New-York tribune., 1870-05-25
THE NEW SOUTH.
CONTRASTS IN CHARLESTON.
TIM NEGRO cFIEBRATIoN-THE IMMIGRANT GO

CHARLESTON, MAY 6.-CharlestOn is city
OF contrasts with its black and white elements as
sharply and equally divided as in the markings OF
clessboard But II has been peculiarly place Tor the
study Of centrased effects the present week. with It's
ubapt negro celebration of the Fifteenth Amendment,
making the streets CLEAN and the walls ring for day
and night with bright uniforms, glitteTing arms sway
ing banners happy shouts, and noisy artillery and its
indoor convention beginning tie same day, with
ners hue OF sadness umned by a fresh ray of eEergy
and a faint glimpse Of hope, and with its whole dehbera
tions marked by such a unanimous contempt for the
negro race making merry in bissul Inconsistencies
outside stay till the celebration, said my friend who
attempted enlighten TO the worthless character
OF this people, and then youw see what the nggerls
YOa nothing about him from the few you see III te
North Watch that celebration and will understand
Of the real character of the Niger as we nave MN
iH Charleston than could ten you in week. stayed
and watched the moving procession and the sidewalk
groups faithfully and entirely without prejudice; but
reached little other conclusion than that to see these
people as thcr late masters who once appreciated them
OF money value, look at them one must see them
through Charleston eyes OF course can say nothing
OF their willingness their ability in the field, their
trustworthno.s, their cleanliness in the kitchen.
but speak Of the negro celebrating great event in the
history OF his race. i a swarm of people showing,
with evident poverty, great ingenuity iii making ttle
material in dress 60 great way in producing an enect
at least neat and picturesque If neither graceful nor
the exuberance of their demonstrations of JOY but GER
taiplv possessinca agniy Of their capable OF COM
mandng respect upon occasion; people of remarkable
courtesy and potenes their street manners whether
e. acquain stranger; people dehghng IN the
poap of military display in the blare OF bands and the
gtter OF accOutements, and so making generally good
parade outward appearance the extraordinary
spirit and pride Of some ofsetting the extreme awk
warnes whose enthusiasm has not had the adj
vantage drill people manifesty saturated all through
with the pde Of freedom and citizenship and very likely
in the domination OF those feelings, forgetting Tor the
almost everything else. 1t Is i'll this that these new
Freedmen and women Of South Carolina most dere dfrom
the Northern black people, mostly free from childhood
whom have seen in similar celebrations. The Northern
man sreahes his freedom like the air. without thinking
OF IT with every inhalation and goes about his business
meanwhile in a busnesslike way The Southern negro
takes it in like laughnggas, is exhiarated at every
BREATH and exhibits his consciousness OF it in every
movement. 1t is with this perhaps, that the white man
who has 10 deal with him finds fault thinking five years
long enough to get over the first ntoxcaton Of liberty
this white man, after these same 1--WE years,
still shows in every word and tone that he is filed with
memories not bitter perhaps but sad and lasting OF the
dsaTpointment which was sealed AppomatOx. These
Southern people, white and black, get along slowly
into new eras they all to be still is state of
fceling-fervent Joy and acute sOTrow-coTespOndng to
at the North in the first few months OF peace and
victory before we had begun to turn swords into
pens, and trowes, and plOwshares.
As has been hinted it was an odd contrast to turn from
this proud noisy happy procession in the bright sunlight
OF the hot streets dm drowsy ha where sat the
leading men Of South Carolina sobery discussing with
but slender confidence in the of their schemes
various plans for the restoration OF the lost
prosperity Of their State. This Convention has
attracted but little attention outside of this
section Of the South and in this city its pres
ence has created 70 sensation and has called in but
sCanty gathering Of spectators But it is in many re-
spects notable affair." and will repay attention your
correspondent readers of THE TRIBUNE may be able
to give it, 1t is gathering OF representative men OF TINS
State not politicians, except every American OF GER
tain social standing interested in politics, butsuch
the present state Of affairs in the South purely pold
cal object could call tOgether-men once possessed OF
wealth. OF influence, who in the old time carried
South Caroiaa in their hands, and to-day could not COM
mand so much a constableship at the hands OF he
rulers and who come together not wOrshipers of a
dead Rebellion, not opponents Of local administra
ton but as seekers for practical ends 10 benefit them
selves planters and merchants and develop the ma
tera of the State which they still love better
than anything else I'm the world. 1t is gathering not
destined. perhaps 10 have any direct and immediate
effect toward accomplishing the commercial revolutions
and movements of population which it DESIRES as such
Conventions seldom do but of importance nevertheless
as giving clear expression TO individual views and gem
eral opinions which cannot but have influence upon
the future Of the South.
One first trait OF the Convention which strikes the
most superficial from the North is the skill and
case of these gentlemen debaters Accustomed, Ill
much larger bodies, the active part taken by
comparatively men, have been surprised see how
universal is the readiness Of these gentlemen In discus
sion of matters requiring no little thought how plainly
aud sklfully they express themselves, how keen are
their arguments and reoinders. how gracefully they
glide into oraory which, without preeusion exceed
ingly effective. For these not professional takers,
not lawyers clergmen but planters and merchants,
the delegates Of agricultural societies and boards OF
trade yet do not know OF dcliberative body In the
North which would show more fucncy in brisk debate.
Clearly some the strength Of this people in the old
days their political power Law in the education and
natural readiness Of this ruling lass for the business Of
Iegislation-thcir aptitude for which four years Of
aud ave years OF ostracism has done nothing to erad
cate.
II any optimst to come here expecting to hear
from these gentlemen expressions Of pcnence
of regret at the active part every one OF them took in his
own way. with purse sword in the Rebellion, he would
be very much disappointed If they repent they do not
say so ans think very few OF them have any sentiment
Of repentance whatever They proud OF what they
have done, OF what they have suffered Of what they
have lost They sti look upon their State as the sole
object Of their allegiance, and regard the most gori
Gus period her history the years between the breaking
of the flagstaff on Sumter by BcauregaTd's shell,
and the putting up Of the new 1ogsaf by Mr. Beechcr
and his friends. possessed or large MEANS
says one gray-halred man in the Convention. Like
those of many OILERS, they have been swept away.
have sacrificed them for principle do not regret it,"
But such feelings as this generally understood
rather than expressed In body OF men who seem TO
know each other well that they do not need TO be
stanty telling hOw they feel on such subjects The
pressions out incidentally and very rarely in the
course of proceedings devoted to other topics Nor
there mingled with them any words any hints OF def
ance TO the Government; Of wish that the struggle
.af.a..1 10 .Ts.,
The war and ts results treated things Oi the past
and O a nast forever seaed