Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-06-21
Wednesday Morning, juno 81.
FaoM every paEt:of the South from which

FRoM every psrt:of the South from which
intelligence is now received, the proofs
multiply that the landed property of that
section must to a very great extent change
hands, aud that too independently Of any
process of cou6scation. The PresidenFs
exception of rebels having over twenty
thousand dollars of taxable property from
his amnesty was intended, we Apprehend,
not so much as measure of severe pun.
i.hment, as for the the purpose of retain
ing in his hands the means of breaking
down the landed sristocracy which has 80
long dominated over the South and over
the Union. Mr.. Johnson's cardinal prin-
ciple liz, not go much the elevation of the
hitherto erslayed population, as the break.
ipg down of political dynasty which has
kept both them and the classes not nOmi-
rally ensIaved in position of almost hope
Less sutjec!iou, and against the overbeEr-
ipg Influence CT which he has himself had
TO maintain life long, bitter struggle
which has left its scars deep in his SOUL
Butthere areincreasiDg indications that 80
far as this dynasty depends upon the mo-
nopoly of landed property, it will not need
much of the severity for which his amnesty
leaves free scope, to uproot and destroy it.
In the best of times the majority Of the
Southern planters never managed their
affairs 30 as to keep their heads far above
the water. What with advances of work
iog capital from their factors, and large
debts for purchases of land and negroes,
the planters lived to q great extent in a
condition of doubtful solvency, in which a
free expenditure and a careessness about
money matters, which is characteristic of
those hsbitually In debt, disguised, and at
the same time aggravated the unsoundness
Of their effAirs. The whole South has for
yenrs been "shingled over" with claims
which bad seasons lightened but little, if
at all. The war has everywhere brought
affairs to crisis. 1t has destroyed the
market for produce for four years and has
occssioned no email destruction of proper
~. Plantations have deteriorated, supplies
Ct tools and machinery have been exhaus-
ted, heavy contributions have been levied,
aud no supply of fresh capital has been
afforded. And finally, the property in
negroes has been destroyed at one stroke,
while the presence of civil war and the
consequent uncertainty as TO the future,
has left no time for the corresponding rise
Of real property, which will ultimately
compensate the IandhOlder for the loss of
his capital invested in slaves. Almost any
OF the accuuuihIeu 1ETEs- WurUu7 f,CSSD- :. pOa
the planter would have enough to upset
him in ordinary times. Coming together
as they now do, they must oVerwhelm the
the whole planting interest.
The landed properly of the south then
must come TO the hammer freely from
these causes, to cay nothing of the number
of Ihndholders who have fallen or have
prudently left the country. In all the
States lately in instruction, property is
reported to be fast changing hands, and
the amount offered increases as affAirs
settle down. Even in Maryland an i'm
meuse amount is said to be passing into
the possession of new owners, although
the causes of which VIC speak have ope-
rated there in only limited degree, as
compared with the States farther south
All this botOkens a radical and inevitable
change in the distribution of political
power. Indeed, the very fact that in many
of the districts the planters are applicants
to the military authorities for the seeds
and tools which they have not the means
to purchase, and for supplies for the labor.
ers whom they cannot subsist, much less
pay in advance of their crop, points to the
same result. The poor white will come
up, as things work towards their natural
adjustment in the new Orderi the freedman
will Gene up; the emigrant, from the
north or from Europe, will come in; and
the old occupant, the arrogant master Of
white and black, will go out.