New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-25
WHAT ARE TME FACTse

light on the great problem OF "Recons,ruc-
ton, or on the temper, conduct and purposes
of the recently Emancipated Blacks of the
South. We have incurred this expense in the
full understanding that but portion OF our
patrons would read all those Reports-that we
might have filled our columns with matter more
attractive to majority Of our readers. But our
country eminen,ly needs at this time full and
forcible exhibit of the truth-needs that every
thing. calculated to she'd light on the great prob
lem should be within the reach of those who
will weigh and consider it, And we cannot
doubt that the Report Of Gen. Carl Schurz pre-
sents a more complete, exhaustive expose OF
the present actual condition of the South, and
especially OF the loyalty Of her Whites and the
treatment of her Blacks than any other docu-
ment vet issued. Those who abuse and
BLACKBOARD its author--as most of the pro-
Slavery journals that allude to il see fit to
ldo-really assail President Johnson who sent
him. Gen. Schurz traversed the South deliber-
atey and thoroughly; the Presidents commits
sion gave him free access to all circles, and he
made inquiries Of all; he gave months to this
duty: and his Report shows that his time was
| fully employed and that his penetration and
Judgment fully parallel his industry. We are
very happy to hear from Gen. Grant also; but
to cite his conclusions from hasty trip to
Richmond and Charleston as entitled to equal
weight with those wherein Gen. Schur sums
up the results of months Of patient and general
Investigation, is to appeal to prejudice against
reason and probability.
Charles J. jenkins, the newly chosen Cover
nor of Georgia. has long been known as one oi
the ables: and iaireot Of Southern statesmen.
Precluded from public life By the fact that his
State, since the unfolding of the Texas plot, has
been Democratic, while he was Stendfast Wing,
Mr.. jenkins has honored private station by
talents and virtues which the recent downfall OF
the Rebellion rendered his fellow citizens with
out exception anxious 10 confde in and profit by.
And Gov. jenkins had no conceivable impulse
but the prompting, OF truth and justice for
embodying in his recent Inaugural this en-
phstic testimony to the general good conduct Of
= the Southern Freedman
Since the fat Of emancipation. although sometimes
unsettled in his purposes and inconsistent IN hs ser
l. vices by contacs dhe natural result OF transition 20
thorough and sudden take you all To witnes that
in the nan he conduo has been t10iseuoTy 6etond all
u rational dpoofaiion." The fidelity Of the
q negroes in the past ard their deoorum under the dis
trcsng influences OF the present. whOaf parallel
in history and establish for them strong claim upon
e our iayoring patronage"
D. Who cOntroverts this statement? Has one
of the Southern Governors, Provisional or
:, elected, given conflicting testimony II so,
!. where is it? If not what weight should be
Il given to the vague mutterings Of seedy, ire
sponsible mostly anonymous White loaiera
that :" the negroes won't wOrk'-that they
refuse to enter into contracts" for next years
! labor-and that they are plotting insuTecton
If there is any testimony in conflict with Gov.
Jenkns's-no matter what or from whom--that
a Justice of the peace would credit in twenty
dollar lawsuit, do let III have q sight oft
Months ago we challenged the produc.
ton Of the evidence Of one person hitherto
known as an Abolitionist-(and thousands Ol
r such are now in business at the South who
will say that he has had any difficulty either in
hiring, at satisfactory prices, all the labor
he requires, or in getting his work done
when required. TO this challenge, there
has been no response whatever. And
we now affirm that hundred thou
sand Yankees may go South Tomorrow,
carrying credentials that prove them old-time
Abolitionists, and may there buy or hire plan
tations, and set about making Cotton or Sugar,
with perfect moral certainty that they can
command Black labor in abundance, at all
times, provided they are able and willing to
pay fair price for it. For the truth of this
averment, we appeal to every Abolitonist who
has spent in the South some months of the year
now closing.
Now do not represent us as maintaining that
Blacks are better than Whites-arc all saints
or heroes--for we believe nothing Of the sort.
We know that great many of them are SHIFT
less, false, knavish; and that these would
rather steal or beg than work. We do not con-
slider Blacks in the average so energetic, 30 per-
sstent, so thrifty, as Whites; and We know
quite well that there are tens of thou.
sands Of Whites, right here in New-York,
who will nevG honestly earn dollar
50 long as they can live without work. That
the same is the case with Southern Blacks, and
perhaps with larger proportion Of them, is quite
probable. But then they have for fewer de-
vices and lodges for clutching unearned bread
than are known to the blacklegs, thieves, bur
glars, ropers.n, thimble.rigs and miscella-
neous scoundrslism Of suy great oitv; moreover,