The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-10-12
FREED LARoR.

10 me Editor Of the Charleston Daity Netcs: 8
liz ever there was o period in the history of til,
farmer OF South Carolina moro noted than an,
othef Tor trials, difficulties, perplexities and disap
pointments, that period has certainly been en-
praced within the past two years. Instiiled from
his youth to manhood, and from manhood to ole
age, with tho principles of systematic labor, ac.
customed to direct and govern ut his own will ant
judgment, he now finds the change from q genera
and well organized system to a loose and corrupt
structure OF the fragments of its wreck one Of
sore and trying perplexities that would require
the patience OF JOB to brook.
or all the clements in the world, the most I'm.
compromising and troublesome to contend with,
ignorance ID the worst. Unable to comprehend
his own relations, and not knowing when, nor who
to trust; incompetent to discriminate between his
true friends and real enemies, and failing to APP
preciate or recognize justice when it is meted out
to him; distrustful Of his former masters, and ex-
acting to a cent, with no tangible means of testing
the protested friendship Of Radicalism; delrded
by vain hopes, and blinded by the doctrinas OF de-
signing men, the black man Of the South allows
himself to be tossed upon the waves of Radical
ism, thoughtless of his position, with the
cherished hope OF reaching some haven, not
far distant, Of eternal peace and happiness.
From this condition of mental excitement phys
ical paralysis ensues, and the black man who, il
he were not embarrassed by their surroundings,
would boa quiet and peaceful laborer, is stirred
up to ~fanciful expectations, which in reality lie can
never realize. Political meetings and Union
Leagues engross his attention, to the detriment of
his social and domestic interests. He neglects his
corn and cotton, and will walk from ten to fifteen
miles to some public gathering to hear q political
harangue, in which he is told that If he does not
TIN HoTlso~I ks~1~A u -Ln t-Hr--I NE En-
slavery, or dropped from the roll Of the Freedman's
Bureau, &c. TO all these evil and designing
threats he listens and believes with the most IN
bounded confidence. He returns with a light
heart and buoyant spirit, resolved to work Us little
as possible in the interim, fully convinced that
some great event yet unknown will take place that
will place him above the necessity Of toiling to
maintain his existence. TIL idea of s.forty acres"
forms o nucleus around which gather all his hopes
OF future contentment, even to the exclusion Of
present comfort, and he is willing to abandon him
self to a state Of nominal existence until his goal is
reached.
Under these circumstances it is not q difficult
matter, to perceive the embarrassed condition. Of
eur present system Of labor. Some may reduce
these statements to o hyperbole, but they certainly
represent the state Of things IN this SECTION Of the
wide world. The farmers position, at present, is
any but an enviable one. Each day finds him an
ayowed advocate Of 1 h resolution to quit his pro-
fession. But a second thought reflects the fact,
that an incubus Of debt, heavy indeed to be borne
in these hard tinnes, RESTRICTS him to the necessity
of adhering to his profession a while longer, or at
least until he can liqnidate his creditors claims,
when he hopes to discard the freedmen and live
with less trouble uponthe profits of his own labor.
As time recedes distance lends enchantment to
the view,' and he almost counts the days to Janu-
airy, regarding each day us the harbinger of his
nearer approach to release, when he feels sure that
when the end OF the year does arrive he will bid o
lasting adiento freedmen. January arrives, how
ever, and instead Of being diminished, he finds his
obligations where he left them, the profits of hin
labor having to go forthe benefit of his factor, to
whom he is indebted FOR advances made during
the year. Finding himself no abetterofI, and the
worse fog wear, he c~onctudes totriys she freedmen
asAih, III SEhs iiopey 9ofssameliorating hic condition.
asey aaeess4sas asAsA4se
But this year, Hike theiiast. ia only q cycle Of rscux.
ring events or strife, trouble and turmoil, with
little or no improvemeptsin the labor. Thus it is
with the farmer nowadays. Eighteen per cont.
interest, two aud q half cents per pound on cotton,
depreciation Of real estate, a deplorable state Of
iIapecuniosity, crippled labor, and o general in
dsh.sdness Of the citizens Of the State, which,
when the courts are thrown open for litigation, will
create 3 dem oraliaation without a-precedent in
South Caroline, andcontribute to render our future
dark and gloomy indeed. PAYSAN.
FORK OF EDIsTo. -ft