Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1866-05-12

4 number OF gentlemen OF this county,
owning plantations in Mississippi and
Arkansas. and form [ y large slave ow-
ners had instituted inquiry since the
close of the war iu egard to the mor'
tality among their fc' mer slaves durirg
The last three years. Of The rebellion,
and that they had found it to be fully
20 per cent. State tents of other par
ties having slaves IL tue same districts
fully corroborated inese statistics. 1t
lis also corroborated by the testimony Of
Judge Sharkey, Of Mississippi, before
be Reconstruction 9Committee. He
thinks that half the hegro population Of
his State has been swept away by casuO
aties and disease since the beginning Of
the war, and gives it as bis opinion that
the negro race 10 this country is dcStin>
ed to extinction. lie is reported to
have said: There are now in the State
very little over one balf as many
freedmen as there we're formerly slaves
There is no telling the mortality that
has prevailed among them. They have
died in immense numbers. The ne
groes are in very few instances disposed
to accumulate property: My expecta,
ton concerning them is that they are
destined to extinction beyond a doubt
We must judge of tie future by the
past; aud could tell you great many
circumstances to that effect Cover
nor Akin, Of South Carolina, who pro-
tected bis black people after the war
had set them free, is reported to have
said that out of niue hundred, not
three hundred remain alive General
Grant is reported to have expressed the
opinion that one fourth Of all The ne.
grocs 10 the South have been destroy
ed aud Mr.. Doolittle, Of Wisconsin,
stated 10 a speech 10 Connecticut, a
few weeks ago, teat one million of these
vrctched beings porished during the
war. The most trustworthy evidence
points to the fact that very large per
centage Of the black population of the
South has already passed away The
mortality during the present year has
probably not been so great hnt the
statistics, if preserved will show that
it has been alarmingy large The oPin-
| ion has been advanced by some Of the
most philosophic minds in the South,
chat the negro race in this country is
doomed to extinction at DO very remote
period. and the fearful mortality of the
| last four years greatly strengthens this
opinion Whether anything can be
done to avert this seemingly intending
Ga e, is q question that should engage
the serious attention of the philanthro
/ pist and the patriot NoShg'Sle Dis
Pated.
SOUTHERN RELIEF FAIR "A. a
meeting of the executive committee Of
ladies' held yesterday the sum of SlOS,.
900 was appropriated to the following
States
Virginia $40, 900 North Carolina,
$4,000; South Carolina, $4,000
| Georgia, $40 00O Alabama, $40 900;
Mississippi SIS 600; Florida 81 600;
Tepnessee, Sc 600; Arkansas, $4,000;
houisiaua, $4,000; Mar land, IS 600.
Total, $l0S,000
A committee of three ladies' were op
pointed to superintepd hc distribnticn
for each State, list Of whom viii be
published in few days. In addition
to the appropriations ABOVE, about $780,,
600 will remain as a reserved fluid in
he hands Of the executive committee
to Increase the allotment to such States
as may require il, and to meet special
cases The result Of the fair has bern
so far developed as to make it certain
that its aggregate proceeds will not be
less than $3.50, 900, The entire ex-
penses will not exceed $4,000. Bal
timsye Gazette url
A DoNEsrlc "SELL" =" Tilda. : cried
old Mr.. Slipper. from tho gardeni early
in the morning, "Tildal' ao
What, father" said a-voice, ball
smotbcred in bed>clotHGS, for the young
lady was III bed.
"Here's John down here" replied
the old mau ''bseu here this hour" "
There was a sensation in>dOOrS and,
after hastily dressing, Matilda appeared
"Wbpreis John ~ she asked, look