Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-01-10
mn RITTER Enulrs or RApIcAI

MESEsCAE.
A correspondent Of the New York
77s7es, Of January 81, writes as follows
During the last three or four weeks ]
( have travelled good deaf through the
State snd have seen and conversed With
q number of persons OF every class, cali
Ing and degree, from nearly every sec
liOn. IL IL SbsOlutely distressing 40 hear
the constant tale Of ruin, disappointment
and bopelessuess which is IA every
mouth Planters, merchants, mauuiRc-
tuEers, lgbOrers, are all alike, aud aillOok
forward 10 the coming year AS one OF
greater hardship and distress than any
I they have ever knowu. Last year they
were poor from he failure OF their crops,
bu. there WAS stiil some money among
The commission merchants, and credit,
lhOush not vigorous, had still an exist
ence The liitle crop that WAS made
brought Il large price, aud the hope was
uuls rssl thst by Industry, with propi.
uDu- seasons the crop OF this year would
Iay the foundations Df . new prosperity
aud q IUrishiuE trade. No 2, the com
mission merchants, ike eve y one Else,
are broke. guey have IA advances
which they cannot collect, and c"nse-
gueuHy they have neither the money or
any Que this wear Credit Is as dead e.
secession or Confederate money. ant
relief iiiIs and s.ay laws have sealed us
tomb sud rendered it npuSsib!e for any
buGy less prtscieHt than Cummings or
Nifrr O. foratni tbs psTiOd OF its
resurrection. The people were tDoustri-
Gus They worked hard and diligently.
The seasons were ~ prOpitiOu5 rs boun-
tihl Providence could make them
throughout the greater portion OF this
State. Lar2e crops were made, but they
have DOT nearly realized what it cost 10
produce them, so that to-day it IL unde
DiabIy true that the people are relatively
much poorer lhsn they we're st the same
tins la 1868 Individual cases OF ruin,
which must resnlt in want, are known 10
me, Snd fear, from Uhat / learn they /
are not exceptional Lands are abso /.
Iutalv worthless che'isutations could /
nos bring one dollar an acre If sold to- I
morrow. In every direction planters 1
ana Csruprsare liisshargjEg iEb0Ters from I
irabiHsy tu feed aud pay their wages. /
They are selling their stock for what il .
VIII bring. 90 purchase food for their .
families The stores, usually busy aud .
m!I ~ this season, sre Is iuil and empty .
ss iu the dog sys. livery branch Of
trade. rvelv Epps- meUt ui industry, !s /
a. % staud sin. + -eu tie wbissy shops, /
the lest refuge of The destitute, are de-
serted, and heir keepers complain as
loudly as more meritDri0us dealers Of the
hard lines
Great distress and I fear agraTisn dis
turbsuees seems Inevitable among the
freedmen duriug the Winter aud Spring.
They do NOT comprehend the causes OF
tbs bhrd times, and are very apt TO at
tribute them To the preiuGices and iil-
viii Of the @hites. The few who have
sugcztded iB getting employment have
.r-en compelled 20 accept less than half
the wages which they commanded last
wear. From SO to $50 with TatiOns are
inc highest wsges 70 be paid this year
legsf tp 6rst class field hands. But
Hprp will be thousands who caunOt get
.unlovmeut Ut any kind, and II the
Isvpruueut does not come 10 their re-
s+F destitutioU must be the fate OF lsrge
numbers.
Pad tnp cotton tax been promptly re-
uGvpd from The crop OF 1867, much OF
his distress 1youid have been removed
Ia TIE end tLs Government viii have to
-xp.nd ia usm8salizing charity a far
erEer =uaI than the tez vii bring, AMI h
low viii have been inflicted CA one Of
he main productions Of the country,
RON which il Will not recover in many
.egT~.
/ nave been 81 some pains TO investi-
,sre the mattri,sl eaGi!.liOn o. the people,
.ud have made inquiries empug al
4 ssses, aud seeu luT myself. EverytEiug
gas risked on this crop. Credit was
.uaiBeG 10 iis utmost c8pacity- Every
.utcrpyiea and every industry j2iued in
lie venture auA contributed 10 the stake
,H is gone. The loss IN cotton, o.
sther ii- fall in value below the cost Of
sroarction, has absorbed everything and
Iriyen every other interest into tbs
,ur.ex s0boiy seems to see any outlet
" means a. Ieeovery. Hope OF help
rom outside is not entertained by any
me ia his seuses. Every one Fho owes !
dollar Is besiegsd 10 psy. Cash on
Izlivery is the inyaTiable condition OF
very sale. To ask for time is looked on
IS an insult to the understanding of the
render Of any commodity from plan
alton 20 an ounce Of sugar.