The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-05


The Prospect OF Referring the Planting
Interests OF the south.
The information coming to US daily, from
shows that the prospect Of restoring the plant
ing interests of that blighted section Is very
promising. To use q common colloquial ex-
preston, "things are looking up" The wise
reconstruction policy Of President johnson Is
having the happiest effect upon the late para
lyzed Industrial pursuits Of the South, and
restoration in these is keeping pace with the
progress In political matters. This 10 seen In
every portion Of the Southern States, but par
ticularly in those parts which are most Access
sible to commerce, as along the Atlantic Dor
der and the banks Of the Mississippi The
vast commerce that has been revived between
this city and the South within month or two,
a. well as between the great cities of the
Northwest and that region, indicates returning
prosperity.
A great deal has to be done, however, be-
fore the South can be restored to its former
prosperous condition. And at the present
time planters need the assistance Of capital TO
purchase stock and implements for cultivation,
and to restore their gin houses, plantation
buildings and fences, the greater part Of which
have been destroyed during the war. Along
the Mississippi river, too, the levees need re-
pairing, for the cotton crop would be in danger
Of inundation. In fact. the planters In many
parts would hardly venture to plant unless the
levees be repaired.
An extensive planter in Carroll parish,
Louisiana, who recently left this city to pre-
pare his plantation for cultivation the coming
season, found more than one-third of the ne
groes he formerly owned had returned,
and others were returning to their old
home. At the commencement Of the war
be had several hundred, Many Of the able
rest had been driven away or had left volun-
tarily. They were scattered about, some within
the federal and others within the rebel lines.
Numbers died and some sought refuge under
the Freedmen's Bureau. They oil have had
hard and an instructive experience. They
come back begging to be employed and pro-
vided for. This gentleman says he expects to
have within month or so two-thirds Of his
old hands back again. He thinks one-third
have persisted. He has supplied them with
provisions, and proposes to make contract
with them by the year as farm servants are
hired in the Old World. They are delighted
with having home again and the prospect
before them, and he believes that most Of
them have learned by sad experience to value
his offer and will serve him faithfully.
This case is an example Of many others, in
deed we might say Of most others, as regards
the planters and negroes Of the South. 1t is
true the gentleman we refer to is kind and
cOnsiderate, good business man and manager,
and understands negro character well. But 1t
is the same with nearly all the old planters.
There are few exceptional cases OF stupidity
and brutality among the former masters but
they are rare and chiefly among strangers who
do not understand or care for the negro Most
Of the masters desire to employ their former
slaves and to treat them well, If they can do
soft they be not prevented or trammellcd by
arbitrary restrictions Of the government or in
reference of the little martinez, over-officious
and trading agents Of the Freedmens Blu
reau. And the negroes will soon learn
to know they must work for their
living as poor white people have to do. In
truth, they are fast learning this, as appears
from their return to the old plantation homes.
Such is the prospect, looking at the disposition
and necessities of both the planters and
negroes.
But two things are needed. First, there
must be no unnecessary interference by the
government with the industrial pursuits Of the
South and individual action. Second. II is
necessary to have capital to replace the stock
and to restore the gin houses, buildings, imple-
ments and fences, destroyed by the war. The
first rests with the government And, notwith-
standing the crazy radicals in Congress. we
have no doubt there will be found sufficient
practical good sense in that body to remove
whatever difficulties exist. The President will
be able, we think, to carry out his policy in
this respect as in the restoration Of the political
status of the Southern States.
Supplying capital must depend upon the
North, and upon this city in great degree
Upon this subject we will quote the language
of letter before us from former rich Loui-
siana cotton planter and q prominent man in
the rebel government. He says: "Those who
were inclined to commence planting again are
generally without means TO restock and supply
their plantations. ! am enc Of that number.
With means think could plant cotton, at
present prices, with success; but have nothing
but my lands lett. IL could
make satisfactory arrangements with CAPT
talist would leave the law and give all my
time to planting" This Ia the fact not only in
the individual case Of this gentleman, but to
great extent throughout the South. He ex-
presses himself modestly about the chance Of
success, but at the same time shows his con-