The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-02-03

Whether ii was wise in that govern
ment to have bestowed upon the black
race all the rights and privileges here
tofore enjoyed by the white race, shall
not undertake to determine, suffice it
| to say it has been done and | see no
| prospect of any change in long time,
| if ever. In States where there are but
few blacks, or where they are in de-
cided minority, it will make but little
difference; but where the negroes are
In large majority it is useless to eX
/ pect them not to control the offices Of
the country and place men of their
own color III positions of trust and pro-
| tlt. This Is but in accordance with the
laws which govern men of all colors
and conditions. If the negroes now in
the South were scattered over the
whole United States they would scarce
ly be felt politically; but congregated
in few States they become u power i'm
the land. Whether they will exercise
their privileges wisely and well, or
otherwise, | will not say, though have
decided opinion on that subject, not
proper to be here expressed. If the
Southern people do not desire negro
rule, why are they so anxious to con-
plantations an thereby give them i'm
gions especially, where the large plan
tatiOn system prevails, will always
have majority of blacks and Twill have
all the evils or benefits of negro rule.
II Is so in States and so in counties.
Does 1t not seem stran ge to hear a man
declaim against negro rale and yet !
have hundreds of negroes in his en-
ployment upon one or more large cot
ton plantations. The negro naturally
seeks home in a cotton region, and if
our people will insist upon converting
the whole South into q vast cotton !
plantation they must expect as a natu- |
raj result, the prevalence of negro rule |
in many parts of the South whether il |
be good or bad The way in which we |
can get clear OIL the evil, if evil it be, is
to change our system of agriculture.
The negro is the only race that will
cultivate cotton OH the plantation sys-
tenn. Nature and his previous habits
have fitted him for this. If ours were
a grain and pasturage country, with
only small farms cultivated in cotton,
we would see the negroes scattered in
every direction. There would not,
then, perhaps, be a single county in
any of the Southern States whore the
negroes would be in the majority.
Less cotton might be raised, but the
political condition would be Very much
changed. The man or men who bring
large bodies of negroes into the country
to cultivate their plantations in cotton
cannot, with much consistency, COM
plain of negro domination. If they pre-
fer tina: the country should be ruled by
negroes and negro influence rather
than abandon the growth of cotton up
on an extensive scale, be il so. They
have no right to complain at the nee
eSsaTy results of their own policy.
White men, born In the South, or
white men emigrating from the North
or Europe, can and will cultivate our
lands in grain, and will be admirable
but we have no reason
able ground for hoping that we Will
get mach immigration, or that white
men will do much plantation work,
whilst ours is exclusively a cotton
country. We might as well look facts
in the face and not delude ourselves
with hopes which are sure to be disaD-
pointed. The remedy is in our own
hands, but whether We will use it de-
pends on our Willingness TO give up
some of our cherished habits and pre-
ludices. Cotton countries must be
negro countries and negro countries
will be under the control of negroes or
their white allies. These may be dis
agreeable truths, but experience shows
that they are stern facts. l have no
against my race, but | think
the negroes would be themselves much
benefited by not being collected in
such large bodies whether in cities or
in the country districts. One reason
why | am so anxious to see tine South
4 grain-growing, paSturage and stock
raising country, instead of being exclu-
,ively devoted to cotton Sro., ing, is, ;
hat in this way we would find relief
rom political dangers which are threat {
ming, and which | fear may injUre '
very seriously both races. | also be- ]
ieve the system advocate will make ;
he South richer, more prosperous and /
more independent. | do not wish to t
zee the South converted into an India a
n order that she may enrich other i
il
The experience of Rufiin, of Virginia; /
fC0ckrill, ofTennessce, and COnually, Il
i MISSISSIPPI, has demonstrated that v
heep enough can be grown in the Z
'Outh 10 supply the whole country 5
With wool, and owing to the cheapneSs L
( our lands and the mildncSs of our 5
Innate, they can be raised more cheap a
y and profitabIy here than in any por- "
ion OF the United States, Southern q
ountrics have always been the best b
attle and sheep countries. n
In conclusion, permit me to say that a
, long as the South is a mere cotton d
for the benefit of other Sec t.
Ons, 50 long she will never prosper, II
nd will occupy the same position to u
ards the North that India does To Ii
'ngiand nd-improvcrishing herself to e
nrich another section. it
Yours, truly, II
WIN. j. SYKES. d
ol. ID. G. Topp, Holly Spring, Miss. fC