The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-11

carts, in wagons, and hundred non-descrpt, an
tediluvian vehicles, drawn by animals, that ap
pear but remotely descended from the genus
equus, poor and bony, spawned and scrawny
most piteous looking objects. They encamp or
tho public square, and stay there for hours waiting
not very patiently, it must be confessed, but
rather noisily, for their turn. They receive gener
ally peck Of meal each for the week, and nothing
else, sometimes very small quantity of bacon
For this pittance they expend in time not un.
frequently from two to three days, and in muscle
Of self and horse certainly more than is compen.
sated by the said peck of meal. We regret, more.
over as faithful chronicler Of current events to
be compelled to say that sometimes the froic oi
the day breaks up riotously, meal being 'swopped'
for whiskey, and some of the pensioners get noisy,
and even bellicose. A humiliating and piteous
spectacle truly.
A gentleman told us that he accosted number
of these "sand-hill people" on their way to the
Commissary, and demonstrated with them on the
folly and improvidence Of wasting two or three
days every week in going after a peck Of meal;
told them that If they would take work, he would
employ thirty Of them, and give them as much
meat and bread as they could eat and wages in
money besides. 1--WE cannot leave our crap" was
the only reply "But you are leaving it, as it is,
and wear out your animals, and all for nothing"
esWell, we cannot help it. I'VE haint got nothing
at home and we cannot starve." There are strange
scenes and sights witnessed among these poor
people as they come up for their rations. In order
to avoid imposition as much as possible, the Com
missary requires applicants 10 come in proprtd
persona. Nothing is issued to proxies. Old and
diseased negroes may be seen crawling up and
coming many miles, who three years ago, Gin
savy times" could not have walked hundred
yards Some are brought here, lifted out of the
wagon, and taken to the Office, more dead than
alive. One case wes heard Of, told us by an eye
witness, is that of an old and infrm negro, who
held on to chair, pushing the same before him,
and every few minutes would sit down and rest
himself on this chair. By this slow and primitive
Iocomotion, he came from Ave to six miles. ~
Z These "sandhillers," that have SO often furnish
ed theme to our radical detractors-the 'poor
whitesn-have heretofore been at q disadvantage,
in that they were not willing to work side by side
with the slave, but now that this institution is
abolished their preudices need not be thus wouhd-
ed. The land owner would even prefer white labor
and if insisted on let the sandhillers work IN
squads to themselves. if they could be relied on to
do it. In the course of time we doubt not, these
people will learn to work and become respectable.
They are now going through the period Of transi
ton. The spirit very often is willing. but the
flesh weak. Some, we learn, this year agreed to
work for wages, and others rented land at
some distance from what had been their home
stead. They made a fair start. Dire necessity
taught them order, civilization, work; but, alas,
tho tempter came in the shape Of blackberries,
and they lacked the power to resist. The kind
year had showered her first fruits upon them;
there were blackberres in the old folds and on the
ditch banks; they now could 'see their way clear"
They laid by the plough and the crop, put away
shovel and hoe and all hands 'took to the woods .
Blackberries demoralzed them. Moro anon.
TRAVELLER.