The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-10
South Carolina.

South Carolina.
| INTERESTING PRIVATE LETTER FROM THE RTE-
RIoR OF THE sTATE-ooNDITIoN OF LABOR, &C.,
IN THE UPLAND DISTRICTS.
The New York Times prints the following
private letter from gentleman living in the
up-country Of South Carolina, which gives
some interesting views in regard to the con-
dition Of things in that section of the State:
AIKEN, s. c., Saturday, December %.
My Dear SIR: A reply to your inquiries re-
position of the people and Of the negroes, and
| the prospect for the future, involves 30 many
considerations that an ordinary letter will hard
ly contain the data upon which correct esti-
mate can be found. As matter of course, an
opinion Of the future must be based on our e3-
perience Of the past. Bearing this in mind,
i we recall what was the conduct OF the negroes
| during the war. Then they had the strongest
incentives to insubordinaton and disobedience,
vet they, as general rule, conducted them
selves SO as to elicit the Communications Of all
parties. For political purposes an attempt has
been made to create an opinion that as race
| the blacks were active Union partisans, when
the truth is that they were entirely passive, and
quietly submitted to the rule Of which ever side
was in the ascendency in their immediate To-
cality.
You are aware Of the efforts that have been
made since the war to create Union party (so
called) at the South. Emissaries have been
| sent to all sections of the South to inculcate
.he doctrines Of the Radical party; loyal leagues
| have been formed, sworn to secrecy and the
| PRONUNCIATION Of their views; partisan pamph-
| let's have been scattered broadcast throughout
| the land, and the most exlravagant promises
given as regards to what would be done Tor
1 IL aba "a
| State governments we're IN successful ope-
ration. AS was natural in such circumstances
those most ambitious Of place and power
have assumed the lead in connection with
the white adventurers from the North. The
consequence is seen in the result OF the elections
| for member Of the convention. Instead OF se-
lecting sound, moderate, conservative. men
of established principles, they have chosen
q set Of demagogues ready to sacrifice. the
| welfare of the country to their own indi-
yidual advancement. I have asked numbers OF
the newly enfranchised for whom they had
voted? As yet have not found :the first one
who could even call the names of the candl-
dates. They saw they were told to deposit
tickets given them in a box, and that's all they
know about it. Most in6ammatory speeches
are continually being made &c them, denCun-
cling the "rebs," and urging them to stand up
for their rights. Yet, in spite OF all this, few
could tell from their department that they had
are civil and respectful to the whites. Consid-
erable i'll feeling exists between the Federal
troops stationed here and the negroes, but the
citizens and negroes agree well. Petty thefts
occur here as well as elsewhere, but when dis
covered are promptly punished. AZ two North
Northern people would not trust their aer,,
| wants az wo do our house negroes. The great
evil is the continued political agitation by as
pirants, lecturers and agents. Could mat cease
the mass Of negroes would be indifferent as 70
which party predominated. There is not the
least apprehension of an outbreak, but is more
likely to result in rendering the negro less de-
pendable as laborer than he now is.
The supply Of labor fully equals the demand.
Prime men can bs had at $40 per month and
army rations, and women from So to Sc per
month. Carpenters, painters 3, and IN other M me-
The farmers Of this neighborhood, although
they have not made money, generally have
suficiency for the ensuing year. AS Indicative
of the prospect, will quote the prices OF O few
leading articles: Corn, 81 10 to 81 70 per bush
ell; peas, 81 25; flour, s19 to SIG per barrel; ba-
con, 20 cents per pound; beef, III TO 10 Genus;
pork, Is cents; sausages, rs cents per pound;
fowls. 80 to 40 cents each; chickens, Is to 20
cents; eggs, 25 cents per dozen; butter, 6O
cents per pound; apples, 50 SO per bushel; fod-
der, 81 Is per cwt.; fire wood, 81 80 per cord.
enclose copy Of the report OF Gen. Scott,
Commissioner OF the Freedmen's Bureau Tor
this State. You will note that it gives favor
able account of affairs here from hia point OF
view, and will answer, in part, your queries
relative to the state Of society. The thinking
men Of the State, however, disagree with some
of his facts apd most of his inferences. The
small degree of prosperity which exists, IN,
stead Of being the consequence OF the Radical
administration, is in spite OF that admlnlstra,
ton. It is true that some men would defraud
the negro if possible. We ask, is there any
part Of the world, civilized or uncivilized,
where such things are not DONE.
It is true that we were opposed to emanclpa-
tion. and on the cessation of hostilities society
was unsettled; but in place OF tho bureau be-
ing real protection to the negro, it enge1der-
ed feeling OF hostility that never would have
existed but for the unphilosophical character
of the legislation. The improved state of feel
ing which he 90 vauntingly claims as the result
of their care and protection-of the fear OF dis,
placement from Office, &c.-is to be attributed
to large general laws which would have operat-
ed at least year sooner had they not been
interfered with. Buckle, in his History OF the
Civilization, dwells at length and continually
recurs to the immense injury done by narrow
minded legislators in their efforts ''to protect"
various interests. He plainly demonstrates
that one of the greatest evils or society Is the
''protective system" which always retards ID
stead OF advancing civilization. SO 1t ls here.
The very effort made to protect the negro has
tended to make their apparent interests an-
4 taeonistic to that of the dominant race. Had
an enlarged policy obtained in place OF the
narrow, partisan views, the better class OF
whites-the thinking men, the men OF pro-
perty-would have given more practical pro-
lection to the negro than any foreign party
possibly will or can do. Tho greatest praise
that can be given to the negro race ls that, IN
spite Of every incentive to different course,
they retain their former habits. In corrobora-
ton of this view, it is q noted fact that the
negro is better protected, more contented, IN
dustrious and happy, IN proportion to the dls.
lance he may happen to live from provost
Courts, large cities and railroad lines; or, ID
other words the less protection the better Oh
heis; for then the natural feelings OF the white
man are enlisted in his favor.
Secondly, however radical Northern man
NAV be, the longer he lives ut the South the
more he assimilates to the Southern IDEAS as
is evidenced by every returned soldier, and
Il even by General Scott himself.
You will also note (not only IN this report,
but in the letters Of Correspondents" generally
that most of the trouble is in the great cotton
and rice producing regions. In the vicinity OF
Aiken there are no largo plantations, conse-
ouently we are exempt from those difficulties.
fhe people here are mostly farmers, and have
made provision for the ensuing year. Our own
people do not apprehend any further Difficult
= ties than those incident to unwise laws made
by ignorant members OF the State Conventions
and those evils, we trust, will be but tempora-
ry-that the sober second-thought OF the
Northern people will rolease US from both mill
| tary and negro rule.