Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-11-22

ance of the matters tOucnlng our federal
relations and State interests demand the
careful attention of every citizen.
Our Relation to the Negro.
The subject of labor is now engrossing
the attention of every Southern man VINO
thinks either of the present necessities of
the country, or of its future development.
Declared any participation in the legisla-
ton of heGeneral Government, and tram
meled in the management of State politics,
all turn to the study of their material
prosperity. Before the war, agriculture
was the great interest of the whole
South, and it had been pushed to q
high point of success when the revo-
luton began. Together with every other
branch of industry, it has received a
blow from the effects of which it must soon
die, unless new life be infused into the ell
ements with which it was formerly prose
cuted so vigorously. There is but one an
swer to the question, ''What is the cause
of the reduction of the products of the
South ?" and that is, want of labor. It is
needless to inquire what has produced this
state of things It is fact, and to manage
the subject in its present condition, should
be the object of those who live in the ''Land
We Love-" To do this, We must first know
what is the supply which can be brought to
use; and secondly, how that may be most
effectually applied. The thoughtful, can
did man sees that there is no source but the
negro that can yield reliable and sufficient
quantity of labor for the agricultural pro-
ducts of the South. To deny this, is to ig
tests of the present. Perhaps few words
to impress this fact may not be out of place.
The native white population, meagre at
best, has been greatly reduced, and the
large portion of those, left by our bloody
struggle for liberty, are either unable or
disqualified for the duties of field labor
We might as well apply the spirited race
horse to the drudgery of the dray. Some
attempts have been made to introduce white
labor from abroad, or from the North, and
invariably such efforts have failed to yield
profitable results. There are sound reasons
for this: first, the climate is such as to break
down the white man with violent disease,
which all experience upon first coming
among us. Secondly, our method of cult
walton, our habits, food, &c, are entirely diff
ferent and lastly, the great West offers in
ducementsw which, for the present, are bound
to draw away the white settler, particularly
asthe stream of emigration hasso long flowed
in that direction that the current will not
change until the channel has become chok-
ed by too great supply. This will not
happen within this or several coming gen.
erations
The tendency of the negro is to quit the
natural field of labor and rush to the towns
and cities, thus to become, in majority of
cases, the victim of his own ignorance, &C
quired vice and disease. Our province
should be to take charge of the negro
in all that pertains to his welfare; for, by
improving his condition mentally, morally,
and physically, we shall advance ourselves,
benefit our present condition, and secure
the prosperity of our children. And be-
fore going farther, let it be distinctly I'M
derstood that we believe there is barrier
between the equality of the races which
God has made, and that any attempt which
man may make to remove or overcome it,
must end in calamities which the violation
of nations laws will always entail.
The first duty will be to direct the NOR
ais; and how can this best be accomplished.
In our Judgment it must be effected by in
fluencing their affections, securing their
confidence, enlightening their conscience,
and directing their intellect. The negro is
now free, but because so, it does not follow
that he is able to take care of himself. All
of our preconceived notions; all our present
convictions tell us that alone he is unable
to walk in the paths of civilization, much
less to reach the heights of moral excel
lence. Humanity, religion, duty, interest
demand, and order, that we assume at once
the position of teacher to this race, so long
useful part of people. They were brought
to us by the English and Yankees, the
heather savage as slavesw we taught them to
be useful christians. They are free by no
working of theirs; shall they, by our blind
ness or neglect, become again what they
were? We will refer to this subject again,
and in detail.
Wilmington and Weldon Railroad.
In order that the Stockholders of this