The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-01-12
The Freedmen of EdistO.--W iU the
Government Fulfil its Promises {?

If our memory serves us, it was Gen.
Sherman who set off the islands on the
coast of South Carolina to the freedmen,
who accumulated in great numbers at the
cities near the sea-board, and who follow
ed his army without any means of sup
port. 1t was an act of humanity to give
these islands that were already abandoned
by the whites, to the blacks, that they
might cultivate them and raise food for
themselves and their families. At any
rate, these lands were given them in good
faith by high official of the government,
and the poor people, SO lately slaves, re-
ceived the grant with all the sincerity that
they did the emancipation proclamation.
These lands were understood to be contis-
Gated property, made so by the treason OF
their white owners. And so willie their
former white occupants were fighting the
government they had sworn to support,
and enacting untold barbarltie5 upon oul
prisoners at Andersonville, Charleston,
(amost in sight of Edisto island, and 9th
er prison bells, the fathers, mothers, wives
and children of the black Union soldiers,
removed to these islands, and occupying
the land given to them, commenced build
ing houses and tilling the soil.
In time, the war closed many of the
freedmen who joined the Union armies re-
turned to their homes on these islands and
helped perfect the civilization already well
begun. Many more are still in the army,
ready to defend the government against
their former rebel masters. But what be-
came of these masters They went to
J Washington, procured p0elons, and return
ing to South Carolina as loyal citizens, de-
manded back their estates. We shall see
with what results.
From various sources we learn Of the
visit of Gen. Howard of the Freedmen
Bureau, to these islands, to confer with
the negroes about turning them out of theil
homes and restoring the lands to their ole
masters, the rebels. Accompanying Gen.
Howard to Edisto island, were Edward
Seabrook, owner Of large plantation, and
one Judge Whaley Of Charleston. w,
here copy some from the Hartford Press,
and letter in the Independent, evidently
written by one of the party that visited
the islands. 1t tells its own story. Car
it be true, do you ask All, that is the
worst part of it {:
OF this Whaley we have heard before
He was third rate lawyer in Charleston,
but owned some slaves in EdiSto by all
reports a low-bred, vulgar fellow and dem
agogue. A most bitter and mean scccs-
onist, he was the first to come cringing
around the commanding officer in Charles
ton, and to take the oath in order to save
some of his rice, which had been contis-
Gated, and was being distributed to the
poor. He went to Edsto as the repre-
sentative Of several planters, in sort Of
slave driver capacity.
When the party arrived at the island,
they were received with great cordiality
by the negroes, who extemporized a sort
of cavalry escort for Gen. Howard. They
did not dream what his errand was, and
assembled in their meeting house to hear
what he had to say. They had been set
tied on Edisto by the government been
given lands there, as they supposed. They
have built houses, got Il church, begun to
work the land, and have a feeling OF
home Many Of them had come from the
mainland, escaping from cruel masters,
coming to the Union army; and many
have fought with it, The husbands and
sons of these women who came to hear
Gen. Howard had been, or are now, many
OF them, soldiers. The old masters of
those who belonged on these islands had
been in many cases odious. This Whaley
had burned up his houses when lie LETT
Edisto, lest the Yankees should have them,
and he had shot some of his negroes to
prevent their running away to the enemy.
They call him 81 bad man"
When they had assembled in the church
MIR. Tomlinson, superintendent of schools,
and Gen. Howard, very reluctantly told
them that they had come to consult them
about giving up their lands to the former
owners the President wanted them better
cultivated.
''When the purpose of his visit first
dawned upon their minds, they were in a
state of agitation and we could see at
once how averse they were to the propo-
sition. All around us we could hear no.
no I've can't do it, Never = &C.:
and it made my heart ache for them, they
looked so sad, and shook their heads SC
mourniully, many of them leaving the
church. Gen. Howard was much affect
ed, and begged them to stay and hear him
out. He went on trying to persuade them
to forgive and then he put it to vote"
The vote did not settle anything, and a
committee was appointed by the coIored
people to talk it over.
''Atter they went out, Mr.. Alden asked
them to sing one of their hymns for the
general, when they commenced. Wander
ing in the wilderness in sorrow and gloom,