Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-08-02
The Crops on the Roanoke. &c.

| IIALlfAA COUNTY, N. ", July "a, 1867.
WessrS. Editors The Wilmington Jour.
nal has acquired such high reputation fol
the truth OF every statement appearing
originally inits columns, thatno correspond
ent could so far forget the character of Your
paper as to furnish you any information,
save such as is strictly true. It would seem,
therefore, to be unnecessary, in your call
respecting the crops, to ask for reliable in
! formation but this, presume, is intended
merely to indicate the necessity of investi-
cation and enquiry before arriving at con-
clusions In this connection [ trust that
you will permit me to bear my humble tes-
tlmony to the very great value, in every
point OF view, of your admirable journal.
AS business paper, adapted to the wants
Of the community, furnishing the latest
news, at the earliest moment, and an ex-
cellent market report, do not know its
superior. Nor can there be fairer expo
nent Of Southern feeling as manifested in
this section. Its Editors are as far removed
from rashness as they are from servility.-
Whilst they give manly and dignifed ex-
preston to views eminently wise and proper
becoming to Southern men in the pres
ent state of public affairs-they cannot be
charged with foolishness, OF as containing
anything justly offensive to the powers that
be. [ need not say that wish you all the
success your excellent management so we'll
deserves.
l have made considerable enquiry as to
the state Of the crops in this county, and
the adjoining county of Northampton. I
have sought the opinion of some of our
most experienced farmers, and the conclu-
sion l have arrived at is that, in the coun-
ties specified, with favorable seasons. not
more than five-eighths of an average crop
can be made. 1 cannot so well speak of
the damage done b. the late rains, as I
have not particularly directed my enquiries
to that point, but on some water courses it !
has been very serious. An excellent |
farmer, whose plantation lies on FISHING
Greek, and who works about forty hands |
estimates his loss to the hand at fiftv dol, |
lars-that is, that he will fall short of actual
by that amount to the hand.
Indeed, our farmers generally have given
up all nope OF making any money by the
present crop, and are working now to meet
merely.
1t is somewhat remarkable that. tbrouob-
out all the late rains, the Roanoke. in it's
course between this and Northampton
county, scarcely overfowed its banks, and
should no freshet occur therein to DESTROY
the corn now growing, a very considerable
quantity Will be made; but, alas how far
snort OF the magnificent crops formerly
produced on this, the Nile of North Caro-
lima. AS the best plantations in the British
West India Islands "went to bush" after
the emancipation of the slaves therein. and
have since become worthless, so the great
grain producing lands of the Roanoke
best in America-will soon grow up into
sc matted forest" for want Of labor to cnI-
tivate them. AS it is I presume that about {
one-tourth of the area is now in cuItiva-
Is an over rather than an under
On the whole, 1 think, the two
counties specified may make enough for
heir own consumption, but none at all for !
export, and enough for home consumption
only IN case the Roanoke lands escape dis
ster.
Sufficient time has scarcely elapsed since
he emancipation of the slaves to solve the l
problem of labor in the Southern States G
n many instances the negroes work well.
md doubtless would do much better. were G
t not for the unprincipled demagogues
Who, for mere party purposes, are busy :,
mong them, filling them with "stranpe Il
ancies,' and turning their thoughts away s.
rom honest industry" Had the colored
,eople and their former masters been let r
lone to work out their own destiny, hap o
y state of society, enuring especially to v
be benefit of the blacks, would, in all pro- Il
ability, have been the result But the
after have been dragged into the political
rena, instead of being educated to high b
r position, the attempt is made to elevate q
hem at once from state of slavery to an 81
quality with their former owners, and that Il
90 by parties who are interested only for G.
heir votes. They are thus much the ssfoot-
all " OF politicians, and whilst one party a