New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-29

become free their wsnts increase. They begin to
demand articles Of clothing like that worn by the
laborers at the North and articles OF houseuse Also
sucb "a OTIS kettles pans brushes, brooms, knives,
forks sroons, soap, candies. combs Yankee clocks,
&c Some of these articles are already III request;
others ere coming into demand. Ten thousand now
customers to be sure, is not very large number In
the aggregate Of nation, but they arc sufficient TO
affect somewhat the gains of Northern men OF
bu,iness. Now fancy tbis TO- 900 multiplied by 400,
making 1000 000 the total number of slaves in the
country and what an overwhelming economical
argument does it furnish in favor Of pushing this
Port Royal experiment TO ts logical cor clusion.
III. The subject Of climate is one which, IN this
connection. needs a passing notice. IL IL q matter
on which much ignorance prevails, and In regard 10
which even the best informed acknowledge wattoi
lght The cl mate question al the south has been
made subservent to the Slavery question, ana 'here
is reason TO believe that the alleged facts propagaed
from that quarter in favor OF the one are not much
more TO be relied upon than those that have been
put forward in support Of the other.
| The fayorite theory Of the Charleston savans rs
stated in the loose pbraseoogy in which one otenest
hears it: a night on the plantations during tue
HIGHT Of Summer is almost certain death 70 North
erp white mani" or, ss ii is put forward by its more
cautious advocates: The Southern climate Is fatal
70 unseclimaed white people; they cannot bear the
,uu in day tine nor breath the air ut night without
imminent danger of lfe." The inference they de-
sire 10 be drawn from this assertion Is, Una, coon
\
South by black slave labor. Now, whatever may
be the truth on the general subjects OF climate ana
Slavery the fact of this argument Is "a lame as lis
logic Oar soldiers on Hilton Head, repntedy one
of the least heathfpl of the islands, toll In the sun
bv Cay ard stand guard night aud yet up TO this
time they appear to be as healthy the same num-
Der of men IN similar service in other parts oil the
field. White carpenters from the North, VINO nave
been working for the Government there, cay tDai
they can bear exposure 70 the weather as well and
-. nfara yIynF nj
alongside of them. They can stand the run nearly
rs well and the rain and sudden changes OF 'he
weather great deal better.
| was adinonished while debating whether or not
10 undertake this tour, that it would be dangerous
to 20 TO Port Royal after the lst of June. When
had made up my mind to go, was advised not to
expose mysc to the sum- to keep In out OF the nget
ar not TO sleep with ny windows open, not 10
drink the water Of the country, but, instead, 10
slake nv thirst with tea, coffee, or claret! But
old 90 after the let Of June; exposed myself con-
siderably to the sum- and spent large part of nearly
every night in the open air; always slept with
my windows open aud drank the water freely, ID
no instance resorDg 10 either tea, coffee or earet
as means Of quencbing my thirst; and yet never
enjoyed better health in my life than did there and
since my return.
| an aware that 4" one swallow does not make
Summer" nor one Summer prove the truth OF
theory; but when an INDIVIDUALS experience IS
backed up by that of whole body-as is mine by
that of the teachers and superntendents-a fact IS
furnished OF in portant significance and the pre-
sumption is raised that If one half OF the Pro-Slay-
cry climatic theory rests upon false data, as has
been shown, the other halt may not be much more
firmly supported
That there will be sickness-epidemic sickness
in some cases fatal sickness in these islands, this
SIMMER, is more thar probable. rank vegetation
under high solar heat, long continued, must pro-
duce malaria, which in turn must produce disease;
but that this disease will be more yiruent, or more
widely.spread, than the epidemics o! other low
lands in regard to which there is especial fear
as, for instance, the valleys Of the West or the
Atlantic slopes Of the Eastis "a matter in regard TO
which much may be said on both sidee For, as
set off against the heat OF the sun at Port Royal,
must be remembered there 10 the refreshing sea
breeze; and, a. counteract We Of the miasnata in
the air. there the sali with which the atmosphere
is at all times more or less impregnsted.
In view of all these facts, the most intelligent
people on the island with whom l converted
expressed but little apprehension of disease. The
truth is, more concern was manifested about the
nusketoes and heas than about yellow fever. The
one war present and actual evil the other future
and contingent one. As il was, the teachers and
superintenGents were cheerful and happy. Most Of
them were willing to remain throughout the season.
They had come there from q high sense Of duty, and
there, from the same motive, they meant 10 abide.
At the end Of three months from this time they will
be able 10 tell about the climate OF South Caro-
lima THAI can be learned from any other source.
" independent Of the matter Of climate, there
are other sanitary aspects in this question which de-
mand share of attention. There is reason TO sus-
pect that the shareholders therapeutics are much
at fault bis pohtics, ethics, or economies. The
Southern medical man delights 10 the heroic sys-
tenn" His favorite reauces are mercury, anthony
and canthaIdes drastic doees inwardly and tortur-
ing applications outwardy. When well, a Southern
uaR's diet is salt pork with stimulating drinks to
make it dgestib.e; when sick, his medicine an ex-
baustlpe ca;har,ic to "clean him out" and horse
IN tn h1iid him N otber xgor1a he
knocking down and jerking up practice OF the pisn
tation 10 carried into medcine and tins practice 10
carried out with rigid uniformity and disregard Of
exceptional cases. The same prescriptions the o.
peDse being equal) for the black man, whor tlotG 10
thin from homiDy diet and prostrag lab0f, ~ for
the white man whose vessels are turgid WITH q sur
pkis of meat and riotous living. Surely If South
erner can stand all tbis and his climate beside, it 10
fair to suppose that Northern man. with n consti-
tuition at least equal and better system Of hygiene
and medicine, might risk residence at Fort Royal
with the hope OF survivlDRlt.
Investigation and experiment will, IN all PROBABLE
ity show that the health difficulty in the way Of
construction at the South Is no moro formidable than
others which have already found solution. Per-
haps il will turn out in the matter Of medicine in
that of morality and religion, that the beet wisdom
is to be found with the slaves. 81 thank thee, o
Father Lord Of Heaven and Earth, because Thou
hast bid these things from the wine and prudent and
revealed them unto babes" A medical gentleman
on Port Royal Island, who serves the Association in
the double capacity Of surgeon and superintendent
informed me that entering upon his duties he
found large number of the people i'll with the
smallpox and other ievers Of dangerous character;
that of the smallpox mad proved fatal
though some Of them were very aggravated, aud
that he ascribed this fact to the sk and judg
ment Of an old black W HON be had found there
than 10 any power Of his own in the healing art.
la . letter which this gentleman has since written
me ne thus aliudss TO this subject
eve much OF my to tho presence ofs very excel
lent and intelligent coored woman Aunt Hanus-who has
been uuremiiiing in her abors generally aduinitered
laxative IL the initial stages OF AID after tht
A. pgscsed by the BLACK nurse.-such leaf