The Portland daily press., 1870-07-15
Condition Of the south.

From the New York Standard.l
INTERVIEW WITH A PROMINENT SOUTHERN
GENTLEMAN-GOOD EFFECT OF EMANCI-
PATION-THE COTTON CROP RECENTLY.
Our reporter called recently upon Louis
johnson, of South Carolina, who is now in
this city. Mr.. johnson, who by the way, is a
son of our late minister to England, was for
merly engaged in cotton culture in that State,
and is now United States Marshal there. An
intelligent gentleman, n native and resident
OF the South, both his previous business and
his present position have given him excellent
opportunities of noting the workings OF eman-
cipation. His antecedents and present faci-
ties for acquiring information lend interest to
views and opinions which, we are happy to
say, accord perfectly with information derived
from other sources.
Reporter-Mr. johnson, presume you
have had excellent opportunities TO observe
the workings OF emancipation in South Caro-
lima, and to note the vast political and social
changes that have taken place there of late
years? How are the negroes doing? Are
they willing to work?
Mr.. Johnson-As general thing, they are.
Immediately after the war, dependence on
their labor was uncertain owing to the sudden
and radical change in their relations to the
whites. They were always influenced inuri-
ously by bad men, army followers and the like,
es. Now, however, as general thing, they
are very willing to work, and their condition
as laborers is constantly improving. They al
so show disposition to have their children
taught to read provided it does not interfere
with their services in the field in the busy
season. In the upper country, their women
no longer work in the field Crops, in this re-
gion, since the war, have been good, and both
the blacks aud whites are in prosperous con-
diton. Indeed, believe there is more money
in circulation in South Carolina, than at any
other former period. On the coast, however,
where they produce the finest kind of sea isl
and cotton, which brings an average of from
seventy-five to 81 80 pound, the crops during
the same period, have been, with the exception
of that of 1866, uniformly bad. They have
been destroyed by the caterpillars. Here the
negroes are in poor condition, and their wo-
men still labor in the fields. The whites, too,
in this section, are in debt and their planta-
tions are heavily mortsaged. In the event of
forced sales, these would bring but very little.
This state of affairs has detracted considerably
from the prosperity of Charleston, which is
largely dependent for trade upon the lower
coast country. This city, however, did an ex-
cellent business last season, owing to the pros
Porous condition of the up-country and more
general dsinclination of the people, than be-
tore the war, to come North to trade. Charles
hardly fair illustration OF the state of affairs
generally in the South. The people of that
city, until quite recently, were not much dis
posed to encourage Northern enterprise among
then, though millions of Northern capital have
been sunk in cotton culture since the war. In
1861, about one-third of Charleston was de-
stroyed by fire. Since that time not over
thirty buildings have been erected in that
quarter.
Reporter-What are the prospects of the
cotton crop this season?
Mr.. Johnson-As the caterpillar does not
make its appearance till August, it is too soon
to form reliable opinion. The caterpillar
has been the great foe in the coast region.
Reporter-What is the general business as
pect in South Carolina?
Mr.. Johnson-Money is plenty, cotton is
high, and business seems fair. 1t IS Always
dull at this season of the year. The people
appear satisfied at the business prospects.
Reporter-What is the social aspect OF
emancipation as developed in South Carroll
ma? -,
Mr. Johnson-The whites accept the situa-
tion. There is very little bitterness of feeling
between the whites and the blacks as to social
equality. The former are disposed to accord
the latter all their legal rights. The blacks, if
we except some rowdies, and very rough spe-
cimens, are rather touchy upon the point of
desiring to intrude themselves upon the
whites
Reporter-How do the people in your Sec
tion regard the legislation of Congress and the
conduct OF the Administration
Mr.. Johnson-Not very favorably. The
whites, as general thing, have not taken
much part in politics since the war. They
are beginning now to show different dispo-
sition. The conservatives have recently
nominated Carpenter, with view to draw oil
the negro vote, but L do not thing he will
gain five hundred from that source. L regard
him as the candidate of the Democrats. The
negroes are pretty sharp, and will not be
drawn to his support. At the last celebra-
ton of the fire department in Charleston IN
which the negroes took part, the older ana
more prudent whites wished to ignore dis-
tinctOn of color, but they were overruleu by
The bows. This produced feeling OF bitter
ness among the blacks, which was not con-
fined TO Charleston, and had its effect through
the surrounding country, and which will ma
terially interfere with the designs of the
whites in tie coming State election.
Reporter-Have the planters taken anv in
.Derest in the question of the feasibility of en-
ploying Chinese labor?
Mr.. Johnson-I think that the white plant
ers are opposed to the introduction among
them of the Chinese laborer. If there are
exceptions, it is among the owners of the
large rice plantations on the coast. The
planters, generally, while willing enough to
avail themselves of some features of the labor
of Chiuamen, are unwilling to have among
them 4 race of Pagans whose habits and ideas
are so foreign, and, in some respects, so re-
pugnant to their cherished convictions. They