The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-21

a while tho unfortunate tern incognita was |
threatened with an itinerary Congressional
caravan; but by the interpoition of q mer-
ciful Providedce wo were sized this innic-
tion. Upon moro mature cosidcration, the
Directory, alias Reconstructpn Committee,
concluded that explorations jim person arc
disagrecable Mt best, and MT uufreqncntly
dangerous to life and limb md u much more
comfortable method of scouting tho desired
information might be ndoEed viz to send
for the terra incogniia, summon it to Wash
ington, and mako it show cmsc why il should
not continue to bo ignored by the American
Scientific Congress.
Summons accordingly went out in every
direction, to obtain testimony in regard to
the manners and customs of these South "Sea
Islanders The pious General Howard,
chief missionary of tho Preedmcn's Bureau,
went before the Meeting, and gave his expo
rience: satisfactory to somo of the learned
members, quite not to others. The Procon-
suls and Prntors from all the conquered
provinces were sent for, to say how the people
liked them "Not at all" "IIow E? not like
you, nftor all yon have doEe for them,-very
strange and incomprehensiblo. But what
do the people say among themselves, in re-
gard to the government, tho war, and the loss
of their servants ?" "Cannot say, what tho
people think, rs we never come in social con-
tact with them only SEQ them oficiullY,
when they arc not usually very communion
tive" "Woll, but what 90 you thiak thoy
think On these subjects p" ooh, rs to that,
we don't think they are much pIeaod with
the present state Of things; and We know
somo very bad boys among them, ew.y down
in the canebrakc swamp in Alabama" =
Tho next, step was to send for sono of the
barbarian chiefs, and sec what account they
could give Of themselves. They alme, and
endeavored to show, that tho couu.ry under
discussion was not unknown at all, but on the
contrary was very we'll known. And since
they havo brought this fact to our mind, we
arc surprised, that tho contrary should over
have been assumed, when it is considered
what extensive exploring tours we're made
all through the length and breadth of the
iuuo, ouflnS eiie pust IlVe yeorS.
Where was there ever more magnificent
expedition, than the one led by General SHER
MAN, and it was certainly very successful
for their Investigations were most thorough
and there were few things hidden, that were
not brought to light by means of their skilful
and scientific appliances. And this is only
one of many such expeditions. What won
der there remained but little to tell of this
unknown land" after such herculean labors
/ The Directory has finished its arduous task
with great credit and perfect safety to itself
and came to the conclusion, (foreordaineG
from the begineing,) that tho SouthHis still 6
terra ineognita, peopled with barbarians, un
able to take care of itself, and must inevita
bly, go. to the dogs, if the Freedman's Burea,
is not kept there to take care Of it. This ii
the verdict arrivednt after months of weary
exploration. -. e ..-
But NIL the parties interested ace not salts
fed with the verdict. And we have had later
explorers, in the persons of TRUMAN, Full
LERToN, STEADMAN, and others. These gen
tlemen have left the beaten track, and fol
lowed strong scent in another. direction
They learned that there was rich new vein
thithorto untouched,) in the ramifcations o
tho Freedmen's Bureau; they aocordingl,
went to work, and although not furnished
with~aitro- -glycerine, they baye done som,
tnll blasting, and found huge nuggets in sun
dry unexpected quarters. We hope, tha
stimulated by their hattering success in thi
new field they may push their inquiries still
furthor;and give their astounding discoverie'
to tho would at The earliest possible day.