The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-10
THE LIVE STOCK QUESTION.
Our Prospects for Meat-Ehs.-.D .Destrnc-
ton OF Cattle and Hogs by Negroes
A Serious Matter for the Confederation
Of our People.

IrRoM AN occAs1oNAL CORRESPONDENT
PARAMOUNT PLANTATION, BARywELL COUNTY,
July THE numerous correspondents Of your
admirably conducted journal keep you 30 well
informed as to the condition aud prospect Of
the crops Of corn and cotton, shall 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 II We
can prevent the negroes from stealing, cotton
as much as they did last yelr-6rst by :bas.
ketfuIls and then by whole baies.-we shall
be able, perhaps, to gather e reasonable
amount, according to the number OF acres
planted. It is: too early, however, to predict
much with regard to cotton, 1t being Liable to
30 many contingencies betKeen now and frost.
The cattle and hog crops deserve, thlDk,
more notice than they receive, and wisn 70
direct particular attention to the subject OF
stock hlling-the destruction OF cattle and
hogs by negroes. -
ii Is we'll knoan that before the war, when
the negroes were under guardianship and con-
troll, cattle and hogs were raised IN abundance
in South Carolina, and no planter or farmer
who managed properly, except IN few locali-
and from the section OF country where reside,
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-
ties, 1t is impossible, except in few neighbor-
hoods, to raise even tithe Of what is needed
for home consumption. II the predatory hab-
its II the negroes cid not keep constantly re re-
ducng the stock, thsir natural increase, in this
section. would in the course of few years be
sufficient to supply the whole Stale; 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 meuna and sIum; taking
the last COW OF the poor, unofendlng, widow,
who depends upon the last Of her stock tor the
scanty allowance OF milk which she gets for
her little ones.
.dilllons are annually lost to the South that
might be saved by proper legislation and con-
cert OF action on the part Of the planters and
farmers. The South is becoming every year
more dependent on the West tor necessary sup
Plies, and the pork crop Of the United States
does not now exceed what it was fifteen years
ago. The number OF hogs billed and packed
In the West IN 18,6-'57 was 534 TO; in 1865
69 q AT Q 4 aud yet the natural increase 10
the wants during that time must have been
fully 40 per cent. Population is gaming on
production. According to the census OF 1861
we had IN South Carolina Of hogs 965 TO; now
we have but 468. 1913. and the negroes will keep
on reducing thom unless they are prevented
they are as bad on hogs as the bears IN the
swamp--iu fact, the two.leeged bears are
worse than the four eeged ones.
If We want Imm Igranls to come to our coup
try we must have the wherewlth to feed them
Let the planters and fArmers then be pro!ecl-
ed IN their tndea avorS to raise besides gralD ar
abundance OF cattle and hogs. Let proper
laws be enucted lor guarding against thef
and lDf,ctlpg severe and summary punish
ment when theft is detected bearing in mind
tho principle laid down by Backbone, that
crimes must be measured and dealt with &C.
| oordlne TO their effecs upon society and the
| full measure of punishment metel out that i
required Ior their prevention. Let the negl
know his legal rights, deal with hun justly
honestly, firmly bu,, above all. convince him
tina, he shall not steal. Thsp will our State
oe rendered in great measure, independent
Quoting for wages and the interest on capital
will be net profit for further lpyesl mcnt. eithe1
| IN commerc, and manufacturing or in more la
Dor for making still larger crops, and with the
millions anu lily paid 10 the West for porl
and grain retained IN the South. will give new
| impulse to every departm ent OF industry.
Ia certain situations and under certain cir
cumstances admit it will be best for indivdu
| ais and even whole States 10 purchase certaiI
| supplies but, as a general rule, that State vii
be most prosperous hat ID least dependen
upon others particularly for bread aud meat
Proper legislation and concert OF action OF
the part OF The planters and farmers OF on
State can bring about right condition o
| things, and the peace, prosperity and happi
ness Of the community will be- enhan ed there
by. 4.
10 1ood oro l. ,n, rornouaf