The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-01-23

= The following is the substance of the
remarks delivered by II. L. Jeffers, Esq,
in Abheville, in reference to the Mar
shall lands. which had been purchased
by Land Commissioner Leslie:
MY FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
Doubtless you oil know that the State of
South Carolina, through her General
Assembly, then sitting, just preceding
that now in session, passed an Act author
izing tho appropriation of 5000, 900, for
the purpose of purchasing lands, and
that lands thus purchased should be laid
off in lots of from SO to 100 acres, and
sold to persons, without regard to race
or color, who were unable, without the
assistance of the State, to buy land, and
give them time to pay for the samc-say
five years.
The Act thus passed provided for the
appointment Of Land Commissioner,
and the Hon. O. 2. Leslie has received
the appointment and commission. In
obedience to the requirements of said
Act OF the Legislature, and in the dis
charge of the duties thus imposed, he
has purchased this tract of land now
known as the Marshall land. The tract
has been b-dividediinto from forty to
sixty acre lots, except 80 much MS has
been attached to the homestead-say 200
acres. Just here, my colored friends, in
consequence of some misconception as to
the object of appropriating 200 acres to
this homestead, it may be proper for me
to explain.
It is the wish and aim of the Land
Commissioner to maintain the value of
that large and fine building, by attach
ing to it sufficient land. in order to in
ls able and willing, to buy and pay its
worth, SO as to help reduce the cost of
s,ich lands as you may buy. Believing,
at the same time, that none of Won are
able or even desirous to purchase such IL
house, and as [ am, in this matter,
acting as agent for Mr.. Leslie, I can and
Will take the liberty of assuring you that
neither the Commissioner or myself will
think Of selling this homestead to any
man who has not, or does not give, good
evidence that he will be o friend to YOU
and not only friend to the freedmen,
but friend to oil good men who are
now, or may become, his neighbors-n
friend to peace and good order-a friend
to his country. Peace and goodwill
towards oil men should be, and is, the
motto of every good citizen. My per-
sonal acquaintance with your Governor,
r. K. Scott, enables me to assure yon
that he is not only dcsirous. but anxious,
that prosperity, peace and harmony may
prevail, not only in Abbevillc County,
bat throughout the entire State.
Now, fellow citizens, ut the request
of the Land Commissioner and the Co
vernon of the State, who knew this was
my native County, and supposing that L
was not only known by, but knew the
people of this section-knowing as they
do my anxiety for the peace, harmony
and prosperity Of every good citizen,
without regard to race or color, or po-
litical aliance-requested me to como
here and settle this place as we'll az l
could, in accordance with the Act OF the
Legislature providing for the settlement
Of such lands. Thus, my friends, 1 am
here to attend to the trust conided in
me, with written instructions from the
Land Commissioner, which instructions
will now read, and to which respect
fully ask your careful attention.
The instructions were read by Mr..
LETTERS, and then by freedman
Thus you see the very easy conditions
that the Act Of your Legislature and tho
instructions of their Agent Uhe Land
Commissioner lays before you, in order
that you may secure d home for yonr.
tinction as to race or color. Iknow that
the Governor cherishes the fondcst hope
and yon sec from my instructions that
it is the ardent wish of the Commits
sioner-thnt these lots Of land may ne
settled OH by you. Therefore, I am now
ready, not only to Induce you, but to
enable you, rs far as / can. by requiring
Of you the very lowest rent that the pro
visions OF the Act may allow. to comply
with and meet the wishes OF the Land
Commissioners. But, gentlemen, if we
carefully notice tho instructions which
have just been read, we will see that the
Commissioner hope, that these lands will
he settled by good, honest aud thrifty
men, who have some means of cultivatinn
the soil, as also some means of support
while engaged in making crop. He
plainly points you to the many evidences,
and which your own experience will show
to be true, that en attempt TO plant with
out the means necessary to aid you, to
some extent, will cause failure and dis
aster, which failure would evidently be