Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-04-17
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquire
LETTER FROM NEW ORLEANS.
New ORLEANS, April 10, 1873.

New ORLEANS, April 10, 1873.
The metropolis of the South is just now in
rather sad condition. The situation is any
thing but favorable. New Orleans feels, in a
keen degree, the misery brought upon the
whole State by corrupt and imbecile State
government. Matters have gone from bad to
worse, until it looks as though a crisis was not
far in the distance. The stranger here will
see signs of depression and distress upon every
hand. I mean financial distress. Business
is dull. Real estate is depreciating. Those
who own, are desirous of selling, while those
who do not own, have no inclination to buy.
Taxes arehigher than in any city of any State
in the United States. Property is put at its
full valuation, and taxed six per cent. For
tunate is he who can rent for enough to pay
taxes, repairs and insurance. It is no pleas
ure to be rich in New Orleans, if the riches
consist of real property. Rich men are not
usually to be pitied, but those Of them who
live in New Orleans, just now, certainly de-
serve it.
Nor is the State much better off than the
city. Property has deprecated very rapidly
within the past three years. I was talking
with a gentleman-a large planter from St.
Marys Parish-the other day, and he told me
that plantations which, three years ago, were
worth hundred thousand dollars, could now
be bought for half the sum. Widespread
distrust and anxiety prevail. The negroes
are suspicious of the whites, and the whites of
the negroes. There are now two governments
ruling, or attempting to rule, the State. Gov.
McEnry was elected by the Fusionists or
Democrats, and Gov. Kellogg by the Radicals
Both were inaugurated, and both are "acting"
so far as as they can. 1t is not denied but
what McEnry received the most votes, but it is
claimed that if the negroes had all voted as
they wanted to, Kellogg would have been
elected. Upon this claim the Radicals set up
the Kellogg government, the President recog.
nized it, and it is now under full head of
steam governing" the State Congress ad-
journed without recognizing either govern
ment, and so far as the law-making power is
concerned, it is an open question which is the
legal one. Congress will have to come up to
the scratch, however, in December and set the
seal Of appreciation upon one or the other.
The question cannot longer be lodged. 1t is
surmised that the President regrets having
acted in the matter at all, but he was fairly
driven upon decision of the question, when
he had no desire to mix in the muss. He
preferred to leave it to Congress. But the
Radical ring of ofice-holders here would give
him no peace day nor night till he expressed
himself Neither Gov. McEnry nor any of
the prominent Democrats here blame the
President so much as others do outside the
State. They appreciate the delicacy of bis
position, and know the importuning to which
he was subjected.
The white people have, in great measure,
resolved not to pay any taxes to the Kellogg
government until Congress pronounces in the
case. They insist that Kellogg was set up as
Governor through violence and fraud, and that
they will not pay taxes into his treasury until
Congress takes action.
Meanwhile, as you may we'll suppose, there
is feeling of painful anxiety and distrust
pervading the minds of the people, They
know not what an hour may bring forth, and
wait from day to day for new signs to appear
in the political heavens.
You of South Carolina, with all your man.
fold troubles, are better off than the people of
this unfortunate State, MEMO.