Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-01-03
THE PAST YEAR.

AS we have Just arrived at one OF tnOSe season.
which serve as to mark the course of time
| it may not be amiss to cast backward look upor
the track over which we have so recently travelled
in order to note what progress has been made to
wards regaining the former prosperity enjoyed by
our people.
The last year, at its opening, was bright with
hopes to our end of the Union. Having just emerg
ed from the overwhelming depression, caused by
the disastrous overthrow of the Confederacy, oul
people were beginning to collect their energies te
gather the scattered fragments which remained from
the wreck Bending to the force of stern necessity
they were disposed to take things as they founc
them, and, though under government from which
they had hoped toescape, to make the best of their
situation by an unreserved acceptance Of the union
thus forced upon them.
Although the Congress then in session had mani
tested disposition to take advantage of our posi-
ton, by extorting concessions that would in 9TH
er circumstances have been allowed by us; still it
was hoped, that an unresisting compliance with
their demands, would appease the vengeance of our
lately reconciled enemies. But in this hope, the
South has been disappointed 1t is now clear, that
the policy of passively acknowledging all the claims
of unrestrained fanaticism, and meeky inscribing
upon our statue-books every insulting condemna-
ton of ourselves which it may choose to dictate, is
not the proper way to stop its encroachments.
A wolf is not to be cured of his taste for sheep, by
feeding him on mutton; nor can the radical party
reasonably be expected to become less graspng, by
the undisputed possession of the South as prey
A refusal on the part Of Southern legislatures to
sanction Congressional impositions might not, it is
true, have entirely prevented them but it would
have proved to the world that we hare will of our
own, though not allowed to exercise it, and it would
have left us no worse off than we now are
As it is, the radicals have gained our official con-
sent to almost everything they desire, while the
South has obtained nothing and is, apparently, as
far from securing political existence as she was
year ago. Numerous projects have been brought
before Congress, with the avowed purpose of recon-
structing the lost fabric of political union, nclud
ing the South; but, to Southern eyes, they appear
merely as schemes for humiating and plundering Il
fallen enemy. We have, then, from political point
of view, little to find in the past year, over which to
rejoice.
But in other respects, marked advance can be
observed in the position Of the South. On every
side can be seen evidences Of energy and enterprise
really wonderful, in people hampered by such OBJ,
stacles as have surrounded us.
Our railroads, at least, have been 'reconstruc.
ted" and the facilities of the mails have been open
ed to all places of any importance; though radical
malice has devised formidable barrier to our com.
pete restoration to this oldtme luxury, in the form
of test oath, of such intensely loyal ingredients
that no palate, tainted with the slightest suspicion
Of rebellion, can possibly swallow it.
Cur burnt and cannon-shattered cities are begin.
ming to rise from their ruins, and the busy hum oi
commerce is once more heard in their streets.
Our farmers have had an unfavorable year for
crops, and have had in addition the annoyance Of
working with laborers over whom they have but an
imperfect control laborers who hoped to make q
share in the crop by working only when and how
they pleased. Besides these difficulties, many Of
them have had to struggle against the disadvan.
ages of heavy debt, and the loss of capital caused
by the emancipation Of the negroes-a loss which
fell more directly upon the farmers than upon any
other class of our people Yet, notwithstanding all
these disadvantages, most of them have made a
support for the year, and we hope that better crops
will reward them for their exertions, at the close o
the next twelve months At any rate, vigorous
prosecution of the plow-handle will not njure them
and we trust they will not be too much discouraged
by their bad luck with this crop, to try again
The Freedman, too, has been tried and, though
by no means as effective as the old-fashoned mig
ger" it must be admitted that he has done little
better, as general rule, than expected of him.
The anticipations in which he indulged at the be-
ginning of the year, of division Of the family
estate, and life of glorious freedom from labor, are
gradually giving way to clear conception of the
fact that he must acor, if he expects to enjoy the
luxury of eating That peculiar institution, the
Freedmans Bureau, did considerable harm, for a.
while, by offering him an asylum when out of en-
ployment, and precarious protection when in dis
pute with his employer. The unbounded conf
dence of freedmen, in the power and willingness Of