The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-01
THE 0RANGEBURG FREEDMEN.
The Freedmen as Tenant Farmers-How
They Live-Tho Situatton-A Fu1zleo
Set Of Negroes.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY NEWS.


FoRx OF EpIsro, S. c., January 27.-The
suppositlon that everything in nature ls dual,
hope will prove correct in ono connection OF
least Ii it does, then the evil OF land-rentlng
will not be without its good results. For the
past two wears the freedmen have exhibited an
indomitable desire for land-renting: And no
matter to what extent they may fail OF what
reverses they may meet with, thls plan o1 man,
aging ON their own account they, thus Tar, still
insist on. This year the idea has expanded to
still moro beautiful proportions, and such
things as farm laborars for wages are few and
far between. The consequences are, that the
labor of the country has become unavailable,
and farmers are restricted to smaller areas
upon which to base their operations. This,
though, NAV be all for the better, as they will
no doubt make what they do plant yield more
to the acre.
Under existing circumstances, renting lands
to the freedmen is attenued with evils that
would not otherwise obtain. They are poor in
the common acceptation Of the term, and are
without the means which would justify any
attempt at farming within themselves. The
idea OF a family comprising half dozen or
more members, who probably have not bread
erou"h to last then three months, renting
eight or ten acres OF laud, that will not pro-
duce three hundred pounds OF seed cotton to
the acre, and who expect to make support
by using the hoe alone In the cultivation or the
manage to live, year in AID year out, oil tho
Deficiencies and inconvenIences to the con-
trary Notwithstanding. 1n the meantime the
stock Of the whites, such as hogs and cattle,
.:to slaughter are condemned" Thls state
ment may be regarded by some as on act gra-
tu,tously performed that might as we'll have
been dispensed with. But facts are stubborn
things sometimes, and like murder, will ''out."
Now that tho Presidential election is over
and Radicalism fixed fact for four years. at
least the party spirit which ran so high 10 the
detrimen, of all other calliugs than political,
has subsidized, and the whites have turned more
attention to industrial pursuits. Nothing
tends so much to paralyze industry as political
contests. Especially does the truth OF this
been allowed to enjoy the rights, privileges
and immunities OF tree citizens. Gradually
both races are accommodating themselves to
the new order Of things, and the better time,
SO much talked OF, may be looked for In pro-
portion as Time grows older.
The advent of Radlcalism and the operations
of government under lts rule. have puzzled
some OF the up-country darkies to point be-
yond endurance. They cannot comprehend
how the Sheriff can collect taxes from those
WHO elected him to Office. ADd so incensed
did they become at his rigid enforcement OF
the tax executions, that . humber from St.
Matthew's Parish assembled, not long slnce,
with view of put ting him out OF office. They
acted on the principle, that lnasmucn as they
had put him III Office, by virtue u the same
right they w-re PRIVILEGED to put him out.
They were made to view the matter IN q differ
ent light, however, and when informed OF the
serious nature OF the attempt they we're about
to make, desisted from tier purpose. This
shows you the extreme ignorance OF the negro
bc has formed. PAYSAN.