Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-10-05

fairly tried until after the establishment
of the local authorities to superintend it"
Beaufort District.
We make the subjoined extract from Q
letter addressed to Governor PERRY, by
sMessrs. JOHN d. ScaEvEN, w. j. KIRK
and T E. ScREvEN Of Beaufort District.
The letter. is copied from the Columbia
,Paeasr. - 49,, z z. sss5 g. g55 -. 2s
SIR We, the undersigned, citizens of
Beaufort District, having, just returned from
visit to the town Of Beaufort BY land, have
concluded; that It would be for the interest
Of the State, to give you the result of our
observations. 49,.
xs We find that no more than. about one
fourth of Port Royal Island is planted !;
that of that under cultivation the corn ncrop
islost, and the cotton planted in pstches
and overgrown with grass nearly as high as
the icotton.> The negroes on Hilton Head
are in 3 starving condition. Those on Port
Royal say they have seen hard times. Out
of agang Of one hundred at the beginning
of the war, hut thirty remain: There is q
great deal of sickness and mortality amongst
them. We find also that those who left
the main. land and vent over to the islands,
will be sent back to the main as soon as
the crops are gathered. There are very
few negroes at present on the, mainland in
Beaufort District. Only few farms in the
upper part of the District are cultivated. =
When the cold weather comes, there will
be thousands of negroes from the islands
and upper country fockisg to the vacant
plantations, without, or nearly destitute Of,
food. Moreover, they have been taught to
believe, by the Freedmen's Buread, thas
the whole of Beaufort District is abandon
ed and dedicated to their use-that they
are to be colonized there. They therefore
look upon the owners Of, the land as intru.
sders and enemies. Conversation with the
negroes demonstrated this fact Add to
this that the negro garrisons at Pocotaligo,
Grahamyille, and on Port Royal Island and
Hilton Head inaame their hatred and de-
sire to obtain the land of their formeroRn-
ers by any means in their power. The
garrison at Poootaligo recently aroused their
determination to'driYe the whites out Of the
District. and but for the landing together
of thsslstser ndtheirthreats, weuld doubt
less have done so. The recent Infamous
toutrages Of the Pocotaligo garrison upon .
family of respectable. white females, was
the first outbreak of this determination.
There is a general feeling of Insecurity
among families on account of. the presence
aof colored troops and from vagrant and
starving negroes from the islands.
Weshave the honor, further, respectfully
tostate, that the Freedmanss Bureau regards
all land South of the Charleston and Sa-
svanuah, Railroad as abandoned, although
your Excellency is aware, doubtless, that
planters of that section were ordered to re-
move during the war by the late Confeder-
ate authorities. The Bureau has agents
now going over the District reporting lsnd
as abandoned, with intention to sell them
Or colonize negroes on them for,three yeara.
We will also mention the fact here, tbatthe
citizens Of Beaufort District were advised
by the Legislature of the State, TO remove
from their homes with their property, just
prior to: Sherman's invasion of this State.
Many of these citizens have lost everything
but their land, which is now threatened TO-
be taken away, and if not soon allowed TO.
return, and peaeeably cultivate their. farms,
will be in starving condition They are
anxious to return at once toprepare their
land for next years crop.
In order that this communication may
have due:weight With Jour Excellency, We
beg leave to refer you to the Delegates to
the Convention from Barnweii and Beau.
fort Districts, as to the character ofthe I'M.
1dersigned And further, your Exeeilency
is:authorized to make any use of this COM
nunication you may think proper.
.S,,,,,so,L 10 Mo;o, S1ano,.o1 HonoooIr at