New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-30
THROUGH THE SOUTH.
THE RACK BELT.

AND SOLVE THE NEGRO QUEsTIoN-TllE
FREEDMEN's OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FOR .In iI,
BLACKS-MANY- SIDED TEACHERS REQUIRE I.,,,
MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT TO PRECEpE
spIRITUAL-A SCARCITY OF BEDsTEADs FATAL
TO MISSIONARY sUCCESS-AIKEN, s. =" A
.... PRODUCTIVE ACRE. ........ Malta ... .i..
Every Southern interest is connected Win tno
negro question, and the difficulties in the way Oh
permanent settlement seem as great now as nj any
time during the past 80 years Many plans are Pio-
posed, but have seen none which is definite ass
result of my journey through the South see only
one course to be pursued it seems marked out by inc
concurrence of nyfxed conditions, and wall no"
present it, along with the reasons which nave leu W
the positive conviction
The first difficulty lying in the way of settlement
is presented In the fact that Virginia North Carolina
Tennessee, and Kentucky were formerly devoted TO
breeding slaves for tho cotton and sugar regions
but now that no slaves can be Sold large source OF
revenue is cut off, and with an Impoverished SOIL
they are burdened with population which cannon,
under any industrial system in operation, be pro-
ftaby employed Virginians in particular, SEQ TINS
well enough, and they utter Macedonian cries Tor
Northern men to come down and improve the vacant
land. drive out the negroes, or, at least outvote
them, with the hope that manufactures. industries
and markets, will take the place OF the slave-breed
ing interest Tho Whites own the land and will not
sell it TO the negoes-not so much because they are
negroes as because thoy have no money. do not
see how these are ever to get money nor can 1t be
shown that with their limited knowledge the land
would be worth what they should pay for it. il is
true that here and there freedman is saving some
thing; but this is exceptional and necessarily this
must be So as the country itself is not in condition
TO enable them TO earn money. And now comes
drouth of unparalleled severity because the soil IL
less able than ever before to withstand drouth for
moisture aud fertility arc to great extent synony
nous.
If the freedmen were skilled laborers, the case
would be different but, having been taught only to
raise corn and bacon, that is to raise themselves,
that they might sell for good price, and having eX
hausted the soil in this business, they and their old
masters are equally exhausted Plainly enough, an
other class of cultivators who know how to pillow,
and who can, so to speak. raise the dead, are re-
CURED At stanton. saw able-bOdied and passaOly
intelligent blacks working for $40 month and pay
ing 40 month for rent which leaves only 80 cents
n day to buy clothing and food for their families
Should they refuse to work for this sum- Others stand
ready to take their places aud yet considering the
condition Of things, this seemed 10 me all that
the employer could afford to pay. lfit is SAID that
too much rent is charged it is to be answered that
the rent is one of the means by which the Whites
live some have no other real income, even III coun-
try places; and they look to this source for the pay
ment of taxes Meanwhile, there arc antagonisms OF
the bitteres kind; on one side is suppressed indiga
ton, on the other jealousy aud foar, The truth is
there is large surplus of labor OF course, it IL TO
be said that if the attempt were made to develop the
country there is not labor enough which is true: but
so long as no attempts are made, and so long as
Northern men hang back, no change need be ex-
pected But suppose Northern men go down
aud settle in colonies which is the only practicable
way il is hard TO see what the negro will gain for
when the case comes home Northern men, whatever
may bo their politics will not be found striving to
elevate the freedman Co heirown standard nor least
of ALL taking measures to make hln proprietor Of
the soil. When u Northern man goes South with his
family, he finds inducements in cheap field and house
hold labor and 4 never enters his head that he is to
do anything toward making these lAborers his equals
and that they may stand upon his level either socially
or as owners Of property. There may be eXcop-
tons; but so far as could learn the number can be
counted on tie fingers Of hand, even II part of
the fingers is gone.
We're the freedman allowed every privilege, aud
were eyory prejudice destroyed. he would aborunder
the great disadvantage Of being an inferior. Some
people seem not able 10 distinguish between two
different things. when it ia said that ali men are
created equal their rghts, not their mental powers
are referred to- and this is clearly the meaning; for
White men are by no means equal to each other In
whatever relates TO common industry. the freedman
is equal 10 most and superior 90 many Whitemcu and
his perceptive faculties have been developed nd
ingly; hence he can create and accumulate hcn
the facrlltcsby which wealth andlaborarcco oiled.
and acquired must be exercised he inferior
TO the Willie man and for the sufficient that his
race has had no development in this directions nor
can 1t be obtained except by of such trials and
labors as the White man has endured. This general
statement is well illustrated in the freedmen's schools,
The children learn to read quickly and uptoa certain
point seem bright enough; but when they enter upon
studies in which reasoning is required they are dull,
and much more time is required than is the case
with the children of the old planters, / will add,
also, since the time has come when some good can
be done by stating the fact, that general thing
Colored young have required several more years
TO complete a thorough course in Northern colleges
than White young men; but where there was much
White blood the progress was greater IL is true also
that the children of poor Southern people, known
the " White trash" who for generations have been
landess, are similar to negro Children-indeed they
may be said TO have inferior perceptye faculties 1t
must be seen, then that the negro cannot compete
with the White man. for it is with the powerful not
with the weak, that he must struggle philan
thTopy. sentimental notious of any kind render
him assistance in conflict where even giants fail
and see no possible chance in the old slavebreed
ing States for the freedman 10 become landed pro-
prietor, or to lead his race in political and
social affairs
But there Is part of the South in which, by reason
of physical conditions, the negro can become the
dominant race, can become proprietor Of the soil,
and where, in time he receive full intellectual
development. This is the Cotton region and it EN-
braces part of North Carolina, all Of South Carolina,
Georgia. and Alabama Except the mountains),
Mississippi, Louisiana, most of Texas, and part of
" ~ L. Al. a. Il.