The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-20
COMMUNICATED
Shall the Negro be a Landho1dcr

COMMUNICATED.
Shall the Negro be a Landho1dcrs
MIR. EDITOR There is no question now agitat-
ing the public mind, from the Potomac to the Rio
Grande, which can compare in importance, as far
as the true interests of tho Southern people are
concerned, with the one which heads our commu-
nication. In the correct answer to this question
lies the solution Of the difficulties which envelop
the population Of many rich and powerful COM
monwealths. Decide this wisely, and the otsta-
cles which now beset our steps will be removed,
and the high road to State and national prosperity
will bo apparent. Where all is now 80 dark, then,
we believe, the path for each of us will be so plain
that the wayfaring man, though fool, can scarce
~ fail to follow it.
We confidently assert that beyond the reach of
successful controversy it is the true policy of the
South that this question should be answered in
the affirmative. And first, we will ask why should
it not be so2 why should not the nesroibe land
holder? Can good reason be given why he
should not-be2 Some perhaps, will say that nc
is too indolent and will not work land if he should
get it. The same persons asserted that he would
never work if he got his freedom. But there is no
doubt now that great many of the freedmen do
work, aud work well too. We do not propose to
rent or sell land to all the negroes, per capita, but
only to such as are deserving, and they can be
readily discovered. The undeserving are not very
likely to hove the means either to buy land or to
rent it. Their ability to do either will be pretty
good test of their fitness for the work which they
propose to undertake.
< The Southern landholders now possess the pc
ipte
only persons who, as general thing, will propose
to buy or rent land from them. They can accom-
modate the deserving and refuse the unworthy.
But some forsooth, are much too proud to stoop
to such dealings as these, and consider it an in
dignity to sell or rent land to negroes-their for
mer slaves. We hoped that the day for this
dwelling had passed. All this sort Of stuff would
be simply absurd were it not 81 wicked. HumiGa-
ton in selling or renting land to those who have
faithfully worked it for us all their lives for bare
support Humiliation for Us too, who at the dicta-
ton of ,otae people, those who but yesterday were
proud toicall usfellow-ctizens, have now to swal-
low 30 many, and such unpalatable doses, and to
bury our pride 30 deep that for it, at least there
would appear to be no resurrection. In the name
Of Heayer and Of dearest interests, let us stop
this straining at gnats and swallowing camels.
And now we will briefly consider why the negro
should be landholder, either as proprietor or
tenant. He should be 30 because without his
employment in one or other OF these capacities
our lands would go to waste and ourselves to pow
erty and ruin. For years to come we will have
none but him to till the soil. Foreigners prefer
the West to the South, and until that region is
peopled, we need hope for no extensive additions
to our laboring force from abroad. 1t is idle to
argue that this should not be 30; that the South
offers greater inducements to emigrants than any
other section. What We have to deal with In this
entirely practical question are facts and the fact
is here Just what we state 1t to be. What supreme
folly then is it not to avail ourselves of the only
means within reach to build up our waste pla ces
and repair our shattered fortunes And that folly
reaches TO pure insanity, when it is remembered
that we are rejecting the very means that are oest
adapted to secure the ends VIC have in view, and
which would appear to have been created for the
very accomplishment Of our objects. 10y
In political point Of view, also, how necessary
Of what vital Importance is it that there should
be entire accord between all classes OF the COM
munity in our distracted country. What sad
picture s that which presents itself to the patriots
eve of half continent in which labor is sullenly
arrayed against capital, the tilor OF the BOIL
against the proprietor, the poor against the rich
What house so divided against itself will not fall
It is customary now to speak, and very much too
lightly, too, of the conflict Of races which, it is as
sumed, is certain to take place at the South. A
conflict Of races Merciful Heaven Can it be
understood what an unspeakable calamity this
would be-? With two races Of men pretty nearly
equally divided in number, is it proposed to
set one against the other in deadly confict3 Has
the weaker race no powerful ally at its back in the
shape of the countless and merciless fanatics who
swarm st the North And suppose the negro
race here should be externinated as the result OF
such conflict, with what untold horror would this
victory be purchased Is it supposed that nearly
a million Of men will not exact fearful price for
their lives before they lay them down9 Witness
our wars with the rowing savage, who took no
root in the soil, fleeing at our approach, but who
turned on his tracks and struck us as he fell. Ere
the herctlean task we speak OF is accomplished,
rivers of Caucasian blood will water again this
desolated land.
I But let us not picture such 'swoes unnumber-
ed" This conflict Of races, this fresh calamity
is but the.chinera OF a. diseased brain, OF dis
ordered fancy. Let it DO the province OF wise
craftsmanship, Of enlarged beneyolence, to bring
together in the bonds Of friendly feeling the differ
ent classes in our midst and to ameliorate and
elevate, as far as possible, the condition OF the
poor and dependent. In no other way we main
tain can this be done 80 effectually as by making
our deserving negroes proprietors and tenants OF
land. If they can pay for land, let them have 1t.
If they wish to rent lot them try it. The ar
rangement will differ very little from the present
one of working for portion Of the crop. Ii it
does not turn out well the proprietor can resume
possession Of his land. In this manner We will
invest the negro with the same interests which
we possess ourselves; we will render his attach
ment to tho soil, strong and permanent, and will
sever his connection with foreign elements which
association is detrimental in the reme, both to
him and to us. The occupation Of the low white
demagogue, now fitting about the country, breed
| ing mischief among the negroes, will then be
gone, and the discomfort and trouble which fol-
lowed in his train will vanish into empty air. A
large and contented peasantry will then exist IN
each of the Southern States contributing to their
support and defence, whie will be
| "An the clouds that lower'd upon our heroes,
| In the deep bosom Of the ocean buried"
PRO PATRIA.
| state Items.
1 w,>,n,o TpSornotion NJ any