Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-01-16

'
Ger, has recently .made trip through
some of the Southern States lie was
no, fsvorsbly impressed by close in
spection OK the Virginia coIored people.
for he says:
The blacks in Virginia seem to be
more Discontinued than those Of the other
States tina, we have been in at least we
saw more OF them idle, and complaining
of rates of wages and wanl Of work.
This may have been owing 10 the season
OF the year during which our visit was
made. The rates of wages ranges iiOm
Sc to eI0 per month in all the Southern
States. TO this is added ration Of 81
lbs. of bacon and a peck Of meal per
week, hut to live in being also furnish
ed them and very lilile work do they do
for the money We presume Northern
farmers. who would GO into the fields
themselves and say TO Tie blacks "come,
might get more work ooi Of Them but
they are consliutionaiIy opposed 10 labor
and require constant driving. We were
greatly sslonlshed at the immense pro-
lundiiy of their ignorance.
They are utterly improvident and una.
Bile 10 take care Of themselves. Tie rags
in which they are clothed would asIonsh
the mos, accomplished begPsr in Italy.
They are expecting the government to do
great things for them, and have got an idea
into their heads that from this source
they sre each 10 get forty acres Of land
mule and farming implements. and ProVi-
sions enough 10 last them until they can
make crop IF of their land They con-
ceive that the government, owes them
this. II thew get that mule it would not
live three months, but would die of stqVva-
ton half Of the blacks would be even
too careless to lead TIE animals TO water.
The planters can trust very few Of them
with their stock, and they require constan,
watching. Ii seems incredlble that any
human being would lie, his dumb heas, die
for want of water, yet we are assured nat
i, is often done by blacks who attain TO
the ownership of horse.
John Randolph, of Roanoke, tried this
experiment of fitting out freedmen with
farms {; by his i'll he freed his slaves and
directed lha, they should be settled in a
colony in Ohio: each to be provided with
house and lot Of ground and farm
ing implements. They were moreover,
TO be under the care Of experimenting
white man until they got fairly started in
their new career. Ii was all done "a d.
recled, and to-day, afier the lapse Of TWEEN.
~ or thirty years, no. one Of those frred-
men owns The lot that was given to him.
What mockery il is TO give these peo'
pie, with their presen, degree Of educs-
ton and intelligence, voice in the ad-
minislraIion OF our government. Colcred
suffrage South will not long continue 10
be reality. 1t may exist in name for
few years, bu, even then The vote will be
but the echo Of that of the white man.
| The freedman always agrees to what
white man ssys in all our conversations
with him we were never able 10 meet
any thing hut the most ready assent TO ev-
cry proposition which we advanced, no
matter OF how contradictory or absurd
character.
CONVERSATION WITH GEN. GRANT.
! A prominent citizen of ST. Louis, de-
scrbes a half.hour interview wirhGeneral
! Grant, which shows some OF the charac-
terisiics of The President elect in a strong
er ligh, than anything that has been said
or written in a long time. During The
conversation Senator and Judge from
Louisiana were introduced, who came 10
consult with the General in regard TO The
government endorsing some Slate bonds
for the improvement Of the levees in Lou
isana.
The General said he hoped The gov
ornment would not do it, snd added
"while we are discussing on all sides
how the national debt is TO be paid, !
shall oppose any increase Of The national
obligations. never knew a government
to become responsible for any amour,
that it did no, ultimately have to pay"
Aher come further remarks, designed
10 win the Generals favor, the Judge
said millions OF acres OF The best land in
the world are subjec, to overflow.
Gen. Grant replied: "Lel them over
flow and let them stay under wafer until
their owners are willing lhs, Northern
men and Northern capital should come in
and pro,ec, and improve them. Northern
men with ample capital are ready TO make
garden Of your State, and you won't l.t
them do it. Your large land holders are
as hostile 10 the United States govern
men! 10 day as they have ever bern, end
if the government should rebuild their
levees. il would no, change them partl-
Gle. know no way the government
could have adopted for rebuilding the lie.
wees bu, 10 have coniscsled the lands of
those engaged in the rebellion, and used
the proceeds TO restore the country. As
tina, was not done, nothing remains bn,
to SET your negroes 10 work and invite in
and welcome Northern men,"
General" said the Judge, 1.-The ne.
groes won't work"
"Won'i work." Gen. Gran, quietly re-
piled "lhey II work if you pay them
for it. Am not right 7" He added
us there not such hostility TO Northern
men that il amounts, in most sections OF
The State, 10 political exclusion Of them
from the agricultural interest Of The conn.
U IL.