Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-05-31

nus OecH TeplOWeu ana put In corn. Oats
are looking badly, and the peach crop will
be failure.
Freedmens' Bureau I'm Arkan-
sas--Gen. Sprague' Report for
April.
The report Of Gen. Sprague, Commits
sioner OF the Bureau for Arkansas, of the
operations of his office for the month of
April, 1866, was published in full in our
issue of yesterday. Like all the reports of
the Bureau Commissioners, Gen. Sprague's
exhibit in regard to the number of persons
fed by the Bureau, indicates that the ne.
groes are better able, or more willing, to
support themselves, than the whites. The
condition OF things, shown by these reports
to be universal throughout the South, can
not fail to elicit comment and inquiry, as to
whether there is not in the Southern States
a vast body OF whites, ~rivaiing in mum.
bers the negro population, which. is very
little more elevated in the scale of human
ity than the lately emancipated slaves.
In every State, We believe without excep.
ton, the number OF white persons receiving
support from the Government has been, at
times il not uniformly, in excess of the
blacks. During the regime of slavery there
was a large allowance made by planters in
their estimates OF the general value Of slave
labor, for the loss incurred in tho support of
the intgm and aged among their slaves. In
the State of Arkansas it will he seen that
this CLASS numbered, in April, less than foul
hundred. ID.
All who have travelled extensively through
the South will bear testimony to the fact
that there is scattered through every por.
ton oft a class Of people, amounting in the
aggregate to q very large per centum of the
entire population, which is generally de-
nominated poor white trash" This class
Is stepped in ignorance and poverty, and
unless the changed condition Of the country
resulting from the war shall effect a favor
able change in their status, there is great
reason to believe that the freedmen will
come to he superior class in the Southern
community. 1t is possible that the greater
dignity which is likely to be given to labor
in the South may favorably effect this class,
and that they may improve pa,t paSSu with
the freedmen.
Tho testimony, which may be said to be
universal, of the good conduct of the freed
men, is really very encouraging to our hopes
for the future prosperity of the South
The fact is demonstrated now beyond the
possibility of a doubt that tho freedmen
will, il treated with justice, labor as assidu-
obo'J ohp tiouieo no nuSui ~ Icubty muu
for man, in their present condition as in
their former state of slavery.
1t is generally believed by those who have
made the matter u subject Of study, that
with an equally favorable season the cotton
crop of Tennessee will be equal to that of
1860. If so, it will result from the good
conduct of the freedmen as laborers.-
Gentlemen whom we have met from Hay.
ward, Fayette and Hardeman Counties 10
this State, and from the Counties bordering
on the Arkansas river, in Arkansas, are en-
thuSiastic in praise of the general conduct
Of the freedmen in the matter of labor. IF
this state of things continues, and proves
general throughout the country, it will do
much to solve the great question ofthe future
OF the South at an early day.
Gen. Sprague remarks that "the freed.
men never ask for aid unless under ciicum-
stances OF utter helplessness, from sickness
or other causes" This is certainly not the
case with whites asking aid. Very many
applications for aid are made TO the Gov
eminent officers, from white people whose
necessities arise only from utter shiftless-
ness and unwillingness to help themselves,
while aid can possibly be secured from 9th
ers. We do not mean to be understood rs
saying that this is general, but some expert
ence in the matter has led us 10 know that
the negro will struggle harder to nveid be-
coming q burden to the Government, than
the poor white as a rule.
Gan. Sprague unites his testimony to that
OF every Intelligent observer, in stating that
where the teachings OF an incendiary press,
like that OF this city, are not felt, peace and
harmony prevails between the races. lie
says, in reference to this matter.
THE new of the disgraceiul mob spirit
and massacre that has forever disgraced a
city in a sister State, has but recently reach
ed here. While it will for a long time cause
uneasiness, it will not, l trust, result in any
permanent injury to the people generally.
The same disgraceful scenes would, doubt.
less, have been enacted here, If the press
in this State had as persisteutly sought to
engender a bitter hostility between the races,
as q portion Of the press has done where
these dlsgraceiul scenes have occurred"
Justice is now generally done to the
Freedmen's Bureau by the Southern com.
munity, except that class Of people who
desire to see the negro re enslaved-the in.
cendiary editors who are resolved 10 ropew
the war II they can by any means get the
people up.to the point-and the poor
white trash" who arc the tools of the two
hrst'named classes. Nothing short of A
desperate war OF races will satisfy the reck.
less, unprineipled editors OF a large portion
OF the Southern newspapers, and they will
spare no effort to secure that end. Witness
the s~xultant style with which the Memphis
avalanche and the Argus announced the
commencement OF the war Of races" on
the occasion Of the late riots. We believe
there Is enough Of sober sense In this com
munity TO prevent any further development
OF Violence, in spite Of the incendiary ooun.
SETS OF these papers. Fortunately, their
influence Is very circumscribed in its sphere.
aud daily lessening. : Memphis Post.