Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-08-04
Especial Correspondence N. y. 'Iflbuno,l

SOH InpOpeFishfd-Neeu uf AOTthffN ENffrs
prise-Rsconstrucho hoR-HCm il shOaM be Done
Especial Correspondence N. y. Trbunc.l
MACON, July &, 1866.
The soil of the northern half Of Georgia is
red clay. The same fields have been planted
with cotton year after year, and the system Of
tiaRe by slave labor hns 30 impoverished the
soil that the crop is scarce ever remunerative.
The planters say that slave labor hos never paid.
All the profit they ever derived from the system
was in the increase, which they sold every year
to the negro traders, to be transferred to the
richer cotton and sugar fields further South
This they grumble most about Their slaves are
free aud they are deprived of selling them ms we
sell sheep aud cattle. Tho land is never ploweI
as we of the North plow cur fields. Their plow
is a standard mOrticed in a beam, aud on the
point going in tho ground is fastened II three
cornered piece of steel, about four or five inches
wide at the heel. This is drawn by Que mule
and just scratches the ground about two inches
deep, This system Of tillage has exhausted the
soil, and when dry weather comes, which is pre-.
valent here, the crop is dried up. If the land
was plowed and turned over si1 to eight inches
deep, and subsOiled six or seven inches deeper,
they would grow large crops and dronth would
not affect it,. The land is not naturally poor,
else the timber would not grow so thrifty.
Nearly all of the old cotton lands are planted
with corn, one half of which will never amount
to anything, and the other half will not average
FIVE bushels to an acre. No other crop IS grow
ing have Travelled 900 miles in the Sato, and
nowhere have seen more than one acre IN a
place planted with cotton, only here aud there
a small patch Two small fields saw where
wheat had grown. The sheaves were standing
in the field, three or foar in bunch, at long
distances apart, and the straw not more than
one foot in length. | should say that five bushels
per acre was more than would be obtained The
agriculture OF the State Of Georgia is certainly
al a very low ebb Many planters are preparing
to move away. They say that cotton will never
be grown again TO any extent, now that their
slaves are gone. "And as to hiring them" said
one to me, do you think VIII hlre my own
niggers ?"
Land can be bought for very low price. One
hundred acres lying four miles from Macou-T5
acres being cleared, with log house on it
were offered me for 90 cents an acre. This,
perhaps is not criterion, but any quantity
eau be bought for SO an acre. This comes OF
slayery-Wicked, demOralizing, nhuman slavery.
1t has oursel the soil, and cursed the people.
They Rugged il to their bosom, saked their all
upon it., fought for it-and have lost. Their cup
of iniauity was full Whom the gods would
destroy, they first make mad" Bitterly do they
feel the scourge of war. Towns and cities
burned, railroads destroyed, fields laid waste
destitute of almost all things which make life
comfortable or desirable. But the war id over
now, and the South have had enough OF it, They
will never appeal to the sword ngain. How to
recbnstruct-that is the question now / SCI
only one wRy to do it rightly. Give the Southern
people universal amnesty, and make tn EN- agrel
| 70 universal suffrage. Iu no other way Gun th
i work bO effect ually and we'll dono. The people
are all rebels yet. The spirit that seeded, tina
got up the Rebellion, that held slaves, that want
| to hold them now, is all alive YET Allow thi
spirit to rule, without check, and We know wha
the result will bb
The President ass umes to say who shall no
| vote. Has he not the right to say who shal
vote Certain classes are, by proclamation an
by acts of Congress, excluded from voice in tn
Government This class, by the by, a very dan
gerous one, are fast becoming pardonej, and
restored to all the rights of citizenship. II thu
men who were foremost in getting up the Re
bellion, who have fought persstenty for fou
long years, are to be allowed the right Of fran
obise in the reconstructed Government, then
say give the loyal men, those who through al
i the dark years we're always loyal the right nlsl
President johnson says he has not the right t.
! decide that question Ia he not deciding it ever
day by giving back the rights which should b
| forever forfeited Does he not hold the Stat
of Georgia to-day by the military power
| there any civil government Is lhete uuy lu
s chinery pertaining to State organization
- has ali to he made anew. Are nny Of tue law
:, and statutes to be observed that we're passe
' when a State under the Confederate Cover
Il ments Does not the President appoint the pr
N sent Governor of Georgia, and is henot pledge
n to do his biddingi II he does not, then he vi
n appoint another. 1 admit that the Presidel
ID has no right to come into the State of New YOl
ls and determine who shall have the right Of fra