Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-28
TEE NEGRO THE NEW CONDI-
TION OF THE SOUTH.

Gen. Wade Hampton, of South Caro-
lima, in his recent speech at the Georgia
State Fair, at Macon, alludes to the ques-
ton of immigration in connection with
the recuperation of the South, but at the
same time declares that for long period,
and perhaps for all time, negro labor will
form principal ingredient in the cultiva-
ton of the land, and especially in what is
called the cotton belt. Upon this idea
the General enlargcs as follows:
"The negro is undoubtedly bettcrtiued,
from his long training, his physical CON
figuration and his adaptability to all the
diversities of our climate, to make more
efficient laborer than any other. Espe-
cially is this true when the labor is to be
performed in the more malarial portions
of ourscountry. We must make him feel
that his interests are indiss0lubly bound
up with ours, that high prices for our
products insure high wages for him; that
we have no luminosity towards him; but
on the contrary, that we cherish the kind
feelings engendered by early associations
and old memories. Let lis he scrupulOus-
" Just in our dealings with him; let us
assist him in his aspirations for knowl-
edge and aid him in its acquisition. Try
to elevate him in the scale of true man
hood, of civilization and of Christianity,
so that he may be better fitted for the grave
duties and high responsibilities forced up
on him by his new position. In a word,
convince him that we are his best, if not
his only friends, and when we shall have
done this, we shall not only have placed
our labor on a sound footing, hut we shall
have gained in the labOrrr strong and
jealous ally. do believe that in proper
ton as you make all labor, other than com
pulsory, intelligent, YOU render It prOlita
bic. If this is true, We should educate
the mind, the heart and the soul of the
negro. Ii is our duty 10 assist him in
qualifying himself for his changed condi-
ton time alone can show whether the
change has been for his benefit. "
The Philadelphia Age says: This
is a noble passage, and presents marked
contrast with the teachings Of the Radi-
Gals upon the future of the negro. They
fill his mind with delusiye dreams Of polit-
ical preference, and bcgct a desire to en-
gage in the wild hunt for office, place and
plumber. This has been the course pur-
sued by the carpet -baggcrs, and those who
wished to mount to power on the should
ers Of the negro. As a natural conse-
qurnce, too many of the latter have
neglected their real interests, while white
men. disguised with the turn of events,
have Withdrawn from the field, and left
the negro to his fate In this condition
of things, the speech of Gen. Hampton
comes opportunity, and places the whole
question of the duty of white men of the
South to the negroes upon a more elevated
plane, while at the same time, it
shames the hypocrisy and shamming Of
Northern Radicals, and humanitarians on
this question" The negro has his future
in his own hands. He can make himself
a useful or a useless member of this great
community. If he shirks his duty ne Is
bound to go under, as the planters viii be
driven to the necessity Of supplying his
place with a reliable class of laborers, if
such can be found If the negro viii but
make himself useful, Chinese immigra-
ton will amount to hut very little, so far
| as the South il concerned