New-York tribune., 1866-12-01
ruc DEsTiTUTION OF THE SOUTH

TIE DESTITUTLON or THE SOUTH
The war alone is not sufficient reason for tho ruin
OF Southern industry; the sudden substitution of free
labor for Slavery does not explain il wholly. These
arc. unquestionably causes Of wdely-ektended de-
pcsson but the inactivity Of the Southern people has
deeper root
In every Stale there is great suffering especially in
the country dislriots In Alabama, tho discontinue
anco Of Government rations ordered TO take eneeI
September 30, was considered proclamation OF star
vaton, and OF the earnest appeal OF Gov. Patton
was rescinded. Gen. Swayne was authorized to pur-
chase supplies for distribution TO tho value Of sl2O
600, in threo monlhe Tho Commissioner for the
Destitute gave Il as bis opinion that Alabama this
year has not raised half enough grain TO feed
the people of The state. In Georgia, Mississippi,
Florida and Louisiana, the crops have equally aled'
and the dosliluton is probably greater than IN Ala
bama. Gov 0rr's message shows that South Carolna
has not been more fortunate than the other Slato6:
the whole South it threatened with Wntero Of famine
and thousands of persons, black and white famish in
this land Of plenty. "Neyer," says Gov. Or. IN the
history OF the State, has Legislature assembled
under less favorable auspices TO provide Tor the wants
of an Impoverished and disheartened constituency
He tells us the grain crop is alarmngly SMALL The
population is emigratiug in search of bread and the
most important portion Of his message is that which
urges the Legislature to form some plan for feeding
the hungry people. Even the cotton crop of the
South is insufficient to exchange for sufficient gram.
and how can it borrow money when it cannot even
pay it's current debts
IL is sad that such should be the condition oil the
.rio fha i-pt
trees blossom whilo tho frost is our hills where
Nature is the ally and not the enemy OF the laJorcr
Tho war exhausted the South il is tre. yet in 1855
her condition was better than il is now The aboli
ton of Slavery changed the terms upon which
the negro worked, yet il should not have
made material difference in the efficiency oil his labor
Two wears the South has had 10 reform her system,
and tho failure Of hor leaders to do this is tho chief
moral reason for her present deslituiion Gov. OFT
may yainly include the "intolerance OF our con-
querors in his catalogue Of grievances, for those
conauerors have fed the yanquished in every State,
and Gov Worth may As idly recommend tho
distribution OF the freedmen through the North,
as universal remedy, when 1t is notorious
that every Southern Stale dependent on the negroes
for support aud when even tho Rebel Toxas papers,
without an exception that we have seen, insist that
the introduction OF more negro labor into the slate
can alone prevent it, agricultural ruin We print TO-
day the fact that effort being made 10 induce the
dissatisfied negroes OF South Carolina 70 emigrate TO
Texas The cotton worm bos done IT, work; but man
can do more evil than the insect.
ave must stimulate our white population 10 60
earnestly to work. and let them that labor is hon
orabe and dlcncss reProhensible" Thee are Gov
orrs words and they indicate ono Of the chief causes
Of Southern poverly-tbe indoenoe oi the whites.
The curse. which ages have made blessing. has
como a, last TO the lords Of tho land, and they
must learn 10 take their part in the unendiug
toll of the twelve hundred millions OF the
world. The Incidence Of tho freedmen is an old
story. but wo do not believe il. Tho negro
can work. as the past prosperity Of the southern
planters proves and the threat Of the whip Is not 50
potent with any aborcr the assurance Of reward.
This assurance the South has not given 70 the negroes
She has treated freedmen as seris and cannot COM
plain that they went 70 lrui,los: task with renc-
tance. we have ample facts TO show that on every
plantation where tho laborer were paid-not prom
ised-fair wages, thero was no lack Of woTkmen and
good work. But the Labor Laws Of he southern
States have crushed labor, and helped The worm
and food 10 do their fatal work. While these
laws remain qnrepealed The South can hone f9T g9
prosperity. That there are natural and Unavoidable
causes OF this dreadful desitution know; but the
moral and political evils can be remeded. 1t is easy
to blame and it may harsh to suffering people;
yet in this case IT would be unjust not TO attempt TO
arouse the Southern people TO proper sense Of their
duty. In the meanwhile we hope that Congress will
consider the propTety Of restoring TO the Freedmens
Bureau the power to relieve the starving wroteheS for
whom the Southern States are uuable to provide.