The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-07-11
For the Lancaster Ledger.
The change-the crops--the ex-
ecution-the hopes and fears
OF the people.
MECxlxSpupn % NJ Nl

VI Vic peopie.
MEcxLkNBuRo Co. N c.
June 80 b. 1855.
Your request to write, made soms time
since, ~as not complied with for va,i ous
rs~'ons; the principle cause being ths
want Of suitable opportunity. Wha,
changes take place how unexpected ,he.e
ofteh are. and yet how beneficial these
changes and scenes Of liz, in the sequel.
in tho accomplishment Of mans Leuer
in,erests for both worlds. These yar,n.
tions Of hum,n life, it is a.c.r,a,nrd in
the progress Of mans exparieacs,ars rare
ly acceptable in their introduction, bu,
strangely true it is tha, they srs slw.y.
justified in The end.
So ly the pressure Of thsss, the writer
has beer suddenly transferred from the
Pulpit to agricultural pursui,s-fro,u III.
labor Of tho head to that Of the hands.
This is right, though in the out,e, i, seem
ell to bs adverse TO every intsres, dsSr to
hun. involving results Of = doubtful ma.
lure, both as to secular aid clerical sd.
vsncerueot Having followed, however,
VIII" he conscien'i"usly heiis,ed to 10 H..
openings OF Providence, resolved to await
the development Of the Divine will, aud
the Divine administration. But let il not
hs supposed from the foregoing that study
is'slt"gethsr laid asids iu view of the
change from preaching to farming. To
perform the latter as we'll as the former
requires much close thinking -in,sll.c,u
nj AS well as muscular power is to I've em
p'oved, especially is ,h.t farmer = hard
student now Who EMPLOYS freedmen for
lab"rsrs. The exercise Of this new call,
ing has ed in the mind Of the writer
ideas which lie feels quite sure never conld
have been realized 10y the study of Thsol
ogy. To meet the strange views Of the
newly elevated negro, hold him to hs
Contract. aid Persuade him to Be honest
and industrious, require no ordinary tai
snt, talent indeed, which the writer il
constrained TO acknowledge himself des.
ti'uts. However, Possessing some nd.
vantage hy reason Of the great number
focking TO town pressed for food. ~ have
An opportunity Of choosing. Hence the
crop is attended aud promises to yield =
fair compensation. the crops generally
in this part Of the county. so far xs h.xrd
from are encouraging.
Friday the 20 h Of June was . day
long to be remembered bv many Of this
section. A Freedman WAS charged with
tho murder Of his wifs. he was convict.
ed y, the last County Court Of beating
her to death with pole some 10 feet in
length. lie WAS sentenced by the Judge
to be hanged. and yesterday The letter Of
the law WAS carried out-,hs murderer
WAS executed. The writer SAW him In
ken from his prison, the rope already ad
justed about his neck. Hs took his se st
on his coffin and with the living m .ss
slowly and solemnly marched to the place
Of execution. The cloud Of death vas
arsajv visible in his coun,ennncs ~ he
exhorted the thousands around him 10 bs
sdmonish-d by hss fa,e-the last words
we're words Of warning to othsrs. Tie
drop fell At ! o'clock and the swf,l work
WAS accomplished. The -ffsct WAS s1lu
t"ry. Many left the scene saving, Il, is
dangerous to trfs with the law"
The continued darkness and uncertain
tv Of public affairs. vs,ion:lv exercise the
hopes and fer" Of tie people. Much Of
energy snd nerve are visible among the
people. not t~irhstsnding The ruins Of N.
~~r, bu, how snd where 10 amply them
they seem not TO know. Some labor in
hope and chesrfulness. others labor .
ga'nst hope, .~hils third cla.s seems to
thar they will not wan. any more.
make no efforts, show no spiri, bu, IN At
Of d-spondency--:his elias. Of persons of
course Is small.
With proper Steps on the psn Of the pee
pie surely hettsr day is ahesd. Let
the people 90 to work with . will, do
: g'r. p"sssss and cultivate their Own soil.