige Of state government,
80 that Louisiana, instead OF being state,
became merely a territory or province, under
the supervision and government Of the United
States.
The great mistake was that it was not suffered
to remain in that condition until such time as
the people had become lamilarized with their
new situation, and the different elements Of
which the community were composed, had be-
come so harmonizeda as to make state govern
ment not only possible, but also desirable.
At the time of the close of the war, the only
people who had had any experience in the science
of government, were those who had heretofore
ruled the country, and these, when compared
W m tho vholo community xrere hut n small
minority. But as they had from generation
to generation been educated to rule, and as
slavery, while it degrades the many, does, at
the same time, elevate the few, in the process
Of time they became a mighty people, whose
authority no one could gainsay or resist. They
had been educated not only to be statesmen,
but warriors as well and in the late war had
the rank and file of their army been cores
pondingy efficient, no doubt victory would
have been on their side, and the general gov
eminent been compelled to submit to their
terms, whatsoever they might have been. But,
as they had to contend againstsuch fearful odds
it is not to be wondered at that they were at
last overcome; that the mighty fell, and the
weapons of war persisted.
But they were not all destroyed there is a
very respectable remnant Of them yet left
But they were for the most part DISTINGUISHED
by the government and indeed it would
have hardly been safe to have Immediately re
placed them in authority, inasmuch a. their
views and feelings would have been iniexibly
opposed to the new order of things 1t would
ha haot b futs LID
bottles the bottles would have been broken
and the wine spilled"
Had it been otherwise had they been of
such a temperament as to accept the situation
and honestly carry it out to its legitimate con
| clu.ion, it would doubtless have been better
for all if they had been re-instated at once
But no such thing was to be expected Of them
the idea that they were BORN to rule, the Air
can to serve, was ever prominent in theii
minds. 1t seemed to have become an heredit
airy or innate sentiment with them, and haC
become 80 interviewer in their natures, that t
eradicate it was hardly to be expected, at leas
in this generation. Ii is true they have Away
nominally accepted, as a sort Of political dog
ma, our national creed OF platform that al
men are created equal, and are by their Creator
endowed with certain inalienable rights; thai
amongst these are life, liberty and the pursui
OF happiness; !" but in their estimation those
who are Of African descent are not herein in
cluded. And this sentiment among this ruling
class is almost universal it is relict of hu
man slavery, than which nothing can be mort
degrading or oppressive to the African, espe
cially now that he Is free. 1t is undoubtedly
'he greatest OBSTACLE IN tue way oil his educa
ton
asa man th'nketh IN ms heart' 50 Is be-
no matter "hether ne DC oiacK OF "hite' Con
VINCE nun Una. nc IN ou' oru'e' anu ne wiz
noser "e~ yea niau No"' 'ohsiuerihs 'n
'hnuenees win Mhich 'ne coiofeu man Is sur
iouhueu' I'LL ieau'ng 10 '"'s one utec'ioh' Is
AL strange tna' no makes no more progress II
Tue way OIL human eieVauoh
Inns colu ana uhyieioing pieIuulce whic'
seeks al I'll times ana In all possible ways
EXCLUDE MN from tue paie OIL humanity Is no
".'enueu WIN any essential oenent 70 any Gas
Oh 'ne community IL tends TO drive the color
Gu men into combinations Tor mutual sell de
ehse' ana INTO ASSOCIATIONS WIN men proiessed
.neir 'fiehus, VINO are Oh doubtful character
anu nave come mere lor no o'her purpose thai
secure 10 themselves 'hfough the agenc.
Oh sueh as nave heretofore been slaves, sucl