The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-27
4 sEA ISLANDER RAMoNa EHEHI1Ls.
Cheering,s signs-Wendep6sl Improve
ture-Tho Freedmen compared with
those on the seaboard-Bctter Times
CoMiHg.
AKIN, 8. c., July "a.

III IdE!EOl4Oh O1 4h6 d6Wos
A desire to witness the effects Of the late
revolution N our political and social condition
upon the industrial and agricultural interests
Of this section Of our State. together with q
wish for short respite from the tolls and "a
tigues Of sea island .6eld, led me here for
few days. My acquaintance with this place,
both before and during the war, places me In
Q position to judge Of any changes I might
zee. Ihad not travelled far from Charleston
before began to discover in the neatly white
washed cabins and well cultivated patches Of
corn and cotton, signs Of marked improvement.
All along the line Of Failroad there was an ap-
pearance OF neatness and thrift which was
unusual in former days. The crops of cot
ton, corn and potatoes, although in want OF
rain, which they have had since, looked we'll,
clean and we'll worked. In this neigh Dorhood
(Aiken) the change is wonderful. Churches,
hotels and fine private mansions are springing
up in various directions. An iofusion Of North
ern capital, brought hither by inyaids who
come during the winter for the benefit Of the
health-giving climate, has wrought this change
in the aspect Of the town. The abolition OF
slavery which has caused more equal and
general division Of labor, and the liberal usc
OF fertilizers, are the causes of the very great
improvement in agriculture. In my expert
ence in farming here, ia former years. 1 dis
covered that the sands here were capable Of
being soon enriched by manures, by their ca
pacity Of retaining whatever was placed in the
soil. This has been fully verified in the beau
tiful and promising crops Isee around. The
peach crop, always so uncertain, has in great
measure given place to the cotton. which it
was once thought could not be grown here by
reason Of lis being 80 soon visited by frost.
But by deep ptotghing-briuging up the clay
which underlies the upper soil, to the surface
and then applying to the aero from 300 to 500
pounds OF commercial manures, the plants arc
pushed forward sooner to fruitful maturity,
and now are to be seen lu1nriant fields of co.,
ton where q few years ago the impress Of Ste
rility was 30 strongly marked that few were
found bold enough to attempt aay cultivation.
Labor here is as cheap again as it is on the
seaboard, and the laborers do twice as much.
This is caused by the want OF those resources
Of 70 ID which our rivers and bays supply be-
low, and upon which the moro Idle freedmen
subsist. Here the Freedme en's Bureau never
lent Its upspar1ng hand 10 feed the lazy negro.
here. they were never led 10 believe that .'torty
acres and niue" was their new polite i birt h..
right. The poor white islander, kept for two
years out Of his laud after the war was over
exhausted every cent be had to keep his lam
lily from starving; and when he d drag him.
self there, wear, and almost OF breath. " was
to find that there was scarce house left TO
cover his head. Reared as he nad been in wealth
and refinement, he reaDsed into despondehcy.
It old, he gave up all for lost. 1t young anc
ardent, be committed the greater folly OF per-
illing all he was worth on the chances OF u
single crop. But it is long lane thar has not
o turn, and, thank God, that turn We have
reached. The crop OF this year will improve
the condition OF the seaboard, aud If the negro
will not work, John Chinaman will. But the
negro toiG ,rork. Time and necessity will con-
vince him that freedom does not consist in
idleness. Education will teach him that labor
Is nonorabie-that as pIt OF Gods intelli-
gent creation he has mission assigned him
which he must perfurm-that by decree OF
an overriding Providence he is put cn ria, 10
fulfill the duties Of Ia high and responslble man
hood. Through slfting proct ss he must
pass. The idle and dissolute will disappear;
but the honest and Industrious negro vii ever
find home and friendship with the white
Man. Il,