The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-30
THE WAR or RACES IN THE SOUTH.


trict.-Threc million BIacks aud WAifes ON
the Eve Of characteristics War sf Races
Cropping Out-Armed Negroes Robstns
Planters Of Their observation-disclosures Am0eg
the People, md Efforts BEING Nfadc TO Sea
Out and Lcave-Evidence ofthc Revolutions
ury Character ofthe Black Leagues.
WAsnxGroS, Dec 20, 1861.
Having just returned rrom extensive tour Of the
States OF Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama,
North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia u may nos
be undressing give the results OF my observaons
and lay before your readers alarming facts gath
cred the way lit has other erect than drawing
the attention OF the people OF tho North to tho wido
spread ruin and desOaon mat prevail evssy where and
tho suffering Of the freedmen OF the South, will not
have been written In vain.
Az you aware, have at various periods since the
close Of the var travelled those Statcs and have
had ample opportunities OF knowing tho condition Of
aad feelings that animated the negro population before
and since the harsh. might say Infamous. policy pur-
sued BY Congress wards the rebel States Al time,
venture 10 asser In tho history Of the black In
this country has his condition been depIorabls.
Az no mc has there been greater cause for alarm or
greater necessity for prompt and energetic legislation
looking to the salvation OF the bask aud white
Tho present status OF the negro Is than
under the old slave regime. Then he had . guardian
~ho sometimes oppressed him, IL is true, but who
nevertheless provided bis bodily welfare at all times
and under all To-day all tho South
and especially In tho cotton producing districts the
freedmen are the eve Of starvation, which but one
step from bloodshsd, rapne, robbery and riot The
contracts nearly all terminated early Ia December and
many planters who had calculated upon obtaining nfty
per pound for cotton ruined Had price
ruled last ycas the freedmen and the planter would
equally have prospersd. Iu fall ruined both and
tbs factors who advanced upon the crop The majority
provide psovsions for ther families IN advance The
consequence b. the termination Of their contracts
they ind themselves cast upon tho country with pro-
visions. and employment for those who will work.
In former letters you have boon advised OF the condi-
on Of che negroes In Louisiana and Mississippi, where
they have naugufated reigo Of terror, and with
In tnsf hands about the country, killing squirrels
and quaA 10 daytime and BY night making raids upon
hogpsus, cattle. mules and smokehouses. and strip
ping the whites Of every pound OF provisions they
possess. This d exaggerated picture OF tho de-
plorabe state OF things In Louisiana Mississippi Ala
bama, Georgia and the Carciiraa Indeed, It 10
worse. In addition to being In state Of starvation,
the majority Of the freedmen are In possession Of
scarcely sufcsncy OF clothing their naked
They frequently live In the most filthy shantes.
and ON the line q railways II not an uncommon sight
10 soc three four families. numbering sagre.
gate twenty persons, huddied together IN sQuald pow
srty In an abandoned freight car from which on the
arrival Of raius ths starving chdron rush 70 tho trains
and contest against tne hsasry SWINE and dogs for tho
sengers while their sntiess parents congrsgas about
tue depots and anuse themselves in hiiauy and jest az
the expense Of seedy looking travellers.
On nearly all the counties through which have
parsed these narrowing that beegar description
DO witnessed every day. After ell tue negroes
not be blamed for these midnight raids upon smoke
houses and heurOostA They possess sUmo palernai
"s
their eyes they resort TO robbin2 from tho whites who
may happen to possess supply Of the stat Of life.
into conversation with an Old gentleman from Burke
county, Ga. who was going % Augusta He informed
that he possessed nsen hundred Of land that
before the war was worth $4,000, which he would
gladly sell for S. now few nights before his smoke
ply Of provisions laid for hts family stolen by freed.
With tears rolling down the Old mans cnseks he
declared his family must starve unless he could
selling or mortsagns his property. Hundreds might
say thousands OF wealthy pantsrs the same
know plantation Alabama OF one thousand acres
Of a. rca land :. can Be toqnS IN illinois sss before
1s. ',s .s s q sa
was sold for $isi and thirty acres Or ns eos,os iasd
for -. These bona 6de sales. Scores OF other
possessed the people 70 thus induce them sacrifice
Their property TO their immediate necessities.
.aa y .h,nva and ~ ,son I'M, q y
the cropping out Of another wara war Of that
wM b. . short and btoody The negroes do mos
wish collision with the whites and avoid t but thoy
will while life can DO sustained BY stealing
from tho whites who, IN turn will noe sec their al
swcpt away without resistance. Conn,cs between tho
races WIN foilsw and both excited thereby ena Is
certain 10 be adeermined conflict between wates aud
nlscxs unless Consre y ooce sIeps "a aaa ,.sas me
the eve OF starvation
Mach has boen said and written regarding the black
leagues throughout South aad the determination OF
the noerCes possess the lands OF the whites. While
the great mass Of blacks belisve have no such
oil. intent there doubt that la Of the
ties the negroes have decided upon an 70 possess
the acds and many have been bold enough 10 declare
this Intention Pos, commanders 70 several Instance.
Into the secret meetings Of the league and thus
learned tho nature Of the procecdings which already
looked u the possession OF tue plantations
The following andaviu have oeen forwarded 70 Gov
srnor Orr, and. true. already show the sentiments
that animate The freedmen In sections Of The
ststs whore the influence Of whs eArpssbA psramba-
htors have takcn root
aas ~ souA csrsasa yai.sad Dhfrsa sp-
bat on Inc sss day q soysmse' las. passed. he heard
Ssen jacob
mill. Nash sad the negro would justices Al lay
ssss Sss5.s; and %sssssss i
of
ssSs 10 $3.50 @
nn ,oa Ss D.sas a- s ne and "os
g: sl s'T .ss %; ss
ssa asy would Ss =. sar, s L. s q % % ns
negroes could do without white than
Without He further ssd the white
had besn In power sad would always r.msin ia
publican parry failed the coming election rather than
the white remain IN power h sosh shoulder hs rsushf
ssd stAes As hu1d g toa1 asd M s@iis st1A tleri
s ne a: around
the WAS Yes yes.n J. A. HIkNANr.
sworn 70 before 81 day Of December. 1857. w. r.
Bsoon Magistrate.
makes oath and that he present Al e barbecue
Bookmans mill the 9th Of November last past and
heard beverly Nas speech and knows the facts stated
THOMAS q. SMITH
Magistrate
Personally appeared before Henry Broom. who makes
that he present At the barbecue
Bookmans % the 9TH dav % November last past, and
heard Beverly hls speech aud that tho
stated In j. A. innanfs AFFIDAVIT above strictly
and thai Bsssrly hsAA sAd word shrOn stated
HENRY y BROOM.
sworn TO before this Hh DAY Dcosmber. 1857 W. r
BRoou, MAGISTRATE