The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-04-10

The FREEDMEN OF TExAs.-The
San Antonio Herald, of the 5th ult.,
says: =
From friend of ours who has Just
returned from a trip upon the Colo
RADIO, old Caney, and other of the
most important sections of the State,
we derive the most satisfactory in
formation respecting the prospects
for the coming crop. The planters
are almost universally possessed of
far higher hopes and far brighter
prospects than could possibly have
been anticipated at the outset of the
year. Nearly all the cotton planta-
tions In the sections visited by our
friend are i'll cultivation, most of
them with fair supply of labor,
some with more than ever before en-
ployed upon them, while some we're
still short Of them. In general,
planting operations were fu]ly as far
advanced as usual at this time of year.
and the proportion of cotton to other
crops, though greater than has been
customary heretofore, was yet not
such as to threaten a scarcity of grain.
In nearly every instance the plan
ters spoke very favorably of the dis
position and conduct of the negroes
so far. The hands are generally di-
vlded into squads, each under q black
foreman, and proportionate extent
OF ground is assigned to each squad.
The foremen exercise q strong control
over their squads, and the hands
themselves are rapidly learning, rom
the instinct of self-interest, the neces-
slty of making every laborer do his
duty. The portion of the crops as
signed to the hands varies from one
quarter to one-third, and in some
few instances one-half is allowed
them.
DECLINE IN PRICES. Much is said
just now concerning the fall of prices
OF nearly all kinds Of goods in the
Northern markets, and inquiries are
Justly nnt why our. own merchants
should not also lower their prices
The great truth is, people want to
get rich too rapidly. They are not
satisfied with n moderate or fair
profit, but must exact profit of
eight or ten per cent. on goods
which, before the war, they would
cheerfully have sold for an advance
of one or two per cent. We are told
by authorities that New York prices
on some goods are thirty per cent
less than they We're six months ago,
and we ask why the same difference
IS not made in this market?
| CHnrleSt0m Courier.
Gen. Sprague, Assistant Conmis-
sioner of the Freedmen's Bureau in
the State Of Arkansas, in his report
Tor the month of February, says:
"On the question of free labor, al
most without exception, the planters
report that their freedmen laborers
are working to their entire satisfac-
ton, but many still entertain fears
for the future, that at some critical
period their laborers will leave them,
and subject them to heavy loss, not
withstanding each day adds to the
security in their hands in conse-
quence of the increased Indebtedness
to their laborers.
BY the death Of Hon. Solomon
Foote, the next Vermont Legislature
will have the unusual responsibility
OF making three elections of United
States Senators; one to fill the unex-
pired term Of Judge Collamcr, one
for the long term, and now one to fill
the vacancy occasioned by the death
of Senator Foote. Governor Dilling-
ham has, i'll the meantime, appointed
Hon. G.. +. Edmunds, of Burlington,
successor to Mr. Foote for the re-
maindcr Of the present session of
Congress.
A delegate in the Pennsylvania
Democratic Convention culogized the
economy of President Johnson in
his administration of public affairs
Another delegate remarked that he
couldn't see it, and asked for an ex-
planation. Delegate No. l replied
that the President didn't waste his
ammunition upon dead ducks 1t is
needless to add that the hit brought
down the house
DOUBTFUL. A Naples letter writer
says that several Roman Catholic
priests have declared their intention
ofsmarriage, under the new law which
makes marriage civil rite, and one
has already been united to lady of