The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1864-06-04
LOYAL PHILANTHROPY.
New England AbOlitiOnism Coming Mo.
new ont of Southern NewrOes


ney out of Southern Negroes.
An interesting quarrel has taken place
among the aho-pblanthropists at Port Royal,
South Carolina, with results which bring to
mind the proverb, when rogues fall out"
&c. As the story goes, an order was in force
at that place soon after the occupation BY
the Union forces, which gave to negroes a
presumption right to land rated at $l25
per acre, and many availed themselves Of the
opportunity. Two weeks more elapsed when
the order was rescinded, and another, previ-
ousy in operation, was substituted, aulhoriz-
ing the sale of estates and plantations to
loyal purchasers, on payment Of taxes. At
this later day, those who bought at the land
sales the Identical property on which the
negroes have settled, present their title deeds
and demand that the negroes shall be driven
off by military force, if necessary. writer
in the New York Independent, dating his
letter Beaufort, April goth, comes to the
rescue of the abused negroes, charging in
effect that they are the victims of Eastern
spectators and should be protected True,
he says, several thousand acres have been set
apart exclusively for their use, but "a con
siderable portion of the lands so reserved are
swamp lands, totally unfit for any purpose
except to breed alligators and marsh hens y
This seems rather hard, but the writer makes
disclosures still more disgracefnl. While
arguing in favor of the system of pre-emption
and showing how the negroes are swinded
10y employing them upon the estates of LOYAL
white tax purchasers, he incidentally alludes
tn lotto Il
from E. S. Phlhrick, gentleman who ex
presses himself in high admiration of the
manner in which business is conducted in
South Carolina, and we'll satisfied with the
pecuniary results. 1t is now said that there
are very substantial reasons for holding this
view, inasmuch as Mr.. p. went to Beau
fort under the auspices of Boston stock
company, to purchase estates and to work
them to the best advantage, and in one
season made $4,000 over and above all
outlay and other expenses" Truly this is
kind of philanthropy that pays well. But
let us see in what respects the negro worked
under this system is better off than when a
slave:
Each family" says Mr. P. "has little
patch of land for their own cultivation, and
their house rent free" (all this they had when
they were slaves0 'they are held entirely
responsible for their own food" (lbeir town
ers" provided them with food and clothing
too0 and, to give them courage, and provide
for their current wants, partial payments are
made each month, for planting and hoeine
the crop per acre-reserving the principal
payment for the end" "And to each family
definite portion of land assigned for the
cultivation of cotton, in such quantities as
they choose to take, and the separate families
so assuming the care Of these patches were
made. so far AS possible responsible for the
crops grown upon them" Chat is, the labor
is not, as before, compulsory, under the whip;
but if they don't labor, they must pay for it;
80 far as is possibility Now, under this
system, what do these negroes earn on an
averaged SO cents per day.
This writer saws further: That Mr.. p
really believes that the very millennium OF
good works has eliminated in his transac.
tions here, have no doubt. 1t is very easy
to be persuaded that one is a philanthropist.
when the work engaged in is one which
pays such enormous profits. So plausible is
appear to be in bis work, so supplemented
in the clean breast he makes of the whole
plan of his specul atoms, that the very best
people at the North are deceived bv it, and
believe him to be second Wherefore and
Aston united in one.
Now, it these negroes are employed at all
upon these pantatons-and doubtless they
may be with the most perfect propriety, and
in many cases, should be-then they ought
to be paid full laborers' wages ANY one
of these freedmen may 60 North, if he
chooses, and earn from 81 so to 50 so per
day. as a coal-heaver, or in other branches
of manual labor. While men will not work
for less here and find themselves, and We,
Mr.. P.s method gives them So cents!
Here is shameful exposure, if true. New
Eng landers massng colossal fortunes by
hiring negro la or at starvation rates. and
all in the guise of philanthropy, and under
the pretence of amelioraling the condition
of the wretched victims, is sorry common
tary on human nature. But it is no more
than might have been expected.