Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-02-09

We continue the publication to-day Of
Mr.. Alvord'S reports to Gen. o. o. Howard
as to the condition Of the freedmen In the
South
SAVANNAH, GA, January Is, 1870.
To MAJ. Gen. o. o. HOlosrd, COz'niiSfonsr, Sc!
DEAR GENERAL In Charleston and on
Sea Island plantations | had excellent OPP
portunity OF seeing the freedman's condi-
ton. The statements OF Mr.. Pillsbury are
exaggerations extreme cases, as there are,
would not Justify his account OF things.
have visited the same class OF planta-
lions and negroes, and from all parties, have
usually, a nat contradiction and denial Of
such allegations as he made, especially from
the old planters and the more intelligent
freedmen. As a very respectable old colored
preacher said IN me, "Whoeyer say such
tings don't speak de trut." Possibly, moth
ers and babies do not have the care which
slavery gave them when the birth and life
Of the latter was Of such pecunlary adyan.
tage but in spite Of neglect and poverty
have invariably seen around cabin doors
respectable squads Of Juveniles children
enough" everybody says.
Inhntcide, as such, Is never known. An
eminent Southern physician, whom con-
suited, remarked that "the negroes, with
their strong domestic affection, were Inca
pable Of Ruch a crime" Similar testimony
I
cotton factors on the wharyes and officials
Of both parties. Among the latter are the
mayors and both chiefs Of police In Charles
| ton and this city. The people are poor, aud
their children die, as do the suffering poor
everywhere, but not as the result OF DELHI
crate bArbarity.
As to lntemperance there is certainly
quite too much OF Il among the freedmen.
| Three reasons have been given me for It's
prevalence; LIST. In the interior the ''whisky
wagons" perambulatlng the country I'd.
The unrestralned sale Of liquors In towns
and cltles; Sd. The negroes now have
money. The general admission, however,
Is that there Is not as much drunkenness
among blacks a. whites. Your friend, Gen.
| Robt. Anderson, chief Of police OF this city,
| Gas did his first lleutenant,) assured me that
| this was 80, Tho arrests for this crime
may be greater among the negroes, for as
these officers said, 'Ihey are usually bois.
ferrous when intoxicated "We do not"
said they, "aTrest q drunken man who Is
quietly trying to get home" (meaning
white menu
/ viii send you soon synopsis Of the po-
| lice reports OF crime for the last three
months as In comparison between the
whites and blacks from Charleston and sa.
yannah. II will chow you the precise facts,
which are youched for respectively rs cor
rect by both the mayors. Also, | VIII send
the mortuary reports from the officers Of the
city clerks showing how freedmen do not
die of az reported.
1t Is remarkable what q general reputation
the freedmen have for good behavior and lq-
duItry. "They work we'll when PAID, Is
universal remark. ave don't want China
men," Sald q planter 10 me, and he pointed
around to the cabins Of his lRbOrers, saying,
"theso people are used to our work, aud we
arc used 10 them" Mr.. VIM. Whaley ae-
knowledges that "the people on Edlsto are
industrious and well behaved" and, said he,
eWe arc satisfied with their labor" He will
plant next season SlN hundred acres.
Tho freedmen arc very eager for land
The savings they have placed IN our banks
and the profits Of cotton this year are
enabling them to make large PurehAsss' 10