The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-24
!. Columbia Correspondence.

2Colun,bia Correspondence.
We extract the following letter.
from the Charleston IS. C.) Leader,
the freedme,i's organ In that citya-
Mr.. EDITOR: No doubt, you think.
we here in this city ought sometimes
pen you few lines to inform the
people of Charleston how the inte-
rest of the freedmen in this. part Of
the country is progressing. We are
not, so to speak, as we'll off in money
as the people i'll other parts Of our
State, but we have around us class
of men who will do as much for our
people as those in any other part Of
the State. They seem to realize that
we arc free, and stand now fls equal
before the law--free to testify and to
hold up our heads, and feel that the
race which, for more than two hun
dred years, have struggled in bond
age, arc to-day free and Independent
| citizens of this great republic
The small pox is raging at present
in this city; and the manner in which
| our people are treated by those whose
duty it is to look after us is disgrace
to humanity A few evenings since,
| n number of our citizens waited upon
Gen. Ely and asked him that Justice
be done us. We told him that twcn-
ty-nine women and children were
crowded into n small room, and left
to take care of themselves as best
they could. Yes, Mr.. Editor, twcntv-
| nine human beings crowded into
small room, and in the same building.
III a room twice as large, one white
man had every comfort. We, for no
fault of ours, are left to die like
rotten sheep in the Black Hole of
Columbia, and all owing to want of
Justice towards us from those who
were sent to look after our interests,
but who spent their time in cotton
planting. lcs, let the truth be
known, that Cooking after the freed
men means looking after him on our
plantations. But we are not all fools.
even if we ire negroes
A new band has been started in our
city, and is known IS the RichlanL
Volunteer Brass Band, and consists
of ten pieces. We had a screnade
the other evening, and we waited on
our Governor, his Excellency James
L. Orr. We also waited upon the
Hon. j. G. Gibbes, Mayor of Co.
lumbia, who has been tie best friend
of our people in this city. He has
always commanded our love and re-
spect. Mr.. Gibbcs is a gentleman
who is above prejudice
L The freedmen are all ut work.
F<2uite number Of them purpose
going to the Western States and the
Southwestern part of Tennessee. I
think the people hereabouts will run
short of help this coming summer.
W IA than 1000 have left this Dis
during the last month
schools are doing we'll, as are
ais >ur night schools, in charge of
Mrs. Haley, from Maine, and Miss
G.. H. Lewis, from Hartford, Con-
necticut They arc doing all they
can to give us knowledge. know
that Nou are not blessed with such
teachers in Charleston. The female
teachers there are more occupied with
the young officers than with their
poor colored pupils. We have lived
in that city. Our officers have other
business to attend to, and our teach,
ers do what the society sent them out
for.
Our city is coming up fast, and vii.
soon be what she was in former
days-the garden city of the South.
II ever city suffered, Columbia has.
What with burning, robbing and de
stroying she has endured. man may
never know.
We are always much pleased when
the Le,ttle,' comes to hand. Its con-
servative and moderate tone cannot
fail to do good by cudeavoring to
prove that the true interests of all
white and colorcl-co sist in living
side by side on annie ,blc terms. |
hope to see it taken and read by all
the people. Its agent is doing II
driving business in the way of getting
subscribers.
fear have trcspasSed too far on
your columns; so, wishing You and
your truthful journal success, l :.ln.
very respectfully. Nc.. W. B. \.
DAMAGE FOR DELAYED TRANSpuRTA-