Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-06-20
Condition Of the Southern states.

A special correspondent writes from
Springfield, Ill, the following to The Chi
cago RepuJlican, under date June IA:
Hon. VIM. Butler, late State Treasurer,
has Just returned from the southwestern
States, i'm which he has been sojourning
since June, 1864. Mr.. Butler is gentle
man of talent, and possesses great powers
of observation. What he does not see In
material or moral point of view is not
worth seeing. l would as soon have his
Judgment OH any subject relating to men
and things as that of any man living
Consequently his views and ideas respect
ing the condition of the people and places
he has been among, may be taken as au-
thoritatiye, and thus worthy of acceptance.
MIR. Butler has visited the States of Ten
nessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas,
and Louisiana. He was also up the Red
river, and is well acquainted with all that
region of country. He gives very de-
plorable account of the condition OF things
generally in the Southwestern States. So
ciety in them is in state OF almost utter
decentralization. The disbanded soldiers OF
the rebel armies are preying upon the lh-
babitants and the blacks are stealing from
both. The whites will not work; nor will a
large number of the negroes. A portion OF
the latter however, would willingly labor.
if they could get anything to do. But
there is no labor tor them; those who would
give them work have no animal power and
no tools of any kind or description
Numbers of the negroes, on the other hand,
look upon freedom as a release from labor
and the restraints of the plantation, and in
cline to become semi-savages, wandering
about i'm the woods and swamps, and pilter-
ing wherever they can do so with impunity.
AS to trade there is none. There is no cred
it; no one to whom goods can be safely en-
trusted, and no money in the country with
which to buy them. AS regards the crops,
Mr.. Butler says that but very little has
been planted of either cotton or corn. lie
nowhere saw a corntield OF over ten acres,
and cotton was still more scarce. Of cotton
raised in former years, he does not tninK
there is over one million of bales east OF the
Mississippi. He also thinks it will take
some time before the country is restored to
ANYTHING like an average prosperous condi-
ton, and he looks for worse condition
of things for portion of that time
than even now exists. In addition
to the desolation of the country
caused by the war, the Mississippi has over
flowed its banks. and strip of country one
hundred and sixty miles in width is COM
pletely inundated. At Vicksburg Mr.. But
Ter conversed with parties IRON GalnesVlle,
Alabama, who had been compelled to navi-
gate seventy-fve miles across the country in
skiffs in order to reach the former place.
AS regards military protection to the in
habitants, Mr.. Butler says the military
posts are too few and too lightly garrisoned
to oppose any material check to the depre-
dations of robbers and outlaws. The above
is most discouraging statement of the
condition of affairs at the South, but COM
ing from source entirely reliable, l give
1t for the benefit of the public generally.
Many persons ore taking goods to the South,
and Others think Of emigrating to that
Quarter. 1t is better that they should know
the whole truth before making any venture
of either kind. / have not heard that Mr..
Butler suggests any remedy for the present
condition of affairs at the South. But
trust he will be prevailed upon to give an
extended statement of the condition OF
things there, and any remedial suggestions
he may have TO make to the people of his
native State, and of the Union generally
No man is better qualified for the task than
our old State Treasurer. .,.,,.