The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1866, 1865-11-24


mitted to lift the veil which conceals coming
events, yctmost Of human life is expended in
rlsoug hit and labor for the probable future, and
man is deemed wise or improvident, as he cares
for or ignores that future, and his sagacity is
measured by the success with which lie has an.
ticipated events.
We seemed, but a little willie since to be
sailing on smooth sea, towards the port Of re-
constr uciion, and were preparing ourselves for
the duties incumbent upon us so soon as we
were landed. All ut once n dead calm is upon
u.s. with some leavincss in the political atmos-
pserc. betokcniug, perhaps, storm. Weare
pcwer!css to prevent il; and can but bow our
necks rs has become our wont. This is true
as to our political condition. To. submit and
obey is all that We can TO- This we have done,
and if we are shnt ont from the privileges of civil
Iescrnmtit, We can but submit still. We do
nns know that there is real danger of this re-
suit, but there arc certain very threat
ening indications. But whether We are to live
uiiuSl VI uIS w UC ICCuu-
structcd with some share in civil government
there is much that We can do for our material
advantage aud advancement. In either eve t
President JOHNSON Qrcavrn spare hm) dncs mo-,
seem disposed to crush us out entirely; and
we can MI go 10 work aud help TO build I'D the
State, by devoling ourselves assilnously to our
private pursuits. Every one in this inlpover>
'ishcd country has TO 60 to work, or he starved
out; and the so,ner those wEo won't
worh-be they white, black or cozored-are
starved out tho better for the. common good
There is certainly no stores for droncs in this
hive. Away then, with 'coachunf," "ram-
poM," etc. Let each ones crest be the en- bleln
of his calling whether it be book, spade,
plough, hammer or yard stick, and let each
ones motto be ''scuifle on
There is one point upon which the. future is
revealed to us. 1t is evident that whether we
are to live under civil ormilitary rule-whether
in this Suite the "Freedmen's Bureau OF the
"Freedmen's Code is to be our guide, no class
Of mep, white or colorcd, will be allowed to
lire in idlcness and .ragrancy sleeping. by
day and thieving by night. We are informed
by both of these al,thorities-the one existent,
the other Xpcctant-that the freedmen are ex>
pected to enter into contracts for labor and to
Keep these contracts. That is what many of
them have failed to do: and it was absurd 10
expect it, Immediately succeeding so complete
a revolution in their Whole condition. 1t
would not Lc wise to anticipate that any regu-
lation will succeed, in any complete degree: in
producing this result. But the experiment
must he tried There is no dodging it. Let us
60 then earnestly to work. Let us make all
due allowances forthe ignorant and benighted
condition of the co!orcd race-nore sinned
against than sinning-let not The insuboriiina-
ticn or ingratitude of few months unaccus.
toned license, cstrango the kindly relations Of
lifetime, aye, ofgcneratons. Let each ofus
who employ them rs laborers essay the task in
a spirit of justice and generosity, starting out
with the recognition ofthe legal tact that they
are tree, and therefore entitled to cantract, and
to have their just contracts enforced. Their
present unenlightened condition entities them
to orr generous torbearance and consideration.
They must be brought by cultivation to ap-
proach the standards which 'actuate The white
man; and when we look around lis and see how
many white men will starye rather than work,
do not let us be too easily discouraged in our
efforts in this experiment. We believe that
firm exhibition ofjustice, mingled with . kind,
forbearing generous spirit, will do much. to
Improve their condition and their value as Ia.
borcrs. We know further, too that our late
Shareholders are generous, lofty people, and
may well be trusted with their late slaves with
rare exceptions. We know, unfortunately That
there are exceptions, who if not restrained both
by law and by the moral influence of the COM
munlty, would add difficulties and embarrass-
ments to any system which may be adopted.
These difficulties are heavy and numerous Mt