Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-07-25
SPECIAL LIST, MADE IN JUNE, 1865.
The Freedmen Of North Carolina.

document OF about sixty pages, and affords a very
conclusive answer to the question as to whether
the negro is capable Of self support. The total
number OF negroes in that department within our
lines on the first day Of January, 1864. was H.
40. They were frequently moved from place
to place, were enlisted into our own army, and
harassed by that Of the Confederates they died
in scores of the small pox, and of the yellow fever,
and twenty.three per cent. Of this number we're
intrm and sick, too old or too young to labor.
The Government had adopted toward them no
fixed policy, and they were tired with every dis
coura glng circumstances that could well be- mag
med. In the face Of all this the result is all that
any reasonable man could expect, and much bet
ter than many feared. We give some extracts
relating TO their pursuits and earnings;
"The negroes prefer turpentine farming to cot
ton raising, less capital being necessary, and the
cash returns being quicker. The trees, after being
boxed, begin to produce turpentine iTmediately,
and the boxes are dipped four or five times in a
season. The results OF the first dipping being
put in barrels and sent to market before mid.
summer, it is not necessary to wait until autumn
before realizing any gains by the operation. Ne
groes have hired from the Treasury Agent from
5000 to 10000 trees apiece. One plantation
near Hayeock, leased by a white man, contains
100000 trees, and not less than l25 colored
hands we're employed upon it, at wages varying
from fifteen to thirty five dollars per month. On
the Bal Plantation, near Newbsrn, about fifty
negroes were given employment In raising cotton.
pom oil these plantations The results were favor
able, and the crops (thanks to our Generals, wAo
kept the rebel armies we'll employed elsewhere)
were secured and marketed safely. II is lmpossi.
DE for me to give in figures the results Of this
labor Of the freedmen. But this may be said,
with an assurance Of stating the matter within
the bounds Of truth. Two hundred and seventy
five thousand dollars were paid during the last
year 70 colored employers, upon these cotton
plantations, il cash, or in ito equivalents, clothing,
food a d domestic supplies. More than tselye
hundred Iaborers wer- thus employed, minister
ing by their toll TO the support Of not less than
5000 colored people. When this process can be
c rried on in ertensO the negro question need
give political economists no more perplexliy.
Make them lords Of the land and everything else
~ill naturally follow. There Is more land lying
waste in Eastern North Carolina than !. needed
to support, 10 independence, ten times the negro
population now within our ines
During the attack on Negbtrn, in February,
the regroe, did efficient service, but they we're
thereafter obliged 10 abandon their outlying set
Elements and come within our lines.
In regard u the poor whites it is said
d" The poor whites Of the South are a more
be pless and s%piritless race than the negroes Of
the same section, and, indeed, naturally Inferior
70 them. They have more pride, but less actyi-
ty they make more profession, but possess fever
mental resources. Being unused 10 labor, they
know nothing Of ITS piocesfs, and are therefore
incapable Of seifsupport. From twelve to four
teen hundred Of them have been fed by govern
ment in Beaufort and vicinity, while only three
or four hundred negroes haye received aid IN the
same sub-districi, the whole number Of each
being neatly equal. 10 Newbern, where there
are more than eight til lusand eolored refugees,
bot little more than three thousand eat govern
o. ent bread ~
The earnings Of three hundred and five coli
ored men in Nesbern, for the year, amounted 10
$751; ,j62. Among them were turpenline gath
erers, traders, cotton farmers, shoemakers, &c.
The largest Income was $4,000. 70 Offset this
elias. there is another and far more numerous
one, who would be glad TO work If they had the
chance, but are unable to qa,s earn their sup
pori. They DO not need absolute charity, but
%judicious nd and encouragement.
AT Beaufort and MoFeheld reside at present
fifteen hundred and ninety-three 1888 colored
people. Between the two places ply large num-
Der. OF small boats, meeting every train Of cars,
ana beating TO and fro 10 every breeze. They run
also 90 Font Macon, Shackls.ord Banks, the
Lighthouse, HArker's Island, and elsewhere, there
being ~ cher means Of locJmotion IN this entire
region. lieuee The ne. 70 is here an aquatic AMI
ma, all t,tc, 81 The water almost as readily as
the SEA i0Wl ttat abound IN this vicinity. Not less
than one hundred men are constantly employed
10 boating, this business bsing wholly in the b nds
OF the negroes. And & rengatratiye calling il
proves 20 be, indeed. 1t would be safe to say that
the earnings Of each boat are, on an average, three
dollars a day II requires two men to manage
one boat, and their snug little income is more
lhAu d thousand dollars a year, tr upward Of five
hundred apiece. This would be reduced enc half
ia case they sailed the aoAl on shares, as some Of
them Do, for a white owner. II may be set down
that The freedmen Of Beaufort, North Carolina,
earn a thousand dollars a week, or fifty thousand
dollars a year, in his neat business"
The experiment ,n Roanoke Island, while il
did not prove entirely g paying one, yet furnished
a comfortable home TO about 5000 people. The
abe-boded men we're eali,ted into the army aud
left too few ab1rers to do The work. Besides
which some $4,000 due them for wages, vas not
paid, ewing to lbu criminal cirelessutss Of army
officers in charge. The experience Of he Rev.
AlIs Jtiut0 uhs Nv nun W Nout CuiNt4etllS WHICH
are worthy of attention. These are, in substance,
that the negroes are rot so helpless as the poor
whites, they are more active, ingenious and relig-
Ious. The pure blooded Africans ate super or to
The m~ulaltoes both in intellect and in mora! and
physical stamina, They are grateful for liberty
and asa class do net abuse It's use. They are
sl%rneslly DESTROYS Of the common rights Of citizens
eager 10 make bargains, 10 hold properly, and to
form little leagues " societies. Their method Of
labor is shitless, slow aud painful to the Northern
observer, but the ownership u real estate is their
strongest incentive TO industry. Give them q
piece of mother earth, and a " scrip O paper" 10
show for il, and they are as happy as kings. Be 1t
swampy or scrubby, with roots and bushes, or
sandy, or wooded, it matters not. Up gees a
house, down sinks a well, and soon pigs and
chickens appear on the scene, and the farm is
inaugun,ed With a cornheld and a collati patch
and rows OF sweet potatoes between. They do
bette: IN White society than alone aud are CON
tented TO do the work OF servants. Their first
need is instruction by competent teachers, their
own preachers they wili use up and support.
Under all tie dsooulagements Of The case, 1t will
Oe seen that while the mental elevation Of he race
is to be a work Of patience and time, the results
lheady accomplished are iu Of hope Tor the fu-
turs.
Toe New Ham shire Superior Cour, has de-
clded that an express company delivering a par