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.
MEcKLxSBuRo Co, c.
June 80 h. 1866.

] iouf re9usst 10 write, made soms time
since, was not complied with for va,i Jus
rsssons; the principle causs being she
want Of a suitable opportunity. What
changes take place ! how un.x xPecled ,be,e
ofteh are, and yet how beneficial these
changes and scenes OF life in the sequel,
in tho accomplishment Of man. letter
interests for both wmlds. These var,a.
tions Of hum,n life, it is asc.r,a,n-d in
the progress Of mans exparieacs,srs rare
y acceptable in their introduction, bu,
strangely true it is that they are always
justified in the eud.
So hy th. pressure Of these, the writer
has beer suddenly transferred from the
Pulpi to agricultural pursuits-fron the
labor Of the head to that Of the hands.
This is right, though in the outset il seem
ell to be adverse to every intsres, desr to
hin. involving results Of = doubtful M.
iure, both NJ TO secular aid clerical sd.
vancerueot Having followed. however,
VIII " he conscien'inusly heiis,eJ to he tie
openings Of Prnviis"cs, r.."lv.d to await
the development Of the Divine will, aud
the Divine administration. But let il NOT
hs supposed foom tho foregoing that study
isslt"gethsr laid aside 10 view OF the
change from preaching to farming. To
perform the latter Ms we'll as the furm-r
requires much close thinking sll.c,u
al rs well as muscular power is to lie EN-
ployed, especially is that farmer = hard
student now Who EMPLOYS freedmen for
lab"rsrs. The exercise OF this new call,
ing has created in the mind Of the writer
ideas which lie feels quite surs nsver could
have been realized 10y the study of Thsol
ogy. To meet the strange views Of the
ne~l y elevated negro, hold hin, to h,s
Contract. ard Persuade him to bs honest
and industrious, require no ordinary tai
snt. talent indeed. which the writer is
constrained TO acknowledge himself des.
,nute. How-'sr, possessing some sd'
vantage 10y reason Of the great number
iiocking TO town pressed for food. ~s have
Nh opportunity Of choosing. Hence the
crop is attended aud promises to yield a
fair compensation. the crops generally
in this par, Of the country, so far as h.nrd
from are encouraging.
Friday the 20 h Of Juas was . d.y
long TO be remembered bv many of this
section. A Freedman was ch arpsd with
tho murder Of his wife. He was convict.
ed at the last County Court Of beating
her to death with pole some l2 feet in
length. lie was sentenced by ths Judge
to be hanged. And yesterday tho letter of
the law WAS carried out-ths murderer
Was executed. The writer saw him n
ken from his prison, the rope already ad
us,ed about his neck. He took his seat
on his coffin and with the living mass
slowly and solemnly marched to the place
Of execution. The cleud Of death vas
already visible in his countenancs 40 he
exhorted the Thousands around him 10 hs
ad'nonishrd by hs fsle-the lss, words
we're words Of warning to o,hers. Tie
drop fell At o'clock and the a~f,l work
WAS accomplished. The .ffect was s.lu
tary. Many left the scene saving. 1t is
dangerous to tr'fs with tho law"
The continued darkness and uncertain
tv Of public affairs. vs,ionsly exercise the
hopes and fer. Of tie people. Much Of
energy mud nerve Ar. visible among the
p1"ple. t~ihstsnding the ruins Of The
~sr, hut how and where TO amply them
they seem not to know. Some labor in
hope and chesrfuInss.. others labor .
gains, hope,s s~hils a third cla.s seems TO
imagine :hai they will not want any more,
make no ef"t., show no spiri, but ,hs,
Of drspondency-:his cIss. Of psrsous Of
course is small. ....
With proper Steps on the part Of the pee
pie surely better day is shssd. Let
the people 90 to work With . will. do
: gh'. P""ssss snd cultivate their C~n soil,
mind thsir Own sffalrs, and ere long God
will crush The rage and satanic hstrsd
and drive those slsmsnts b.ck TO Rs,I
Dh%u,n tha, na...