The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-04-19
AFFArRs IN zee soUTH.

We srs permitted to make the follow
ing extracts from 8 private letter from =
formerrssideDto Of this place. now stopping
ct Montgomery. Alabama, TO one Of our
citizens. The writer is 3 shrewd OBJ
server, and his opinions are entitled to
credit. The letter is dated the 22d of
March:
1--WE are nearly through blowing. and
shall commence planting cotton neat
Monday, If the weather is favorable. An
immense amount Of rain has fallen this
month which has retarded operations
very much, especially on the pFairies.
Our corn is all up nice, and, though some
Of It has been cut down By frost, is not
damaged materially.
II is time of great trial with the peo-
pie here now. A great many are unable
70 WoIk their lands. aud some who have
the means cannot procure labor. know
Of no Northern men who are troubled for
help. We have all we want, at from two
to five dollars per month, less than some
have offered without procuring il.
Many did not pay their hands las: year,
some from inability and some from dis
honesty; 30 that this year the employer
had TO produce a ''character" before he
could hire. The negroes are fast learn
ing TO manage their own business. Ma
ny are trying to walk before they can
creep, aud of course will make-many 3
slip; but the attempt is success, under
the circumstances. Their desire for
knowledge Is intense, and they will soon
posses average intelligence with their
white neighbors. AS well as / know
them. l hardly know what o cay of the
position they are now placed in. Thai
they are nolO equal to the occasion,
think no one will claim; that they may
become COCO citizens, and intelligent vo.
ters, few will deny. I dread the frs
election in which they participate. Tner'
will be trouble in some places no doubt
L is Impossible TO protect every ballo
box with bayonet. Still there is little
light breaking Ghrough the thick gloom
OF tie political sky in this region. A new
party Is being organized. which viii
sweep this State. and think the whole
South. think | wIote you once, tba'
IN my opinion. certain States named
Woul adopt the amendment and cleo
members OF Congress who could take Ih,
oath. II l did il only shows how easy
It is to be mistaken. Thousands nov
rue the Gay they rejected so mild meas
ure, and are now 10 haste to organ ize un
der the Military Bill 10 order TO escape
confiscation and disfranchisement I, which
they see looming up before them. in cas-,
they continue their policy of ''mssterll
inactivity" The new party will con tai
all the energy. all the enterprise and I
large proportion OF the intelligence Of thi;
country. and is sure to succeed
The very fact that there are two par
ties Is Of the utmost importance. Their,
will be discussion. which will spread ligh
among the masses. of the people who for
merly depended on few politicians 10 d.
all their political thinking. The do
nothing party. which has controlled pub
lio opinion since the war, are nov being
tried in mems minds. and they fnd thai
the faith which they pinned to the Presi
dent has gone 10 the bottom With him, abC
they fear to place their sole re!ieDce OF
The Supreme Court. as that is too SLOW
for the times, or rather, for their pu, pos
es. The do nothing patty will soon con
sist only of the fogy politicians. whose
whole creed was State Rights. and Sd,
fogy planter whose alpha and omega was
''the niger" Fortunately for The conn,
try these classes are Iapidly decreasing
Let us hope that few years may so en-
tighten both whites aud blac %, that here
after We may not have cause TO blush fo
tue institutions of any portion of our be
loved land"