The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-10
TrnoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENCE

FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
PARAMOUNT PLANTATION, BARNvELL COUNTY.
July THE numerous correspondents of your
admirably conducted journal keep you so well
informed as to the condition and prospect OF
the crops Of corn aud cotton, shalt say but
little about them. They look very we'll here
at present and promise fair yield, provided
the seasons continue to hold out, and IL We
as much as they did last year-Arst by bas-
ketfuils and then by whole baes-we shall
be able, perhaps, to gather q reasonable
s,1atad' amount according to the number OF acres
much with regard to cotton, 1t being iab.e to
80 many contingencies between now and frost.
The cattle and hog crops deserve, think,
direct particular attention to the subject Of
stock kllng-the destruction of cattle and
hogs by negroes. x
It Is we'll known that bsfore the war, when
troll. cattle and hogs were raised In abundance
in South Carolina, and no piantor or farmer
who managed properly, except in q few iocali-
tics, ever had to buy beef, mutton or bacon;
the surplus of cattle raised was sent in droves
to the Charleston market. But since freedom
has given the negroes better opportunities for
stealing and gratifying their animal propensi-
hoods, to raise even q tithe Of what is needed
for home consumption. 1.-THE predatory hab-
it's II the negroes did not keep constantly re-
ducing the stock, their natural increase, in this
section, would in, the course of a few years be
sufficient to supply the whole State; the price
OF beet and pork would go down SO low that
any freedman, with ordinary industry, would
be able. with plttance Of his wages, to buy at
the markets OF the towns and villages all that
he would require. But the mass OF that peo-
pie have not forecast enough to take that view
Of the matter, nor will they deny themselves
even if they did; for with them the present is
everything. and they will kill the last COW or
hog to crafty their appetite. and that, too,
with the most unmerciful and remorseless dis
regard Of the right OF naeum and tuun; taking
the last COW OF the poor, unofendlng widow.
who depends upon the last Of her stock for the
scanty allowance Of milk which she gets Tor
her little ones.
.dilllons are annually lost to the South that
might be saved by proper Legislation aud con-
cert OF action a on the part Of the planters and
more dependent on the West for necessary sup
does not nov exceed what it was fifteen years
IN the West in 1856 -'57 was q 594 77J !; ID 1859
69 AT IA and yet the natural increase ID
the wants during that time must have been
fully 40 per cent. Population, is gaming on
we had IN South Carolina Of hogs 965 779; now
we have but 468. .373 and the negroes will keep
on reducing them unless they are prevented;
they are as bad on hogs as the bears IN the
swamp--in fast. the two-legged bears are
worse than the four legged ones.
II we want Imm igrants to- come to our coun-
try We must have the wherewlth to feed them.
Let the planters and farmers then be prot ect-
ed IN their endesvOr to raise, besides grain an
abundance Of cattle and hogs. Let proper
laws be enacted Tor guarding against theft
and lDhlctlng severe and summary punish-
ment whom theft is detected, bearing in mind
the principle laid down by Blackstone. that
crimes must be measured and dealt With nc
cordine 10 their effects upon soclety and the
full measure OF punishment Yneted out that ig
required Tor heir prevention. Let the negro
kno" his legal rights, deal with HIM Justly,
honestly. hrm.y. but. above all. convince him
that he shall not steal. Then will our State
oe rendered in Q great measure, independent
OF external supply. The cotton crop, after de-
ducting for wages and the interest on capital,
will be net profit for further investment either
IN commerce and manufacturing or In more Ia
Dor for making still larger crops, and with the
millions aDpu lily paid 10 the West for pork
and grain retained IN the South, will give new
impulse to every departm ent Of industry.
In certain situations and under certain cir
cumstances admit it will be best for inslividn
ais and even whole States 10 purchase certain
supplies. but, as general rule, that State will
be most prosperous that.l 10 least dependent
upon others particularly for bread and meat.
Proper legislation and concert Of action on
the part OF The planters and farmers Of Our
Stae can bring about O right condition Of
th'ngs, and the peace, prosperity and happi
by. h.
Tho Confederate dead are being removed
rom the Chickamauga battle fieid. aud seil.