The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-04-15


A letter is going the rounds of tn
Radical press, written by tourist t.
the Chicago Tribune, describing, tt
the discredit of the people of Missis
sippi, the signs Of desolation and ruiz
which exist in the State.
The description, of course, is exag
gerated with the highest coloring which
prejudice and hate could suggest.
| But what refinement Of audacity,
as well as cruelty, is this performance.
What has wrought this desolation ex-
cept the destruction Of hundreds of
millions Of property in the war, and
which according to the usages of CIV
ilized warfare should have been ex-
empt from its rayages.
The sudden emancipation Of more
than halt Of the laboring classes and
the removal Of the restraints which
had made them an essential part of
the producing element of the State,
superadded to the lessons which were
taught them in their new condition
that freedom meant RIGHTEOUSNESS and
release from the obligations to labor
since they had become wards of the
nation" are not remembered by the
malignant scribbler Nor does he le-
member in his hot haste to disparage
the Southern people, that the very fact
which he relates of the visible eviden-
ces Of the decline of our agriculture,
is refutation Of the theory industri
ously taught by class of philanthro-
pists (so-called) that the productive
wealth of the country would be en-
HANGED by the abolition of slavery
The fact is not to be denied that Mis-
sissippi produced more than million
Of bales Of Cotton before the war
and that last year she produced less
than four hundred thousand bales. The |
number will be decreased this year of |
our Lord, 1869, for causes which are
apparent to every practical and obser
want man, but which it is not worth
while to relate here.
The history Of the West Indies is
itself in the Southern States.
But the leayen of intelligence and ca
pacity which remains, will eventually
leaven the whole lump and reclaim
them. The vacant and waste places
will be filled up by industrious and en-
immigrants from Europe and
the Northern States, who, moving
hand in hand with the resident popu-
lation, will re-establish the ancient
prosperity of this rection.
Apropos Of this subject of replenish-
ing our supply of productive popula-
ton, we will copy the speculations of
another Northern writer, correspon-
dent of the Cincinnati Commercial
not endorsing them, however:
But the problem OF labor in the future
Is the most serious question disturbing the
minds of our thoughtful men. The negro
race is rapidly dying out. The most bitter
fanatic could easily see this, for it is patent.
I'm a future letter | will give you some start .
ing facts upon this point. How to supply ,
The places of our present hands is the main
question. The idea of Gen Forrest, to bring
hem from Africa, would, if attempted now,
meet with the most bitter and determined
opposition from the Southern people them |
selves The proposition to introduce the
scum and offal OF Europe and China meets {
with still meets with still more objection. I
But the people must choose one or the other.
They will either be obliged to replenish the
present stock. or abandon cotton planting
almost entirely, and that, too, before the
close of the present century. The Anglo
saxon will not work in these fields if he can !
help 1.-THE sun is too hot, GRAFTON.