The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-11
.Cl) EsJJATBIaA, a S. G.
J Frid !, Moraing, Jnne II. 1859.
South caroiina,

3
Johnston, Esq., of Columbia, s. O., who
arrived in this city few days ago. Mr..
Johnston is an Irishmhn by birth, but
for the past twenty five years has been
connected with the Journalism OF South
Carolina conducting, during that time,
some of the leading journals published
at the capital. Prior to the war, and
during its continuance, Mr.. Johnston
adhered to the peculiar political princi-
pies OF the Palmetto State; but upon the
passage of the reconstruction Acts Of
Congress, he boldly advocated their
adoption by the people of his State.
Besides attending to his editorial duties,
Mr.. j. has filed several important offices
in the County in which he resided. At
an election in June last, he was elected
Coroner by. the Republican party by q
large majority. He comes TO Chicago
with the intention of making our city
his permanent home.
We obtain from Mr. Johnston some
interesting items of information con-
cernipg the condition of affairs in South
{ Carolina. The crops, both of cotton
and corn, produced last year, were abun-
dant, preventing any apprehension Of
famine or scarcity until the next crop
shall be harvested. 80,
There has been o great deal Of misre-
presentation as regards the degeneracy
of the negroes since their emancipation,
their unwillingness to work, &c. The
abundant crops of the past year-the
late slaves furnishing the chief supply
of labor-completely, refute the oft-r
peated allegations Of sloth and idleness
among them. AS they have generally
worked Son shares" with the white pro-
prietors during the past year, another re-
futation of the charges alluded to will be
found in the fact that many of the pro-
vident and economical among them have
not only supported themselves, but have
saved money enough to purchase small
tracts of land for themselves. The ex-
ample of these is having its due effect
upon others of the race, and if the
whites only treat them honestly, and with
kindness and consideration, it will not
be long before large number of them
will become freeholders, good citizens,
and useful members of the community.
Even now the farms and plantations are
better cultivated than they have ever
been. Since their emancipation, they
have demonstrated that they were worthy
of their freedom by due obedience 70
the laws, and, in most instances, by q
faithful performance of the duties. and
evincing by their conduct just appre-
citation of the responsibilities, imposed
upon them rs citizens and freemen.
Charles M. Wilder, the newly-ap-
pointed postmaster of Columbia, is an
intelligent colored man, fully competent
TO discharge the duties of the Office to
which he has been appointed, and is
highly esteemed, as colOred man, by
the whole community. The only objec-
tion made against him by the opponents
of the present Federal and State Govern
ments is, that he is a negro. It is diff
cult matter to uproot the prejudices OF
generations in day; but time, the
great manipulation of human destinies,
will doubtless dispel the illusion which
appears to have full sway over the minds
of many Of the Southern people-that
the colored man is only ft to be slave.
On the whole, If the turbulent spirit
of opposition to the existing order OF
things, which OF present is manifested in
some of the upper Counties of the State,
can be subdued by the good sense of the
people, South Carolina will not only re.
cuperate and recover from the damages
she has sustained by war brought on
by herself, but will take o fresh start on
the highway to o prosperity hitherto
unknown to her people, and regain he,
proper influence among her sister States
of the Union.
The above is an extract from long
and garbled account with which Mr.
Johnston has favored tho Chicago I'i
bune, concerning South Carolina. The
interesting information afforded by Mr.
Johnston, as shown above, is simply &
mass of falsehood The crops were any
thing but abundant--the negroes have
proved unwilling to work, are welded te
sloth and idleness, and few have saved
enough to purchase land. They have
been treated with kindness, and the
chances of their being good citizens, ex
perience shows are very remote. Wilder
is doubtless ''an intelligent colorei
man." but he certainly is anything bu
an intelligent postmaster; and we deny
presumptorily the existence of turbu
lent spirit of opposition among the
whites in any section of our State.
This creature, w. B. Johnston, ha.