The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-02-08

are ousted of possession, while the
system of leases and allotments, and
in some portions the heid-order of
General Sherman, have caused their
distribution among the freedmen, and
created q strong expectation among
them of continued and more extern
sive distribution. Iwould submit to
you, and through you to the Govern
mept,. whether any principle of JUS
tice can sanction such double pnn-
ishment, as first to compel the owners
of these lands to bear the whole bur
den of the States taxation, and then
to coniscate the very lands which
had been SO taxed. For, as I have
said before, now that the cessation of
wal: has given the opportunity, these
owners are perfectly willing to pay
their taxes, and ask simply that the
principle of redemption, incorpo-
rated in the Acts themselves, shall not
be made barren by being limited to q
point of time before which it was
clearly impossible to use it.
But there is another point of view
from which the condition of these
lands assumes even graver Importance
The question of the relation between
the white population of this State
and the new freedmen has been q very
perplexing one, and not altogether
free from"danger. 1t has been for
long time doubtful whether the freed
man would contract for labor at all,
and the great difficulty in the way has
been his conviction thatsthe lands of
his former master were to be given to
him. This delusion is not yet dis
peiled. in the interior of the State,
where there has been no disposses-
sion of the owners, the freedmen are
gradually becoming convinced of the
truth, and are beginning to find that
work is a necessity, and by contract
ing for labor at fair wages, only can
they secure work. But in the low
country the case is different. Diff
culties still seem impossible to be
overcome and serious disturbances
have occurred. General Siclles, by
energetic and practical action, is max
ing some progress to more whole
some state of affairs But there is
one obstacle too stron ng for him, or
the planter, or the State. That is,
the existence in the State of large
tract of the richest and most valuable
lands, from which the white owner is
excluded, to which the freedmen looI
with the assurance of future posses
sion, aud over which the State pos
sesses no control, and the military
authorities of the United States can
exert no beneficial influence.
AS long as these lands remain in
this condition, so long the freedman
of the low country will refuse to work
for wages, and the freedman of the
up-country will work discontentedly
Although see that proposition has
been made in Congress to confirm the
grant made by Gen. Sherman's field
order, cannot believe that either the
justice or wisdom of n great govern
ment will permit so fatal an injury to
this State, as must be the establish
ment of negro colony upon her
borders, wasting her most fruitful
lands, obstructing her largest har-
bors, and shutting out from the sea,
by belt o1 barrenness, her enter
prise and her industry. But the delay
in deciding the status of these lands
IS acting most injuriously upon the
fortunes and future of this State.
Already the benefcent action of the
President's restoration of lands has
been unaccountably delayed, inten-
tionally or ignorantly, by those en-
trusted with its execution. But i'm
perfectly and nnwillingly as it has
been executed, already its good effects
are visible, and I will venture to
assure you It if you can contribute
to make it perfect, by aiding the
State in the restoration of the lands.
now practically confscated by the
Direct Tax Act, you will be going far
in securing the solution of that ques-
ton of labor which is to- day the only
real obstacle to the firm, harmonious,
and prosperous reconstruction of a
common country.
Impressed with the importance of
these views, but finding it impossible,
either with justice to your engage
ments or my own, to dwell upon them
more fully or more in detaI, I have
commissioned Hon. William Henry
Trescot to lay this letter before you,
and to enforce it with such informa-
ton as IN examination of it on your
part may require. Mr.. Trescot has
already had the honor of communi-
cation with you us the representative
in the same capacity of my prede-
cessor, Gov. Perry.