Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-02-26
TEXAS.

ITS SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONDI-
TlON-STORY OF A UNION WOMAN |
SLAVERY NOT EXTINCT-PROpo-
SITIoN TO DIVIDE THE STATE.
We give below a description of section Of
Texas furnished by correspondent from that |
State.
A region If the great State OF Texas COM
prising the tier OF counties bordering ON Louis |
ana, one hundred miles in width and about |
two hundred miles in length is, no doubt, one |
OF the darkest in the entire South. 1t Is true
their are counties and neighborhoods In the |
bottoms ofthe Brazos hard to beat, but the ex- |
tended region l have indicated is peculiar in its |
moral and physical darkness.
travelled over this region in order To ascer-
tain the condition and temper of the people |
about Two years ago, and no material change
has taken place since unless 1t be an increase |
oi the moral and political obscurily II would |
occupy too much space to relst9 all the expert J
ences of that journey, but general sketch may |
not be uninteresting to onr politicians and phi |
lanthropists, especially since there seems to be
agrowing impression that all is lovely south of
Mason and Dixons line.
The entire region is heavily ,imbenAd, the
highlands with long -leaved and short-lezved |
pine and the valleys of tie numerous creeks |
and iivers with variety of timber principally |
oak, magnolia, sweet gum, aud other growths. |
These primeval forests are magnificent in
growth, and for long sire ches their solitudes
have never been broken by the echo of lie
Woodman's AK.
We travelled the man roads leading from
county seat TO county seat. They seem to
have been abandoned for years as public high
ways, and We jour neyed for days together with
out meeting a soul.
We were often compelled 10 cut our way around
some forest monarch that had fallen across the
road, torn from his throne by some sudden tor
rent or storm blast.
We seldom slept in house, in fact we found
no taverns and little hospitality. five inauir-
ed at farm house for chickens or eggs OF for
provender for our horses, the woman of the
house would remove the inevitable snuff-stick
from her mouth long enough to inform us that
they had nothing for sale, hut we might be-
accommodated il we went lu the 'nieger cabin
ut The other end Of the field, and there we al
ways found true hospitality, especially when
Inc humble jewellers OF the cabin found out
we were Republicans. Had ii not been for The
Niger cabins we would have starved.
10 give some idea OF the density and growth
81 the forests the impression Of travelling down
and down into some shadowy region beyond
The reach of the shining rays OF the sun or the
sight OF the blue skies almost became oppres-
siye.
1t was midday before the sun penetrated 10
our pathway, and it was dark long before the
day had closed. We often heard the deep
sound OF the horn calling In the laborers on
some plantation removed from the road, aud
again the.lnighty solitudeslwere broken blythe
baying of "A pack Of hounds in pursuit Of q
deer,
Although this region has long stretches of
forest remaining untouched, the valleys Of
tue numerous streams and what are known
rs the hammock lands are very fertile, produc-
ing sugar, cotton, corn, and tobacco; and al
though one OF the Oldest settled sections it has
advanced but very little beyond what il was
hfteen or twenty years ago. The deep forests
of ala IL. "A,
railroads, stage coaches, and telegraph wires
make 1t region having little sympathy with
lhe outside world.
The war Of the rebellion came and went, and
lett 1t pretty much you find it to-day-the
same people, pursuing the same occupations
Inc same relations maintained between master
aud slave, and the principal adhered tu
now as then.
The county towns or seats are characteristic
oi the region; they have attained their growth,
anu appear 10 be rotting down-the absence
oipalnt and care, with the sure ravages OF time
are beginning to tell upon these old'rendezvous
ot the chivary.
Tbe whistle of the locomotive or even the
lively rattle Of the stage coach is unknown:
perhaps once week a mail arrives by horse
DICK by some ctcuitous route, but there is lit.
Tie communication with the great active world
beyond.
Strangers seldom pass through, aud the hall
dozen bar rooms and stores and the court
house nave Tie same set OF customers year in
and year out.
Saturday is the great day to come to Town
with white aud black, TO make small purchas-
erb, drink whisky, talk politics, and occasional
~ vary The entertainment with a shooting
malch. In some OF these little places Will bC
printed little venomous rebel newspaper
winch once week takes occasion TO abuse thu
United States Government and the Yankees
and TO particularly launch its curses upon til,
heads of all Republicans and Justify any VIC
renee perpetracd upon niger or 'nigge
sympathiZers."
All tile news Which does come TO one of these
county centers ~ filtered through the poison
Gus columns of the rebel newspapers. To hap
pm N one Of these places on Saturday wou
give The Traveller an opportunity To get tru
insight INTO the condition Of the inhabitants. .
remained Tor several days in the town G
Noodyiile, Tyler county. Ii WAS here, in lSG
or 1869, United States officer Major Sanger
ana has command We're beseiged in the couI
house for several days by rrbe force. an
Wasat last relieved hy force sent from .Ietle
son by General Buell..
was TIE guest Of the only nion family ,
the place; the lady Of the house was a confirm
I'D invalid, an inverate snufchewer q perte,
type OF a Southern backwoods woman, b.
with all that she was u noble hearted, BRAY
patrotric woman, who loved the old flag al
although She knew nothing about the Mort
she had sided with the Northern people fro
the first.
She related to me many incidents ofthe W.
times, and pointed out to me several of Il
men who had been guilty of numbering Unto
men and prosecuting their families Anon
the recolleclions she gave me was the sad ste
of the capture oil two Yankee soldiers, who
seems, had escaped from rebel pen situated ;
BreDhem, Texas, and, with the aid rcndere
them by the cQeled people they met W it'll WEI
making ont their way to the L nion lines the
fell sick, and, finding they could proceed L
further, surrendered themselves TO a wh
planter proceeded Immediately 10 the tow
and Informed the rebel provost marshal, VIII
gathering up n crowd went to the planter
house and dragged the poorfellows to the vi
lage, making them spectacle to the assemble
Inhabitants, who had turned out to see the
Yankee soldiers.
After gratifying their curiosity, the unfortu
nate captives were thrown into an ola buildin
which was used as pig styc,
Mrs NJ. hearing of the capture and witnes.
log some of the proceedings, her heart went on
10 the boys in blue, especially when she hear
.hey were sick and had been cast into mise
able place without beds or food.
She sent her husband, who was doctUl
way, IN older not to compromise him in he
aeuons, aud then visited the yankees" Sh
sick. 1S''
She sent her little son anil a servant An
brought bedding (iom her own housa and fan