The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-09-04
LETTER FROM THE COAST
[FRoN QUE OWN CORRESPONDENT

TFRoI oUR OWN Correspondent
below ne publish another letter rom our COT
respondent from Johns Island Inc unoue
length Of the communication rendered II neceS-
sary for us to omit some portions OF 1t. 1he
omissions are marked by asterisks.l
JoHN's ISLAND So. Ca, September "a, 1867.
To Me Editor of The Charleston Daily Neacs:
Sitting IN the piazza OF one of the fashionable
board palaces Of that charming summer spot Le-
gareviIe, with the sun just painting the western
sky in the grand and gorgeous style SO peculiar to
the Southern coast, and the stimulating air dow
ing fresh from the sea, is not an unfit time for
musings of one sort and another The man whose
thoughts could run uncharitable under sucn De-
nignant influences, whose judgment harsn ana
sentiments unkind could be but hynoconorlac.
And as the thoughts wander unbridled they ma
turally stray and turn about the subject, which OF
all is 10 US, of these rural regions, the most vital
and absorbing. With all due Difference to orders
from headquarters, Reconstruction acts Vi ooh-
gress, and squabbes and skirmishes in the pollti-
cal world, the grand problem oflabor to be solved
on this Island, and for aught we know to the con-
trary, on all the Islands of the Southern coast,
the just and equitable distribution OF muscle mo-
ney and land, is above all. By the latter no one
supposes me to indulge in any foolish vagarles
Of free land speculation or connscatlon-a
kind of national, melo-dramatic highwaymans
game Of demanding, in highly ornate Ian
guage, with pistol pointed your purse to
relieve unmerited distress. The man who
thinks that respectable number can be found to
advocate confscation in Congress for anything but
buncombe, deceives himself True, you do meeta
man at odd times who thinks it might come to
that. But sift him and you will find the idea one
thpt is picked up and preserved-in pickle as 1t
were 1t did not come by regular deduction OF the
Developments of events. Some great man ~
whose possible confdant he thinks himself, but
whose shadow he really is, might have regarded it,
in the veering causes and movements OF the times,
as possible. But even that possibility is now re-
moved beyond human power. Take the land from
whom and for whose benefit? From every South
ern landholder? What an army OF desperadoes
that would create. 1t is well enough to say that
the South was thoroughly, desperately beaten, but
could it, under the assumed condition, be kept
down short Of an army almost as vast as the one
which swept the country triumphsntf In the
present and prospective state of half anarchy,
when every man is eagerly watching the next
move of the powerful, contending parties at the
seat of government, the calling into existence OF.
another army would be simply furnishing the
means to one set Of partisans to strike dead
the other II Radical leaders ask for universal
confscation, they aim beyond and through that to
a consolidation and GENERALIZATION Of government.
II sou wish to creste satrapies, do it by gradually
pushing one-mau-po along, independent OF
law, right or rule it wants but little moro. But
do not attempt it through that fearful other way.
The former we are prepared for, and could get
used to; the latte. We pray earnestly never again
to see with bodily eyes.
Further What OF the lands themselves thus
swept from the owners and left at the discretion
Of Congress2 Would they be given away or SOLD
out to pay the national debtp Congress would
scarcely be imprudent enough to make land
owners Of the negroes without compensation.
For, naturally highly excitable, give him freedom
and franchise and land next and taking the latter
as natural consequence OF his citizenship, he
will, before he can be brought to thorough
political education, soon demand that which
neither North nor South can furnish. In case OF
sale. where are the buyers OF the land how much
of the money would go to the treasury and who
| could check the promiscuoqs army OF spectators
] in field 30 vast and various And limited con-
fscation would bring nothing, absolutely nothing,
| to the treasury in comparison to the troubles
raised, injustice done and costs incurred. This
visionary bugbear, confscation stands at the gate
of all trouble and dependence. 1t keeps out cap
tal Money will not go into State IN 30 unset
tied condition as this. Why unsettled2 We be-
he7e down here, that the present boiling and
kissing state Of affairs is kept up by Congress-
the Freedmen's Bureau, and those interested 10
the confusion in thousand ways. Even JOHNSON
has injured the South much. We're it not for the
utter and hopeless apathy of the Northern people
things could not be carried on without some inter-
ference from them. The press talks of it as the
only available article in trade. News from the
South is Summed, unless it comes in the shape o.
riots and bloodshed. Who cares out OF Virgins
what judge has been deposed, criminal proceed
ing suspended, finding ofjury overruled, murderer
pardoned, of adventurer made governor for an
hour? Fer seven years past the most exciting
news. the most frequent topic G conversation, the
most profound and learned sermon, the most
fierce and fiery harsngue-all have treated OF the
South, or topics re.ating TO it. Whv should the
Northern mind, elastic as it :s, pot be worn doWr
with the subject?
| 50
! Finally in close connection with and inseparabl'
from capital comes the theory OF labor. Since the
resumption Of planting on this leland, the owners
and lessees have allowed freedmen to remain OF
the plantations and occupy their houses on yeroa
conditions or written contracts. Some planters al
otted them certain quantities Of land and furnished
seeds and provisions on the promise OF two o.
three days labor per week. Others, and ma]orlt.
perhaps, allowed them all the land they W1shed Il
cultivate, binding them by contract to plant t"'
and half to three Of cotton to the full hand
one-half OF the proceeds Of which to &c TO tn
planter. The latter was in most instances TO fur
nish limited supply of food to be paid for In e1tr
labor, cotton or cash. Whatever else freedman
chose to plant corn, potatoes, peas, rice, gronno
nuts or melons, was his own, and his own solely
These contracts are sanctioned by the Bureau.
Here, then, vas the finest possible opportunit'
offered to man in his condition He had M
money to buy provisions or pay house rent. Her
are both" says the planter; ''use them; the on
free. for the other pay me when your provision
| .tIor.a ond xour cotton Ginned Again, hi