New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-30

10 permit q portion 10 grow up 10 lOIcot.
The Black Belt cannot be called healthIui re-
gion indeed there are parts along the coast where
exposure under certain conditions Is almost iht,
particularly to the White man aud since inc war
trely abandoned by the Whites because the prOHS OF
cultivation do not, IN connection with the geneIa'
trouble compensate for the risk 1t u well known,
too that previous to the war there was always
Summer migration. by those who had the means, 10
the North-that is during the months when cotton
REQUIRES most work. and Think it Is to DO granted.
if anything can be. that White man cannot engage
in labor as can the Blacks and at the same time re-
tain his energies ny he would retain them IN the
Piedmont of Virginia. and in the mountain regions OF
North Carolina, aud of East tennessee; ana hence
we need never expect that any Ho ss @
fcult t may be 60 solve the negro question ana 10 es
tablish permanent quiet and prosperity ~ wouldseem
an utter impOssbty TO dispense with the negro as
q grower of cotton by getting any 3ther Peope
to take his place. That tho Black man can
endure q hot climate, has always been glahtHi,i
for it has given him his color, ana lhlss
color, rightly considered Is protection against
heat and malaria. The Committee OF the Memphis
Convention states that the old system OF growing
cotton on large plantations and with many hanus'
has broken down, and cannot be established again;
for the reason that the negro is longing for small
possession that he may keep horse and some stock;
and il would seem, now, that the only way to grow
the cotton required, and 10 settle the negro question
forever and day. Is to encourage small HOLDINGS.
that the cotton which the world needs and must
have may be grown thereon. But, looking from I.
Northern standpoint, that 49,. with knowledge OIL
how small holdings are acquired and how much
energy industry and intelligenee eyon arc de-
manded TO secure them tue difficulties before the
Black men are great almost insurmOuntable. FIRST,
saying nothing about mental character ana qlahca-
ti0ns an obstacle Of the most forbddlng nature IS
presented I'm the SOIL and 1t IS this: man with q
family cannot under the present system OF culture,
keep horse, COW, and fow hogs on ten or twenty,
aud perhaps not on forty. of such land as he
would be likely get because he Is without capital,
and most of his acres will be needed Tor growing
corn since the average Will not exceed six bushels 10
the acre for it is not corn country. III grass would
grow the case would be altogether different. Bring
ing good deal Of experience and observation, was
willing to believe that with proper care grass OF at
least clover might be grown but am willing to sur
render and say that except on low and on choice rich
land the cost of growing grass III the Black Belt VIII
exceed its value after II rs grown. these arc tne
difficulties after the land is bought while to buy the
land several successful years IN cropping Tor others.
aud economy, now scarcely praeticed' VIII DO neces-
I'm Georgia and South Carolina, frequently asked
intelligent Black men why they did not save their
money and buy land. and The reply was they had
nobody TO back them which means that tho first
stem is 10 have some White man become a sort of
guardian and stand security, and TO give them help
i'm case of trouble. much like client
among the Romans. More than this, they, look for
gifts aud gratuitics from strangers and others VINO
are their friends and IL they render slight service
they hope to be paid five or ten LINES IT'S value. Al
though they not beggars they accept whatever Is
given them thankfully IT IS true sun as II IN some
way it was their due. However, these notions,
originating In the old slave days, aio passing away,
bnt still desire 20 lean on somebody seems almost
inherent while it is apparently impossible to con,
vince them that they must back themselves ana
carve ont their own fortune. ..
Another great obstacle to their advancement is an
absence OF the disposition TO exert themselves to the
utmost, rs all men must, If they are TO make pro-
gress and In this connection, must be taken INTO
account too, The small number OF their wants
house With single room, few chairs, or more
| likely stools, rough bcdseads or hunks made or
boards a bakC-kcttle, skillet, n cOtte-pQt aud y
chest which often is dryg00ds box, complete their
furniture and not having been accustomed to, nor
having seen much better, they hayo no desire Tor
| n,.frf ia N III
cooked, and dirt and nOXlOus Insects abound. sure
ly but little can be expected from people with so
few wants. nor IS there any encouragement or m
srncli0n from any one whose example they can iOl-
low 20 lead them 10 seek higher conditions
With such facts. gathered from personal observa-
Gon thpugh the south. / came decidedly to these
c"ncIusions: inst that the freedmen in tho Border
States shOud seek the cotton region, lying within
the Black Belt aud consolidate themselves as cot
ton growing people. Tor | certain that - can be
saved in Georgia or Alabama, where 81 can bs saved
i'm virginia or Kentucky, and, second that Christian
aud benevolent people IN the Morrill, rs well Us Their
brethren abroad must enter upon tho work Of clcvat
ing them q work which Is really missionary enter
pflsc OF the most comprehensive nature. The Freed
mems Bureau under Gen. Howard has made
being wei organized, ana OF having gained
the confidence OF the trecdmcn. In ADDITION,
a vast number Of churches have sent out
Lun1r.1s pafhaps thousands OF devoted teachers
who have labored faithfully, with varying results.
The number Of schools now ia operation is about
1900; Of teachers 1910, and Of pupiis 49, There
l.
0i2 coorcd teachers and G5 pupils Ia Industrial
schools, Nlllc preparations are making greatly TO
Increase this number Instruction 10 great extent
has been gratuitOus still OD parents or pupils have
maid s57 74 for tnitiOn at great sacrifice. The
irbutiOns from Northern churches and benevolent
societies during the last six months OF 1868 amounted
10 1850 600 while the amount paid by the Bureau for
the same period was about 100000. During the year
named $4,000 were received from England and tho
whole amount from this country has been about
During my journey ] visited almost every school
within reach Generally, they aTe we'll conducted.
and the system of teaching is accOrdngt to latest and
best methods. found, however. that some of the
churches Lad sent ladies not acquainted with these
methods and. though they are faithful to the last
degree, they fail In accomplishing rs mnch they
would have done had they. been properly qualified.
IL seemed 10 that there is great need Of
organization. that one set OF officers may do the
work of many sets, and secure uniformity OF plan
and operation. which IN any respect IS desirable.
without knowing the officers OF any of the organza-
lions except perhaps by sight II seemed 10 that
the American Missionary Association. with its head
quarters at No. 53 JObn-st New FORK, Ia most worthy
Oi general help and encouragement and for tho
reason that Ii existed long before the Rebellion is
well established, and with reference TO the freedmen
Is the best organized and has the largest number of
teachers, while It's officers seem to nave tho most
comprehensive and correct views of what is required
II upon investigation this statement shall be found
correct it would he we'll if churches benevolent So
cieties and individuals should work in connection
which by the way Is TO continue its operations until
Congress abolish It, Is immensely effective, and, being
able 10 PROVIDE Duliunpb anu 10 htlp weak schools
in hnysettled districts. its power Is generally felt
IL is to be noted that the schools referred TO in
towns of considerable size, and that the country
people have never yet been supplied, leaving vast
portion OF the COlored population untouched, which
shows how great the work is
Now could not help seeing that the teachers who
go South should have higher qualifications, or ut
least opportunity and encouragement to exhibit
them. II is ucl to mpart to these poor people the
elements of learning and just ideas of what is due TO
man and to the Creator but no amount of such in
struction build up civilization that can stand
by itself Religious and literary knowledge when
separated from practical knowledge of the Industries.
from the proper ideas of " hat forms q comfortable
home and whatever distinguishes the truly civilized