The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-01-03

tillage of cotton may be and ought to be &C
complished before the oppressive heat OF
mid summer. Without touching the ques-
ton whether the negro can stand heat better
than the white man, take the broad ground
that the heat in the Southern States is not
such, but that the white man can well endure
it, and perform vigorous and profitable la
Dor.
Philosophers may well discuss the abstract
question, and practical men should apply it
when an exigency arises, but here there is no
such extremity of heat as demands its appli-
cation, even if it be true. The rice localities
surely do not, and the statements already
made apply generally to those of cotton and
sugar. As to the sickness of the localities
of these great staples, something has already
been said in reference to the cotton regions.
1t is certainly true that much of the country in
the South adjacent to the Mississippi and
some other large rivers and swamps is preg-
nant with malaria or some other causes,
which produce summer and fall diseases
And it is strange how little has been done in
the way of drainage and other proper sani-
tary regulations by way of alienation or
remedy. 1t is known that some partial ex-
periments on that score, have operated very
benefcially, and Ishould be greatly deceived
if the skill and attention of the white man,
when duly directed to that matter under fair
auspices, should not, to o great extent, if not
entirely obviate them. Former lethargy on
this subject may be partially accounted for.
Those localities have generally been in the
hands Of wealty planters, who occupied them
more as specializing enterprises than as per-
manent residences, and who after the work
ing season was nearly over, found it pleasant
and convenient to resort to summer retreats;
while the negroes, as slaves, could be requi-
redand forced to remain, and if they sickened
and died, their demise was considered chiefly
as property loss which did not materially
curtail their general profits
And perhaps in most cases the premises
were in charge of an overseer, and the owner
only visited and supervised them in the
winter, while his family and residence were
far away. These places were profitable in
spite of the sickness and deaths among the
negroes and the dashing, pushing and tenn
porary system attaching to them did not
invite or permit much collateral attention to
matters of health. But things have changed.
The negroes may and probably will to a
great extent retire from those localities and
if not, it will hardly be possible to maintain
among them that police which is necessary
and was formerly practicable. Negro labor
as slaves was a very different thing from
what it now is as freedmen The negro may
stand heat better than a white man, but /
think it has yet to be proved that he is less
obnoxious to disease, while he is certainly
less clearly, less prudent in avoiding expos
ure or in due care during sickness. If those
localities are to be improved by sanitary
expcdients, it will have to be done by the
white man, and that perhaps after being
divided into smaller aliotments among per-
manent residents.
If they cannot he improved, the white man
being more careful and clearly will find them
less dangerous than the negro, and perhaps
will have more courage to encounter them.
l can in no event see how negro labor, as
freedmen, can enure to the benefit of those To-
calities, but were it otherwise, it would be a
most narrow policy on account of few pc
culiar and relatively small though rich local
titles, to fasten dangerous element on the
great South with so much of other healthful
and fertile territory adapted not only to
those, but to so many other staples. In the
one scale depend the peace, enlightenment
and friendly co operation of a vast country,
having in charge the great principles Of Con-
stitutional liberty in the other the mere pos
sibility, that some great staples might by
chance be increased in certain localities, and
which would surely be abundantly produced,
even were those localities sunk to the bot
tom of the sea. Night not suitable and
accessible home for the negro be found in
some of our southwestern territories Ii so
there can hardly be doubt as to the right
or ability of the Government to move them
there, either as separate people under our
protection, or an integral portion of the
Union as might be thought best. To do so
would work no territorial loss to the Govern
ment because he would leave vacuum be-
hind equal to what he would fill in his new
home And the white man would rush in
and fill that vacuum. But if the negro re-
main where he is, it is very questionable
whether there viii be much immigration of
the white race to the South.
Indeed | fear that large numbers of the
whites will flee the South, being unwilling
to leave their families to hazard the political
and social status existing, and to be intensi-
fed by mungrel population. As things
now are, emigration, with the whites, is
about as likely as immigration.
And would it not be better for the Gov
eminent to have large homogeneous popu-
lation on the Mississippi, Atlantic and Gulf
of Mexico rather than away off in the South
western INTERIOR While instead of the
capital and teaming white race of the North
being subjected 10 the troubles, hazards and
trials of opening new regions, they would
find the negro being gomez millions of acres
of good land, inviting their occupation at
low rates, with the main elements, and facil-
tiles of civilized life already existing. Com
mon roads, railroads, navigated rivers, state
houses, court houses, school houses and
churches prepared to their hands, and a
sparse and poor but civilized population
ready to give them fraternal welcome
This is prolific subject, but will stop, after
having attempted to be suggestive rather
than elaborate. My purpose is so to touch
some of the great features of this question as
to put my countrymen to thinking, and
especially to excite the reflections of earnest
expanded, and patriotic statesmen.
COLONUS.
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