Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-12-06

tlnue Tor the purpose OF retaining consid-
cradle number of useless officials, except
l in the service they render for political pur-
poses, and [ am only surprised that under
the training they have had since their lib
GRAFTON, that We have gotten along SO well
with them. That they can be made an in
telligent industrious, honest and thrifty
{ people, as claimed by their liberators, /
think very improbable; yet that they may
be made self supporting and useful, l think
possible, by proper management 1t is
true that they have yet to learn that they
are amenable to the laws OF the country,
consequently they are very reluctant in
performing the duties required by law,
such rs paying taxes, working the public
roads, &c. Thinking thai now they are
free, they have nothing to do but roam the
country at large and live on the labor of
others. The most practical plan that sug-
gests Itself for lettering their condition
and making them self-suppOrting, is to en-
courage them to labor by liberal wages,
land require OF them liberal labor in return,
impress upon them the importance of gain
ling Il character for themselves by habits of
industry, economy and strict honesty, so
that when they wish to change employers,
they can carry with them a favorable re-
port OF former fidelity let us also resolve
lamong ourselves that we will not encour-
age lndOlence and yagrancy by allowing
them to live around US In idleness, also that
we will not encourage them to forfeit their
contracts when they have entered into
such by giving employment, before they
can show Il Clean discharge. In this way
they may be brought to see their true
status, and become a quiet, useful ana
comparatively happy people. Expe-
rience has shown that they are
too deficient in the elements of eco
nomical management as yet, to make
either agreeable OF profitable tenants, con-
sequently the system too generally adopted
! of renting these lands Or cropping on
shares, should be temporarily abandoned,
as it is an injury to the freedman. They
have to see their true condition, before
they will benefit by kindness Or be advised
by their best friends, TO make them depea-
dent Tor employment, and require of them
a recommendation Of character, is the
surest and shortest means of bringing about
a reformation. This being gained, it will
hen oo our duty to encourage them, not
only in making support, but also in their
mod. ana intellectual training, on their
intelligence Will depend their future use
fulness. The requirement of character
should be forthwith adopted. 1t Is required
of all classes and conditions OF men from |
the Chief Executive of the nation to the !
chimney sweep and see no good reason !
why the freedman should be al exception !
to the rule; ana ii this thing is not accom- |
pllshed, we must be somewhat at fault
That tl4is class OF Our population are to re-
main among u.s. or in the Southern States,
there Can be no doubt
The recent elections at the North fully
demonstrate that they will not receive
them rs equals nor even rs emlgrants.
Notwithstanding, their party leaders now
III power, would, through their military
llctatOrs, make them our laW-giyers and
rulers.
The agricultural and mechanical classes at
the Norlh are beginning to feel the weight
o. the iythe they are paying TO detray the
expense Of bringing the former slaves Of the
South to equal rights and privileges with
themselves They also see that the consti-
tuition, which they fought to maintain in
its purity, not only for the benefit OF pos
terity, but to be held up as beacon light
to rising republics, as proof that man is
&c paole Of Self-gOVernment, is Wantonly
d .sre9 urCled and tEampled under foot by a
Set OF perjured political leaders, and they
are speaking to them in language not to be
misunderstood. They are standing on tick
i,h ground. They arc loudly saying,
We cannot endorse this system OF leGlsla-
non outside OF the constitution, the evident
tendency Of winch is to equallze and mis-
egenIze the races, under the prctext of re-
constructing the rebel States at an eXpendi-
ure mat ought to carry on the government
under the constitution, nor will we longer
allow brave and generous people to be
debarred the rights, privileges and protec-
ZION of that constitution we so ZealOusly
supported.
Now, [ think, as the passions and preju-
dices which brought about the present de-
moralized state OF things subsidies, which
they are fast doing. and the second sober
thought ensues, the entire political element
viii be- changed, ami the ship OF State Will
be launched once more among the States
Of the Union, under the guidance OF hef
own people. Then should we not use the
only means III our reach, Of regulating our
own affairs
[ would again call attention to the neCeS-
sity of cooperation aud mutual consulta-
ton it being greater with US now than at
any former period. The old practice of
broad acres and small crops, however we
may have been welded to it, must be aban-
doned and our energies directed i'll diff
,eTent channel,
In this matter we need reconstruction
more than III political point of view, and
this reconstruction Is III cur reach.
Let every farmer adopt the why and the
wherefore Then let the labor on each
farm consist OF well-devised experiments
let the result be accurately noted in book
kept for thai purpose, and each farmer will
lind, in u short time, that he is uncon-
sciOusly raised into the intelligent cult
vator Vi q most interesting branch of natu-
raj science.
My limited experience proves the bone
fetal result. It has also proved that the
application of fertilizers is the best paying
st Jck have ever invested in-I mean those
within our reach those accumulated on the
farm for [ have lest confidence IN all the
cOmmel cial fertilizers The last season
proved them miserable humbug. The
demand was SO great last year that the
supply was not sufficient to meet it without
adulteratlOn.
hold that on agricultural success de-
ponds the prosperity Of our country. Com
| merce and manufactures come in next as
subscribing her purposes. Although they
are one and inseparable in utility and
prosperity, yet see how slow the wheels of
commerce and manufactures move during