The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-10-11
From Camden.

From Camden.
A letter from Camden, S. c., to q
Northern journal. speaks as follows:
GAS to the freedmen, they are be-
having just as those who are acquaint-
ed with them would expect. Gene
rally, they are facile and quiet; few
cases of disorder occur, but they are
as lndolent end regardless Of their
contracts as was to be expected. The
planters and other employers keep
their contracts to the letter, and the
negroes utterlydisregard them. When
proof is made before the Provost
Courts of such. facts, the contract is
annulled and the negro is dismissed
the plantation-a happy riddance, it
is true, as he will not work; but, in
the meantime, who will gather the
present crop OR prepare for the next?
Pilfering prevails to fearful extent
In some sections, aud often-the Pro-
vost Court Furnishes theft; yet neither
the garrisons nor the citizens seem to
be able to check these depredations,
or to catch many culprits. The con-
viction is fastening itself on the minds
of our people that farming will be our
only agricultural resource; planting
on q large scale will not answer for
the freedmen. The consequence will
be that large tracts of land will be
thrown out to rest. Now is the op-
portunity for immigration. Hitherto,
planters could afford to keep large
numbers of negroes on poor lands,
because, although they were poor,
they were healthful; an abundance of
bread and meat could be raised, and
the growth and increase of the negroes
enriched the planters children. This
was all bis profit. Now there is an
end to this. The negro must have a
more fruitful claim, where a very
little labor will promise a living.
Whole sections will thus be depopu-
lated Of their negro labor. We have
in the upper portion Of this District q
beautiful country, which invites the
attention of the land-seeker-the
North west portion Of the District, at
and near the intersection Of Beavers
Creek and Wateree River. Before
the introduction of large numbers of
slaves and the enhanced production
Of cotton, at the commencement of
the present century, these lands, over
a wide extent of smiling valley and
blooming hillside, were occupied by
small farmers, engogeds in the cult
vation of wheat and indigo, the then
staples of the country, besides Indian
corn and other home supplies, these
farms seldom exceeding three hundred
acres-generally from fifty to one
hundred; now an average plantation
is probably two thousand acres. The
cause which drove out the white
farmer having ceased, the tendency
will be back to the condition in which
slavery found this. section, and for
which it is admirably adapted. It is
a beautiful country very fine,
air most salubrious and bracing,
finely watered. health equal to any
spot on earth; the soil, originally very
fine, but now worn, recuperntes very
rapidly from the disintegration of the
granite which pervades the soil
There are quarries of as fine granite
in many localities as the world pos
sesses, while for fruits no locality or
soil is better adapted. The grape
fourishes in great profusion, and
there is no better vine country on the
continent. To company of emf
grants great inducements would he
offered, and while houses were being
prepared on their own farms, the
abandoned negro houses would fur
nish shelter. Capitalists Of the North,
here is fine opportunity to incl, ase
your fortunes and to build upa happy
settlement for thousand families OF
good white people, in delightful and
healthful locality, already cleared and
settled, with churches, school houses,
&C., all xeady. Small farmers must
and will possess this choice locality.
"A company formed now cogld secure