New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-27
IX.-From ~. Hcienu lslnnd.


possess the soul d. b. NICHOLS. supt Ofcon'rabsad'
IX.-From ~. Helena ,slnnd.
PoPEs PLANTATION. 81. HELENA ISLAND, sc.
Jan. IL. 1853
DEAR SIR: have received a Circular of the
Emancipation Legue. asking for normson in regard to the
freed mrn Of tho south. shall be happy the Ia
auie. propo.ed far my experience enables nae to do
hay. been IN the Government here siuce March last
hrs Superintendent Of distrc. Of ten plantations on
IN. south .id- ST. Helena Island aud aferwd from
July a. General Superintendent Of wha. clledth Second
Division OF Gen SaIons Department, comprising 81; Hesns
Ladies'. Morgan. COUSIN, Ds,hsn. and Was, Islands
l. The number OF freedmen the 90 plantations Of the
Second Division Is 4Oj exclusive Of a5ou: 800 refugees
Edno and other places, the greater pat u whom are
now residing at tho village Helena the nohsrn end
Of St Helena Island
Number children under Is about 2.2oo No record has
been made Of the s:se; cato number OF distinct from
the aggregate number VI men
H. The negroes general rule, are willing TO work for
those persons In whom they have confidence aud who will
pay them reasonable ways The proportion oilers or loaf
among them hardly greater than il is among al equal
number Of white Of the inferior classes at the North
They show great deal OF forehought in providing suosi',
for themselves aud there I, not the slightest danger that
they starvation long they get land to
cultivate have opportunity to regular wages
They saving of their earnings and generally make good
u-c Of them.
There very ll;tle profanity among them aud to in
temperance. have not seen single instance oft.
Their habits in r..pec. to chastity such might
pect Ind where scarcely any restraint upon csaou'nes
has been heretofore imposed
Ill. They have ds.ir. North They strongly
attached the pse which they have been accustomed to
live Nothing oppression will make them quit their pres
cut homes, In the event of general emancipation aud fair
Treatment they will be perfectly content TO remain where
they There little chance however that they would be
willing to labor ., for tner old masters because they
well that their old masters would not be likely to
them ry Rather than work for their old Masters
they would prefer to precarou, livelihood by hunting
d.his aud .ing .wise and poultry they had OPP
poruny hire buy land they would prefer to cultivate
tho soil on their There need be fear how
ever that humane smigans from the North would have any
difficulty 10 hiring these negroes at wage.
w. They are very anxious to learn. They consider II
great privilege school There not probably ten
coored persons In the Second Division who knew the letters
of,hs sphsbe.last March. There ., least $40 chill
dren and adults Ia this division. who have made considerable
progress in learning to read.
Their capacity gre,.er than they have bad credit
for aud equal that manifested by he Irish population at
tho North.
" Tue religious eeneu. s very strong IN these negroes
bu, has been sufficiently emil htsnsi to free them from
many degrading ,uperiiou. They believe fully in future
lie they place plic, trust in Providence. II 10 much
to be regretted that their simple faith has been ammsed by
cced which tend rather 10 bowder their minds than to
amend their lives They need nothing much to be set
right friendly sIhosion upon the plain principles ofduty
They naturally very docie and kind aud remarkably
submissive whatever they think be reasonable aud just
VI never heard the negroes here express desire to DO
reveused upon their masters But they make secret OF
their wish never to their masters again
VII Nearly all the negroes have been employed by the
Government either labos the plantations jobs
connected with tho military department The wages for
plantation work may be put down ct IS cents day Good
have bosu paid the OF 80 cents day The
.boers the plsn,s.ons have not been promptly paid
Wages for example earned Ia July not paid unt No
smbe and payment has yet been made for work done IN
September last This want Of promptness iu payment has
tended than anything else to discourage tho negroes
and diminish their confidence in the Of the Govern
mont suppose that at least 5000 yet due to negroes
In my division
White aboren would hsvo earned more, because they
would have done more in the same time The pay OF Is
day Is really pay for about tive hours work.
This negroes on the plantations In the Second Division have
earned enough TO support themselves the reusess from
Edsto and other places have had rely mainly upon the
Government for food aud clothing.
VIII The negroes In thi, Division have gsnsray been wall
treated by military official. and their but Their,
complained Of losing their poultry eggs swine BY depr
dations of tho pcks,s such depe iaions the license
with which the soldiers have made of plantation fences
and 10 OF plantation buildings for yewood have
not little discouraged industry economy and ,hr among
the negroes
Give them fair play and the able bodied negroes will earn
enough support themselves and their dependent relatives
In my judgment the freedmen in this Division
their place. society laborns class with prospect
Of sfsupport aud progress provided the persons for
they labor recognize their rights members of the human
family. aud take Interest in their welfare
In the Of reconstruction Of Southern society tho
basis Of labor should place dependence upon ths
blacks than upon tho poor whites for efficient service aud
believe would prove harder task reclaim the latter
than the former from their present degradation.
To the emsncpated slaves into industrious free
abere will require the most prudent But the
most important conditions OF in this difficult work
arc undoubtedly to pay them fair promptly and at
short intervals and them with perfect Justice neither
encouraging dene other bad habits by Indulgence
eIaons more labor than they think reasonable to
perform. Very respectfully yours,
RICHARD H0IIIE