Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-03-31

VOL XVII.
The sale Of Confseafed Lands at the
Soufh---Tke NesrOes---Their Character

The Sale Of COnfseafed Lands at the
SOufh---Tke NeErOes---Their Character
and Bravery.
The following is an extract from letter
from lifelong Democrat formerly a
resident Of this city, now at Beaufort,
South Carolina, to Democratic friend in
this city. He says:
"The sales of lands for taxes took place
last week The operation Of the law is
demonstrated a-sRecess, and the receipts
from sales sufficient to pay all expenses Of
surveys, salaries of officers and agents, for
the year to come, and over and above all
the Government has become the owner in
| fee Of the rebel lands unpurchased by pri-
vate individuals. These will be leased out
or sold to loyal men, and Dixie will be re-
constructed The freed negroes will work
faithfully and arduously for moderate
wages reasonably assured them. They
are peaceable, orderly, quiet, doeile and
respectful. l am amazed now at my own
faithlessness. Five months experience,
with the most ample opportunities for
critical observation, has made me ashamed
Of. the lingering distrust that would en-
barass my Judgment / am surprised at
their intellgence, their foresight, care, and
proEidence. Why, at ihs sale they came
up and purchased lands, A few associated
together together and purchased pianta-
tion Of about ], 200 acres, and paid the cash
for it out Of the savings Of their last years
earnings. It sold for 81, 200. So of
smaller tracts, and a very great number
are waiting for the subdivision of the
large tracts, and the resale by the Govern
ment. TT- ws.ru
About their fighting qualities, every
thing that has been done here since the
death ofGeneraI Mitchell has been accom-
plished by the colored regiment. Last
week they took and nos hold Jacksonville,
Florida. q They went on several expedi-
tions in the early winter and took from
the rebels several millions feet of lumber
which was used under the orders Of Gen.
Brennan for flooring for the tents Of the
white soldiers. Let no man say they do
not make good soldiers-no waste, no
spoilatiOn, no savage Outbursts but yield
TO discipline. There is tendency to en-
thusiasm in action and daring which their
officers have found it necessary to control.
Their late exploits have almost effectuRl-
ly silenced opposition here. You can
place no dependence whatever upon the
newspaper correspondents from this de-
partment. They write things which they
think will please The readers of their res
pective journals, without regard to facts.
Not for moment have despaired Of the
ultimate success of the Union arms. The
recent political raid Iof the Democratic
traitors has only set the cauldron Of trea-
son boiling and it is now heaving up the
dirty scum to the gaze of all honest men
and true patriots.
We are expecting hot work here before
long, and are only waiting for complete
armament tu aH
The sales Of lands have been delayed so
long from various obstacles that tits TOO
late 70 commence the leasing system with
view to a crop by the lessees during the
current season. TheIefore it will proba-
bly, be deferred until the present crop is
gathered by the operatives as now dispos-
ed Private purchasers however will go
on at once to cultivate, and by next fall
the Government will be ready to re-s sell
sud =. :1aase- and inauguratela a system Of
free labor, free society busUaineu and olp-
waited by moral and Intellectual culture
moral and intellectual force that Will 81
lence all caTil and criticism.