The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-07-25

it must become point of importstion
and distribution for foreign and North
erp goods. Until one of these two
things appears probable Of accomplish
ment, there will be no revival here;
no amount Of enterprise can do more
than produce counterfeit of vitality.
The prospect for continuance in the
export Of cotton and rice will depend
entirely upon the results Of the expe-
riments now making in the matter of
free labor. think, as q general rule,
those experiments will be honestly and
faithfully tried in this State. The
planters, as a class, are better educated,
more intelligent, and more apt in
applying new ideas, than elsewhere in
the South. They appear, too, to be
generally very we'll. satisfied with the
conduct and practical views Of the
officers assigned in the various locali-
ties, to tue Immediate supervision Of
the freedmen. They have accepted
emancipation as a fact evolved out Of
the war, and do not discuss its policy
on righttu!ness. They are. in many
cases, extremely despondent as to the
results, and again, others are sansnine
of as much success in planting under
the new system as under the old.
There are two causes which now
threaten in their effects to seriously
embarrass, if not to entirely prevent
the success Of the experiment, espe-
q y in some very promising cases.
O.; OF these is, that the officers al
luded to above. as having this matter
in charge. being Northern men. feel
natural desire to get rut of this climate
before Summer fully sets in. The
moral effect of their presence, in keep
ing the negroes satisfied, and stimula-
ling them to work faithfully. is abSo-
lutely essential to the making of
crop this year-for the most critical
period with the crops is in August,
when labor is most irksome. and the
climate is especially deadly to the
white man-yet two weeks neglect
then will entail great loss upon All
interested in the crop.
The other difficulty that I appre>
hend arises out OF the late proclama~
tlon of the President. wherein the
privileges Of the amnesty are not
extended to any whose taxable pro-
perty exceedse2o, 900 in value. Most
of thesplanters in this State, and
especially those who have entered with
most zeal into the effort TO establish
system, under which the agricultural
industry Of the State could be kept up
by means of the labor Of the freedmen,
are men Of large property. whose com
mand Of capital and large landed
possessions give them great advantages
in conducting the experiment.
Now if this property is all to be
thrown bto the courts, AMI not only
the land. but the incoming crop to be
brought under the operation of the
contiscation act, .thc7, OF course, the
present proprietors will withdraw at
once from all further connection with
the mater, and let The Uni!ed States
military officers and the freedmen get
on as well rs they can together. 1t
seems to me highly probable Ghat the
President may have deSigncd to extend
the amnesty hereafter to persons Of
tins class who may. in good faith,
devote themselves to this great work,
Such measure would be cmiuent.v
simple and just, for surely no man
could give stronger assurances o.
future loyalty than slave owner who
heartily and IN good TEMPER under
taxes Z; the task Of e,2i,ioying bis former
slave: as freedmen for wages, and
assisting them across the slippery
threshold Of liberty.