The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-22
.C II A r j. EST ON.
TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY %, 1867
slrrrE FREEDmAN ON HIS TRAVELS.

There was no surplus of labor hero before the
war, nor is there now. Scarcity of provisions end
a want of capital havo somewhat restricted plant
ing operations in some of tho upper md middle
Districts of tho State, but any temporary surplus
of 1,bor from, those quarters could readily tind en-
ployn,ent in adioi.ing Districts, or OIL the sea-
board Tho freedmen could thus secure hol'le
and a livelihood, without leaving the country. LUG
most serious step in lHo man can tako, espee'any
Door and ignorant man, is to omigrate; TO loavo
his native SOIL and cast loose from oil nus lrlonus
md kindred. Even under tho most tnfasoraDlc
conditions a man has q better prospect OF counsel
ord assistance from those he knows than from
nttar strangers. The freedmen know our soil,
onr climate, our pooplo. Hero thoy were born,
enioyel tho fruits of tho earth increased and null
t1plied, and, until told that thoy ought to 90 ull
banpy. they wcro wont to tako ifo very easy.
Here they have their churches and their school,
bouscs. bureau and savings bank, plenty of work,
md q fair amount Of wages. What more can they
possibly desire !?
Bnt thoy have listened to the voice OF the charm
or. They have been told that on going to FLORIDA
thew will each and oil become landed proprietors;
that the Government will give them each farm
of 80 acres. We do not know whether there Is any
truth in this or not. But supposng it true, OF what
advantage will said so acres OF land bo TO nlnc-
tenths Of tho negroes who emigrate Ihey SO
without money, without utensils OF any kind,
without days provisions, with very inadequate
clothing, without knowledge of tho country to
which they arc going; in fact, they hascno liked
destination and no settled plan OF operations. Inc
whole sad picture proves that tho move is the con-
scouenco Of outside iDfuence,-th have been
ssoyer-persuaded" We have converscd with
number OF these emigrants, ,-some of them ne
groes We had known for years,-and found from
the l.allucinations undor which they laborcd that
theyhad beon tampered with. They expect to live
on venison and wil; turkey, greon turtle and Forl-
da snappar, with oranges, bananas and cocoa-nuts
for dessert. Some Of our nterlocutors we're women,
delicate Of constitution who had been doing house,
work all their lives. We asked thon how they OK
pccted to get along in Florida; "Oh, we shall stop
in some of tho villages"
Now what will be the inevitable consequence Of
such a reckless, unwiso system OF colonization!
We have seen it hintod that largo numbers would
bo kidnapped and deported to Cuba; but VIC do
not entertain such suspicion. A large number of
these poor, ignorant, deluded creatures must
inevitably perish, and the remainder become
roycrs and vagrants through the peninsula, pest
to the community, worthless Themselves and do
moralizing The negroes to tho manor born; and
ere many years tho United States troops will hunt
through the everglades for outlaw negroes, as
they did, for SO many years. for tho last OF tho
seminoles and tho future CAMPBELL will sing
ssLo, the poor negro!'
During the progress OF the war tho influence of
the United States Army and Navy was exercised
everywhere to induce the colored people to
leave their masters and thor homes Tho freed
men were congregated in large villages" and ted
from the public crib; and what has been the in
variable result idleness, vice. starvation sickness
and death. But a few weeks since VIC road tho
most hcart-rending appeals for succor, in tho
Washington papers, in behalf of the unfortunate
freedmen huddled together at Arlington. We
thought that tho Government had experimented
)ugh in freodnen's colonies to bo satisfied that
this was not the road to anamelioration Of either
the moral or material condition OF tho race. AS
we said before, wo know nothing definite Of the
present colonization scheme. We knew not
parties for purposes of gain, or whothcr it is
blind inconsiderato philanthropy that is thus
drawing hundreds to inevitable destruction. But
whatever tho motive, the result will be the same.
Wo know there arc many who differ with us Oh
this subject, and say ssLet them co. We are better
without then." This is not our opinion. True,
no cannot hinder their going; but wo can at least
tell them what wo think about the matter. Some
SAY, thero havo always boen too many negroes
here, and q little thinning out will be sorvicoablo
We do not think thcro ever wore too many hero;
md cvon by Gen. HowARD's showing, there are
aow some $4,000 loss than there were five years
ago; and as to the thinning out, always lose by
such operation, as in most instances tho best go,
Ind the most worthless remain.
Lot planters and farmers exert themselves, and
get the subject properly before tho negroes; rca-
,on with them, and offer them fair terms for tho
,nsuing year, and We have no doubt that in many
,ases it will have a salutary effect.