The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-06-03
Friday, June 8, 1870.
A Northern View of Southern Contrasts
THE Fifteenth Amendment, and the
Charleston Convention.

NNAhSSloi'oN"o ~ SAS
Tribune: whose calm and temperate
uttcranccs we presented in part to
our readers in our last iasne, has writ
ton another letter giving an addition
al chapter of his experiences ain tho
City by. tho sea- 1t seems to bc
characterized like the preceding, by Il
spirit OF fairness, and though as q
matter Of course colored by carly
habits and different associations, is
that Of one who aspircs 10 give tho
impartial views OF an unprejudiccd Oh
server
The sharply Iefincl contrasts pre-.
scented by tho white and black Gle
.ments in tho city forcibly impress tho
writer, and especially rs exhibited in
tho ratification of tho Fifteenth
Amendment, and in the sessions Of tho
Agricultural Convcntion-thc hilari
GUS enthusiasm of tho one race in tho
enjoyment Of their newly acquired
freedom, and the sober carnostncss o.
tho other, chastencd by bitter past
experience, distrustful Of tho present
and anything else than sanSuino oi
the future, but still sclCrcliant and
act;ve-and seeking still to rebuild
and restore.
The writer's Wow tho character
Of the black race as displayed in tn,
great celebration was moro favorable
than he had been led to anticipate
lie says:
"Of course l can say nothing oil
their willingness or their ability in the
field, their trustworthincss, or their
cleanliness in the kitchen. l but
speak OF the negro celebrating Il great
event i'll tho history Of his race. 1
SEQ a swarm of people showing, with
evident poverty, great. ingenuity in
making littlo material in dress go {,
grcat way i'll producing an effect at
loast neat and picturesque, il neither
graceful nor bcautiful-a people somo-
times childlillo or barbaric in the cX-
nbcranco Of their demonstrations OF
joy, but certainly possessing n dignity
OF thoir own capable Of commanding
respect upon occasion; q people of ro-
markablo courtesy and politeness in
thoir street manners, whether to ac-
quaintanco or stranger; q pcople do
lighting in tho pomp Of military dis
play, i'll tho blare Of bands and the
glitter OF accoutcrmonts, aud 80 ma
king generally good parade soldiers 10
outward appearance, tho cXtraordina-
ry spirit and prido OF somo otlsctting
the extreme awllwardness of others
whose enthusiasm has. not had tho ad.
vantage Of drill people manifcstly
saturated all through with tho pride
of freedom and citizenship, aud very
likely, in the domination Of those
feelings, forgetting for tho noncc al
most everything else. 1t is in thi.
Fthat"theeo new freedmen and womc1
Fof South Carolina most differed from
tho Northern black people, mostly
free from childhood, whom I have
Fseen. in similar celebrations. The
Northern man brcatl,cs his freedom
like tho dir, without thinking of i,
with every inhalation, and goes about
his business meanwhile in a business
iiko way: The Southern negro takes
it In like laughing gas, is cxhilarated
rat every. breaLh, and exhibits his con
sciousness Of it in every movement
1t is with this, Perhaps, that tho white
man who has to deal with him finds
fauit, thinking fivo years long enough
TO got over tho first intoxication o
liberty" ...-. .aos.. :
Now we havo nothing to say
against the correctness in tho main o.
this Wow. The black race havo bcor
eHposed'to n succession Of unfavora
bic influences which would have up
sot the equanimity Of tho most sobe,
minded people in the world, much
more that of a people Of mercurial
tropical blood; of strong passions
and limited Intelligence. To us it is
wonder, that q people who have
been SO much "sinncd against" as the
black race, have done so well--have
deported themselves 80 orderly at
home, and have exhibited 80 much
conservatism in tho chair of Office,
and in the halls Of legislation,
Turning away from. the feverish OK.
hilaration Of tho colorcd celebration,
the writer finds more to attract in. That
sober assembly of practical men ':once
possessed Of wealth, Of immense in
fuende, who in the old time carried
South Carolina in their hands; and TO-
day could not command SO much as a
constablesbip at the hands Of the ru-
iers, mad who come together not us
wofshippets of q doad Rebellion, not
as Opponents 5of a local administra-
tion, but as seekers for practical ends,
to benefit themselves as planters and
merchants, and develop the material
resources of the State which they still
love bettert than anything else id the
world Their, ability as thinkerss and
theirreadiness ss debaters impress him
atbnoe, aas also the, juss' pride; with
hthey'look upon their past. re-
sorasse past" fndsed forever seaisd,
And viAk NO feeling Of disloyaty
psts 81 y hns Ade4tbS ssfnggls be fe,