The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-06-27
COLUMBIA.
Thursday Morning, June 27, 1887.
Free Labor.

The editor of the Savannah Repub-
lcan, who, we believe, is Northern
man. and formerly strongly anti
slavery in his sentiments, has been
informed by gentleman who has
recently visited several Counties in
Georgia that there were never more
abundant crops made throughout the
region over which he travelled. The
freedmen have worked well, and the
above favorable result is attributed to
this fidelity on the part of the labor
ers, and is cited as an evidence of the
advantage of free labor. The writer
says that out of twenty prominent
planters who were recently assem-
bIed to discuss some important agri-
cultural topics, all Of when, prior to
the war, were in aff1uent circum-
stances and large shareholders, eman-
oipation was incidentally alluded to,
and that there was not one of tho
planters present who did not pro-
claim himself as unequivocally OPP
posed to the restoration Of slavery,
were it possible to resurrect the de-
funct institution.
There is no doubt of the truth of
the statement made by this writer,
and we are convinced that it is equal
ly true that not one out of ten Of the
late slaveholding planters would give
their assent to any movement looking
to the restoration of the institution,
were such a movement at all practi-
cable. But we desire to quote the
comments of our Savannah cotempo-
rary on the facts presented by his
correspondent. The Republican says:
"Of course, every Southern plant
er who invested his money in human
flesh and blood would be glad to re-
ceive q reasonable recompense for
their slaves, just as any Northern
man would be anxious to secure full
remuneration for all he had invested
in bank, railroadMor mining stocks.
This is natural desire, and is but
the promptings of instinct, the out
gushing Of that sordid, selfish spirit
which dwelleth to n certain extent
within all human flesh, and consti-
tutes part of our nature. We note
this simple fact as a hopeful omen
for the future, for we consider it en-
couraging to see the Southern people
battling with their deep-seated pre-
judices, and trying to shake off the
old rusty manncles of the past, and
walk bold and freely into the hopeful
future. We sincerely believe, from
all that we see and hear, that were
the question of the revival of slavery
to be left to the decision of the
Southern people, n very large major
ity would coincide with the views of
these twenty sensible, practical and
progressive planters.
''Who says we are not progressing
politically, socially and almost 6nan-
cially South? The man who accuses
the Southern people of retrograding
within the last three years, speaks
either from total ignorance or is
blinded by sectional prejudices. All
who think so should visit the South,
or get the opinion of those who are
in the field"
Of course, the Southern planters
might be expected to seek some mo-
derate compensation for their slaves,
for they were recognized by the Con-
stitution of the United States, both
as property and persons; but whether
they will do SO, or whether, if they
did, such compensation would be
awarded to them, is extremely pro
blematical. Had the same amount
of property, i'll any other different
form, been wrested from any class of
Northern men, the halls of Congress
would have been bcsieged by claim
ants and their agents until some rcsti-
tuition had been made. But let that
pass.
The second point of the Repuj-
lic0n, that the altered sentiment on
the part of our people is a hopeful
omen for the future-for it is en-
couraging to SEQ them, not only bat
tling against, but actually overcoming
their deep-seated preiudices on this
subject. We rejoice TO know the