Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-12-07
The Negro in the New Condition OF
the south.

the Negro I'm the New Condition Of
| the south.
General Wade Hampton, of South
Carolina, in his recent speech at the
Georgia State Fair, at Macon, alludes to
the question of immigration in connec'
ton with the recuperation of the South,
but at the same time declares that for q
| long period, and perhaps for ell time,
negro labor will form principal ingre.
dent in the cultivation of the land, and
especially in what is called the cotton
belt. Upon this idea the General en-
larges az follows:
"The n. gro is undoubtedly better fitted,
from his long training, his physical con-
6guration and his adsptability to ell the
diversities Of our climate, TO make a
more efficient laborer than any other
Especially is this true when the labor IS
TO be performed 10 the more malarial
portions of cur country. We must make
him feel that his interests are indlssolu-
bly, bound up with ours; that high prices
for our products insure high wages for
him; tsat we have no luminosity toward
him; but, ON the contrary, that we cher
ish the kind feelings engendered BY early
associations and old memories. Let us
be scrupulously just in our dealings with
him; let us assist him in his aspirations
for knowledge and aid him in its acquisi-
ton. Try to elevate him in the scale OF true
manhood, of civilization aad OF Christian
ty, so that be may be better fitted for the
grave duties aud high responsibilities
forced upon him by his new position. la
a word, convince him that we are bis
best, if not lis only friends; and when
we shall have done this, we shall not only
have placed our labor on sound footing,
but we shall have gained in the laborer
strong and jealous ally. / do believe
that 10 proportion as you make all labor,
other than compulsory, intelligent, you
render it profitable. If this is true, we
should educate the mind, the heart and
the soul of the negro. 1t is our duty to
assist him in qualifying himself for hls
changed condition; time alone can show
whether the change has been for his ben
eft"
TIE Philadelphia Age says: This is
a noble passage, and presents q marked
contrast with the teachings of the Rsdl-
Gals upon the future of the negro. They
fll his mind with delusive dreams of
politicsl preference, and beget desire
to engage 10 the wild hunt for office,
place and plunder. This has been the
course pursued by the carpet-baggers,
and those who wished to mount to power
on the shoulders of the negro. As ma
tural sequence, too many OF the lat
ter have neglected their real interests,
while white men, disgusted with the turn
of events, have Withdrawn from the field,
and left The negro to his fate.
Ia this condition of things, the speech
of G neral Wade Hampton GENES
opportunity, and places the whole
question of the duty of white men Of the
South to the negroes upon q more ele-
waited plane, while at the same time, it
thames the hypocrisy and shamming of
Northern R ldicsls, and humanitsrians
on this question" The negro has his
future ir bis own hands. He can make
himself usefal or useless member OF
this great community. If be shirks his
duty he lie bound to go under, as the
planters will be driven to the necessity
of supplying his place with reliable
class of jaborers, if such can be found.
II the negro will but make himself Ise-
full, Chinese immigration will amopnt to
but very little, 30 far as the South is con-
cerned.