Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-01-03
rANDLEss FREEpMEN.


It is understood that the planters in
the Southern States are not only organ
izing to regulate the rates Of wages to
be paid freedmen the coming year, but
to prevent them from acquiring land.
The members of the organizations in
different Stayes pledge themselves not
to sell lands to the blacks, and If pos
sib1e, to prevent such sales by others
who may decline to join the organiza-
tions.
Il seems to us this is a bIunder, and
that the ultimate consequences viii
be so deplorable, that those who now
favor the project OF keeping the
blacks IL the condition of landless ten
antry, viii one day regret it. If any
man VIII read the letter of John Bright
to H. d. Hutton, of Dublin, on the Irish
land question, it seems to US he can
reach no other conclusion than that q
landless tenantry is but another name
for an unquiet and turbulent element
in the State. We believe now, as we
have always believed, after some read
ing on the subject, that if the large es-
tafes In Ireland had been broken up,
and sold to the tenants upon terms that
Wo1ld have enable the industrious TO
become land owners, the chief d1scon-
tent and sedition in Ireland would have
long ago been removed, and in place OF
waste fields, ragged and poverty strick-
en- people, constant emigration and Pc
riOdIc insUrrectiOn, there would be ag-
ricultural prosperity, a steady going
and a law abiding population, and nc
seditious movements. IN other WORDS
there would be no Fenianism in Ire
land, no riots. no Manchester rescues
and no attempts to blow up the prisons
and assassinate the officers Of the
Crown.
The civil and political status Of the
freedmen is Of small consequences com.
pared with the consequences that will
result from the movement now in prog
ress TO prevent their acquiring q foot
hold on the soil, Kept in q condition
of incertitude, dependent on the capricS
or necessities of the landed proprietor
for employment, and compelled to la
Dor on such terms as he may dictate, i
will require a generosity and liberalit5
Of dealing not yet manifested by tht
whites as a class, to persuade them thai
their estates is a happy one, and one
that might not be bettered if they were
permitted to purchase lands for them
selves. The freedmen so far have man
ifested an intense desire to possess two
things, education and land-neither o.
which they could acquire while slaves
So far as education is concerned they
appear to be in a fair way to obtain the
average amount supplied by common
schools in the States. Ifthey were per
mitted 10 buy lands, we believe they
would become sober, industrious
stable population, and contribute large
" to the return Of prosperity through
out the South. Keep them a landless
shifting, discontented and dependent
Iaboring population, and there is moi
wanting single element Of sedi6iOL
and insurrection that is now active in
Ireland, and the malign influence OF
which it requires all the strength of thC
British Government to counteract anC
overcome. The example of IRELAND
ought to be instructive to those whose
personal, social and political interests
are involved in the future condition d
the late slave State Cincinnati Com
zlerciGE.