The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-12-06
OH A r l. T. ST 9 n
WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER c, 1866.


vancemcnt at the South and it had been pro-
per, perhaps, to have done so. Our people
have needed, in their low estate, whatever
therc was possible of encouragement ana hope,
and there are, certainly, many sources of pos
siblo prosperity. Our fertile lands, our charm
ing climate, our many improvements, our al
most priceless agricultural products, and the
apparent readiness of other lands to pour their
toeming population-skillcd in art, Injured to
industry, prepared to labor-on our shores,
would seem to give assurance that there is
little within the range Of natural achieve
ment to which, with proper enterprise, wo
might not aspire.
Of such advantages we huve not been in
sensible; nor have we been hopeless of re-
suits. We know our people to be patient,
prudent, firm of purpose, ready for occasions
and singularly firm III character, and singu-
larly just in perceptions and in aims and we
cannot question, therefore, that, i'll the many
ways to brighter fortunes, they will altogether
fail 10 find them. But we hare not failed to
perceive one important in,pedim ent upon the
path, and we have had too much respect for
the intelligence Of our readers to disregard
ito spoak of facts of which VIC were not
assured, or assume opportunities which do not
certainly exist.
The impediment Of which we speak is in
the condition Of uncertainty as to the facts
before us men cannot safely base their hopes
and enterprises upon conditions of whose oc-
tbou
there have been few people compelled to act
on such uncertainties. 1t is uncertain that
the Union will be restored it is uncertain that
our lands upon the scaboard will be surrcn-
dered; it is uncertain that the negroes will
incline to work it it is uncertain that their
do so %; uncertain that we can secure the CAPT
tai, or, in any other form, the provisions ne
cessary to our operations
We have hopes the Union will he restored,
of course; but the party dominant in Con-
gress says itshall ot;-that, having conquered
the South it would be more profitable to
to make it n province-and whether they pre-
vail or not, cannot be certain. That they will
be resisted, is certain; that the Government
will use its moral and political influence to
that end is announced but, that it may not
find these insufficient, aud shrink from the
perilous alternative Of arbitrary power, is
fact even yet necessarily contingent.
1t is to he hoped that our lands will be re-
stored, and Ia q great extent they have been :;
but, upon the islands they are still held, diff
culties are yet intcrposed, and it is yet unccr-
tain that they will be given up, or, if so, upon
conditions with which proprietors can COM
ply.
1t is hoped the negroes will incline to work.
They constitute our laboring population, and
there cannot be advancement, or subsistence,
even, to our present population, without them !;
but they have not been industrious since eman-
cipation; they are not So perhaps, by nature !;
they seem not to be perceptiye of the oblig ga
tions of contracts, or the pressure of ultimate
consequences; and many, it is to be feared,
will not know that they must starve without
working, until 1t be too late to profit by the
information, and such inclination, therefore,
to any efficient end, is yet to be established.
1t is to be hoped, also, that the friends of
the negroes will allow them to workout
that, also, is uncertain. When the country
came under military occupation, these friends
were instant to assure them that they were
free of all earthly responsibilities that their
highest merit to God and man was to iniure
their former masters, and it is not certain that
they are yet under wiser counsels. The Freed
mems Bureau is still vigilant of all surrender
of lands, as though assured there would be
some to be reserved for other purposes. There
still seems to be contemplated the experiment
of negro colony in consistencc with such
purpose, the natural effect will be TO unfit the
negro for any other mode Of life; in consist
ence with such expectation, there must be
natural repugnance in the negro to accept
employment.
No one can say, therefore, what arc to be
the future facts Of our experience; no ono can
say, without such knowledge, that our under
takings will be certainly successful, and we
have not ventured to do 30. Our readers see
circumstances as clearly as VIC do, and we
have not the hardihood to tell thom, to the
contradiction of their senses, that facts exist
which do not. 1t seems to have bcen assumed
that adventure is success, and that journals