New-York tribune., 1870-05-09
THE NEW SOUTH.

FLORENCE, SOutn CaTOIlnd, Aplli S'-lu utlo
have been several periods within the past decade when
il was peculiarly interesting to visit and study the South.
1t was worth while have been here when Slavery was
at its hight OF prosperity and PRIDE anomaly in our
civilization, yet pretending TO superiority over all the
other institutions the republic. 1t strange and
exciting experience 10 traverse tho South when she was
preparing for each stirring his neighbor to
enthusiasm in Rebellion, and doubling its COM
plete success still interesting to penetrate
here during the Rebellion inside the shell which walled
communication efectuay, and TO watch thls I'M
happy people struggling with hope which had no fou-
datons, with courage worthy better cause ana Win
cruelty born of ignorance and evil training; but there
were few from the North who had TINS priv
ege and those paid dearly for it in hardship ana
suffering. 1t curious again. to visit these states
in the first dead calm when loho"eu
the failure OF their four years suussie'
TO witness the amazement, the speeehess eieuu
Ity the torpor as of one stunned with wlhcn they
crossod the threshold OF the order Of things; the
misery of poyerty in which their had left them the
broad path of destruction which sherman had traced up
AMI down their borders 1t time well spent TO study
the South little later, when the machinery or recon-
structon began TO CRATE the awakening sensiDtles
OF the people when they were led TO pin false expeca
tons on the devious course Of President Johnson and
fooishly little remnant OF Slavery from
the wreck But Of these rapidly succeeding put
wdey-cOntrasted phases of her revolutionary epOch mas
the South been better subject for candid study than
OF peace on the equal rights when the citizenship
of her enranchsed slaves has been stamped with the
broad seal OF the National Constitution, ana wheh 'he
try work OF reconstruction lacks completion In the case
OF only one State which waits impatenty at the doors
OF Congress.
date this letter from Florence fitting place to begin
tour Of observation of this Sort because the center OF
the backes district in the South of the region where
tho negroes POSSESS an overwhelming majority, and
where Slavery has more nearly TO dying natural
death than most other parts of the Atlantic slope,
since invading army carried through here its banners
OF fire and freedom, and hardly raider penetrated
during the war disturb the pacidty OF affairs The sole
visible reminder Of the here indeed, comes from this
very security and isolation; for the Rebel authorities, IN
the last of the struggle, when Sherman threat
ened Andersonvle and Grant was close to Richmond,
sent here their starving prisoners ten thousand III num-
Der and close by thoir old stockade the national flag
flies cemetery where $500 Northern men are de-
Gently buried gathered the tender of the Govern
ment from the various trenches and bitches in which
their aiers thrust them. OF all this great number the
names only known and the graves of barely 80
men can be positively identified. Among the
long rows Of numbered wooden slabs at the
head Of the graves, one attracts espe-
cal attention; by the rOsc-bushes which have been
trained about it, The inscrptonIreveas the surprising
fact that here lies buried woman, Florence BudWm or
Philadelphia who died in the sockade early In 1865 and
inquiry brings out the wild romance that she was dis
starving beside her husband unknown TO all but him. ana
that She stouv endured it all down to woman's last
trial and this crowded prisonpen In giving birth
to twins Neither of the children lived to be told the
story of this strangest Of birthplaces.
The cemetery well cared for, is constantly receiving
improvements in the way of shrubbery, and seems TO
have an efficient superintendent in veteran Ohio soldier,
who himself spent almost half the in the different
prson-pcs the South. As to the sockade itself near
by little trace of the terrible history of the spot is
now visible The land has been cultivated and has
become like other cotton and cornfelds OF Carolina
Aside from this remarkable spot, Florence does not
strike the trayeler place which will repay much
animation. 4 struggling, shabby village with sandy,
unshaded streets hotel built an imposing scale
by ambitious railway company but Kept IN laznesS
and squalOr; railroad junction where slow, coforsess
trains make hafhour stoppaees, with apparent OBJ
iect on the great hOroughare between the North and
and the principal cities of Georgia and the Carolnas;
row country making sales of shoes, meal molas-
ees and calico to the negroes of the village and the
rounding plantations fringe OF pines at the boundaries
Of the landscape these do not make attractive
picture he who travels for enjoyment Of the beau
ties Of nature or art viii find little ito repay him south Of
Virginia though there peculiar phases OF society and
politics here repay little attention In the first
place, no 20 about among the people without
discovering that this is orderly community Whites
and blacks whoutiperhaps any exuberent affection be-
class and class live amicaby together Outrages
and Ku- Klux Kans quite unheard Of and no gar
rsOn has been found necessary here at any time since
the war; The negroes walk about fearlessly with heads
erect evidently respecting themselves and In terror OF
nobody yet without giving offensive prominence in their
the facttO which many of the circumstances
noted may be due-that they have great majority OF
their color in this whole cluster of counties and
politically can have matters entirely their own |
way. a quadroon or mulstto of any age is |
very rarely meta fact in marked contrast |
TO the mixture OF compilations in the Border States, and
speaking well for the morality Of both classes. The shop
keepers-yeterans of Lees army almost all OF them,
recognize where their profit lies, and treat their black
the their white cstOmers-nOt with the obtru
sve urbany of the Frencman, but with that reserved
polteness, with slight dash of independence which
marks the American shOpman from end Of the
try to the other The planters shake their heads gavey
the notion of the being fit TO take part
in politics but willingly testimony that their labor
ers are working better this Spring than before since
they entered their condition. They no longer bear
the reprOach Of that Incidence and disposition TO live by
thieveFy which the conduct Of part of their gave
basis year two after the close OF the war; when
slavery had left only Generalization and freedom had
brought only bewidernent. II is not 10 be wondered at
even the accusers OF offenders confess, that for
time after the shock OF that transition many of the ne
groes found il fascinating live without working for
ANYBODY TO earn dollar and then when the i'm
pulse seized Them and at frequent intervals to steal
a pig or "a chicken from the old master, or from the
more industrious freedman whose cabin was in
convenient neighboIhood. But time wore on,
these loungers and plferers found their rags getting
more ragged with envy their laboriOus fellows
patronzng the stores with udicious Hberay laying in
groceries for the Winter and buying from the heero-
geneous sockn-trade Caudy bonnet for the wife or
fifteen cent crione for the daughter growing up slowly
10 the civilized vanity of the cry OF Nothing To Wear"
IL does that these people have been very slow
in learning the lesson for here in this neighborhood at
al that f1teVl hay