The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-06
A Visit to N Rico Plantation.

my daily laoors, L went to the depot of the
charleston an Savannah Railroad, where a num-
Der OF gentlemen,~ planters, had already congre-
gated, waiting to cross. The boat took us over
tho Ashley, making connection with the Accommo-
dation Train, which every Monday, unin-
numbered with freight,-so as to run fast. and
give planters much time possible to see their
| crops, AMI return to town in the evening
| had not been over this road since the present
crop has been planted, and, Of course, noted a
considerable difference in the looks Of the coun-
| try. There was still the same entire absence of
all Kinds or live stock-the same tall, lone brick
ehimneys, showing where the cruel hand of war
| had shed its blight. Settlements along the road
| are still few and far between. Occasionally, how
ever, tho heart was cheered by tall green rows OF
waving corn. Here and there a long low plain.
| intersected with network Of banks and dtches,
showed that there is rice in the old land vet. Cot
ton, too, both long and short staple, now and then
served to remind US Of the departed glory Of this
once regal potentate.
At Adams Run our esteemed townsman, Gov
ernor AIKEN, left the cars, route for his panta-
ton on Jehossee Island. And one by one our CON-
pany left till thore were but few OF us, when we
crossed the Ashepoo, and ourselves got out at
Green Pond.
The weather wao very fine, though rather warm
for walking over plantation. The cool nights
we have had for the last two weeks have consider
ably retarded the development OF the cotton, and
therefore were uuwelcome to the planter, how
ever much he might personally enjoy the cool
evening breeze after a long, hot days work.
We (that ls, my con,pagnon de poydge and my
selD first looked at some short cotton pretty fair
in some parts, and very small again in Others
The seed originally planted proved worthless, and
did not come up This complaint comes from all
sections OF the country. The cotton thus lost
nearly q month Of valuable growing time. The
land had to be ploughed over, and good seed
sown instead of that which would not sprout. We
saw come fine corn here also, and the entire crop,
both corn or cotton, perfectly clean.
We next drove off to another plantation, where
the same planters are engaged in cultivating rice.
On our way thither saw several patches OF corn.
"awful in the grass !" some 80 much 40 that il
seemed doubtful which WAS the crop and which
the volunteer. In others the grass had choked
the corn entirely out OF existence. Tho crop will
have to be "thrown away" "Wbose corn is
that ?" I asked. "Thats nigger corn" This
brought to mind the old anecdote, doubtless
familiar to most Of my readers Of the preacher
- ~.----- .-..e, oa-..
a negro hoeing his corn patch 'sYou should not
work on the Sabbath day." quoth the holy man.
"But, massa, amt got no udder time for work
en-" 'sTrust to Providence" replied the preach
er. "Oh no, massa, can't do dat. Providence
awful in de grass hisself,"-at the same timo
pointing to an adjoining patch belonging to one
Of his fellow-servants named Providence.
AS we passed on, presently some very fine
corn, and afterwards equally fine rice. which Was
surprised to learn also belonged to some of the
freedmen on the place. In this connection have
ano her anecdote bearing thereupon. gentle
man knew in one OF the adjoining parishes, like
many other planters, allowed each OF his
| slaves patch Of ground, for corn, rice or
potatoes,-whatever suited the fancy uf the
slave. (There was no Freedmen's Bureau
then.) This patch Pompey, Cuffy and Cnsar
worked in their own time,-i e., after the daily
| task Was done, which often was by or P. NJ.
Every Saturday afternoon the planter gave them
the use OF tho mules and ploughs to turn over
their crop But, of course, this work was optional
with the negroes. One of them, Prince, it appears,
had very little idea of optional work. and as mat
ter of course he got in the grass" So one day
Prince goes to his master, sayng "Massa, I nj ays
works your crop, and has my task dun as well de
tudders, an my crop is all do time in de grass
| ''No wonder, Prince. The reason is very plain.
You do your task because you know you have to
do it, and you Go not work your crop because you
are not compelled, and have not sufficient energy
| 80. But wants my crop to be as clean as de
tudders; don't want dem niggers talk about me
an my crop; and I wants you to mex ME do 'em u
every we'll, Prince; but remember if you continue
! to neglect it after this, shall have to punish
| you" 'Jes 30, massa II doesn't York en-. you
| whip me-" The new arrangement aoswered admi-
rably fer about week, when Prin % relapsed into
his old grassy ways. He re' eived warning to
no effect ; another, which also passed unheoded.
The third (asis the case when French newspapers
fall under the ban OF the censor), was followed by
! suspension-i. e. Prince was tied up and logged
for his own good of Course, and by his own volun-
tary stipulation. This he knew and understood
| full we'll. But Prince did not like this way OF
spending his holiday, 30 ha Informed HE master
that he had changed HE mind, and forthwith with
drew the authority he had delegated to him {; and
Princes patch was grassy before, aud he re-
mained "meau piggcr."
! But We have how arrived at our place OF desti-
nation: DR.. DEHoN's place on the Ashepoo, at
4 oaptl la e1 IN IL