Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-12-05
Why Should we wish the Negroes to
Eaiiyratcs

why SHOuIu we WISH tuc NcSTOCS tO
Esiigratci
Congrcrs, as ID wull known, has appropriated
millions of aores Of land in Florida, as well as in
Arkansas and other Western States, for the
benefit Of tho lately emanciputed negroes of the
South. Thsse negroes can, if they wiah, emf
crate to hcse lands and, upon ccrtaia easy con-
ditiops, become possessors Of valuable farms. It
is thought that largo emigration Of blacks will
take place from South Carolina in the course Of
tho present fall and coming winter. We cannot
think that this is particularly desirable. White
labsrers have not come among us yet; and, as
far as VIC can see, are not likely to como aoon,-
that lie, in any considerable numbers. At all
events, South Carolina had better not lose one
class of laborers before she is certain of gaining
another.
We have lost tho wealth which was invested In
rlaye property. And this is the greatest pocuna-
ry loss that any war has ever inflicted, or that
any people has over suffered. If tho Courts Of
tho country shall ultimately decide that the
emancipated slaves shall be paid for, we shall be
rejoiced; but VIC have little hopo of it. We be-
leve that right and justice, law and equity, de-
mand that they should be paid for. But all
questions of'thiS class, in this country and at
this time, aro beclouded by uncertainty.
We have this consolation however that what
individuals hare lost in property, the country has
gained in population, properly considered. The
negroes were not properly population before; they
arc now. And. in proportion ns they become
settled reliable, and productive as free laborers
many advantages will accrue to tho country to
countcrbalance, In some degree, the disadvanta-
ges it has slS.red. In proportion as they become
successful laborcrs and producers, It will have
the effect upon tho country as the free labor
and production Of ju.t so many white people. 1t
is true We cannot yet determine a. to what stand
ard Of rolublercss and auccess thoy will reach as
laborers and producers; but we have great hope
that, upon the whole, free black labor will provo
reasonable success. At all erents, let US give
the blacks every chance and every encouragement.
We are not inclined to think that thoy will prove
themselves totally unworthy OF liberal epportu.
nifty and enlightened encouragement. We have
boen forced {, yield our ownership Of negroes.
They are now to us no longer, in any sense,
chattcls. Let US take another step, rendered
necessary by thcir freedom, and regard them in q
higher senso than We did of yOre; IS human be-
ings subject to the samO impulses in seine degree,
governed by tho Same influences, and, on the
whole. very much like any othef human being,
in the sams position in society. 1t t5ehdovcs us
now to give the negro perfectly fair chance, and
let hin prove what he is capable Of.
| And reasoning upon the basis Of successful
free black labor, how much greater will be the
material prosperity, say, of my of our rich plant
| lug regions, than it has ever been before! Take
a vicinity where there is not more than thirty or
forty white families, and perhaps thousand
black fnmilios. Under the old system these
white families constituted the only patronage to
any merchants, mechanics, schools or churches,
in that vicinity. And that patronage was worth
little or nothing. The planters spent their money
where they pleased, and generally where it did
nothing toward the development Of their. region
of country, except in the way of enlarging its
few plantations.
Now, however, the money which will DO made
In such region will bo distributed among
population Of thousand families, instead Of
thirty or forty; and the most Of it will he spent
wbero 1t is made. The offect can at once DO econ.
Stores, dry goods and grocery establishments,
blacksmith and carpenter shops, ,hoemakcrs,
churches and schools, and all tho cinployments
and vocation. necessary to SO large population,
will at oncc spring up. The money which was
once taken out of tho country, and never brought
back, being spent in distant cities and watering
places, will be retained in the country; md will
fostcr the different departments into which lis in
dustry is divided.
And not only do the blacks become population
in the true sense; but their bocoming population,
and the retention Of tLeir money III the country,
will be- the means Of adding largely to tho white
population. Many kinds Of businoss will bring
white people hither from abroad. Not oaly will
business flourish, and tho waato iands, held by
large property owners, to the great injury of the
country, be settled and cultivated, but lands and
property of every kind, will rise 10 value. Pro-
duce of every kind will fpd market at homo;
and the production of all those minor necessaries,
which our country is so woll calculated to pro-
ducc, and which, under tho old system, were SO
neglected, will be wonderfully stimulated.
These effects aro already being witnessed ir
many parts of tho South. Let us "secept tue
situation and mako the most of IL" We may
regret the loss of tho old civilization. Let US
console and compensate ourselves, as much n'
may DO, by avniling ourselves Of the material
prosperity which the new situation offers.
Mexican Affairs.
Ma1:milian has abandoned the capital Of Mexi-
co, although he has not yet formally resigned tho