The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-03-04

EPSr 1syai Nsgrl'sss.s.Rs1stt sf ne
" s. taaysFnnaent Agent.
M. Edward L. Pierce, government
agent u Port Royal, has sent ! commun-
i1rtion 10 the Secretary Of Treasury. 10
which hs dsscrihes ths condition Of tho
Inhabitants and plantations in the region
abandoned By the rebels on the coast Of
South Carolina and Georgia e aslse :
fourteen islands are now protected BY
our troops; on these there ars one hundred
aadA ninety Ave plantations voluntarily
abandoned BY their owners. There are Z
number of other islands likewise aband-
oned, but not under the projection Of our
arms. He states that there are now on
these islands about eight thousaad persons
negroes, formerly slaves ind hs reck-
ons m average for forty to each plantation.
But there arc some thousands of these
people about Hilton Head and Beaufort,
many of whom have escapsd from the
main land and thus. he states, that We
have in all between ten and twelve thous-
and black South CaroIinians under our
protection, whose number is constantly
Increasing by accossions from the main
land. He says:
This week forty-fve escaped from 1
single plantation near Gnhamville, on the
main land, held BY the rebels, led by the
driver, and after four days Of, trial and
peril. hidden By day and threading the
waters with their boats by night, evading
the rebel pickets, joyfully entered our
camp At Hilton Head. AhA 3AfS
"s is worthy Of note thst NJ negroes
now within our lines are there By the in
vitation Of no one, but they we're on the
soil when our army began its occupation,
and couldapot have been SECLUDED. except
by violent transportation. A small pro.
portion have come on from the main land,
evading the picksts Of the enemy and our
own, something easily in an extensive
country, with whose woods and tracks
they are so familiar
That is 70 say, they were the inhabitants
Of this region, forming eighty.two and
eight-tcnths of its total population, and
they remaiasd while tho lisloyal portion
fed.
Mr.. Pierce gives an interesting account
Of the manner in which the plantations
were managed. The white proprietors
we're seldom residents. They con6ded in
an overseer, who very frequently had
several plantations in charge, and visited
them in turn, each being actually worked
under the superintendent of black
driver, who deaf out rations TO the
banda, set them their tasks and looked to
their due performance. and punished those
guilty of offences. These drivers must be
intelligent men: and il il remarked that
Notwithstanding the dispersion of other
laborers, the drivers quite generally re-
main on the plantations. Mr.. Pierce
says, justly. that the knowledge and ex-
perience Of the men may be made useful
in the future in securing the productive
ness of these islands.
The people do not eat their meals to-
gether in families, but each by himself.
They have church on Sundays, one Of
their own color preaching, and prayer
meeting once or twice 1 week. Mr. Pierce
found them generally truthful and trust
worthy, as, indeed. is evident whom we re-
member tia s.aHytn." and that many
negroes are used Is pilots and in other
responsible positions. Like all men de-
grnded BY slavery, they are fatterers; but
they are tractable, indolent, and easily
managed. They very generally express
. desire TO be free; and Mr.. Pierce r.
marks that many Of their escapes have
been conducted with . courage, forecast
aad skill worthy Of heroes. But many Of
them show the peculiar timorousness Of
persons who have been dependent on the
directions of others. Moreover most Of
them have little confidence in us. They
were assured by their masters that we
would sell them to Cuba. The terror Of
this made many Of them fy from u.s.
Others remained by the plantations, rather
than separate from their families BY fight;
these took their chance, as they thought,
of exile to Cuba. They show great local
attachment "a virtue remarked in the
West Indian negroes. also by Mr. Sewell.
PROBLEMS.
/. How not to do it-6eeming to resist
the Rebellion, and yet in reality prepar-
ing for its final recognition and legitim.
alton. ak
H. How to do it and yet not do it -
Putting down the Rebellion but preserv-
ing and perpetuating its cause.
III. How to do it softly and swestly-
BY pressure, negotiation. and compromise,
without lighting or hurting anybody, thus
making yourself popular among orr breth-
rem Of the South, with 6rst-rate claims
upon their SURFACES when the good old
domination Of Slavery over Freedom shall
be happily restored.
w. How 10 do 1t ia dead earnest
Crushing ont the rebellion with fro, sword,