Wilmington journal., 1874-01-02
Great spestitutiol Among tssc Peo-
nse OF AFRLa sn1.

Great Destitusion Among the Peo-
Pie osAIabasaa.
Air. Edward King, who has been |
travelling through the South, writing
series of articles for Scribner's
York Tribune in which he tells of
the great destituion prevailing
among the people OF Alabama. We
make the following extracts:
In the course of O. recent tour
through certain sections OF Alabama,
various noteworthy facts, from which,
it seems to me, potent moral may
be drawn, were Impressed upon my
mind with such force that l cannot
forbear asking you to present them
for public consideration. An almost
Incredible amount Of suffering a",t
d,estitution exists throughout wide
balt comprising the so called ALI
cotton" connt;es, and l believe /
speak the unoxaSgerated truth when
I say that thousands of people are be-
ing driven from their homes, or are
completely inactive under the pres
sure cf profound despair. The peo-
pie Of these counties have. with rare
exceptions, displayed admirable cour-
| age since the Nar, struggling through
| years OF poverty, Cndcayorin", despite
q totally disorganiIed labor system,
and variety of iisastcrs' TO
their crops, to wiring support
from Gotten cniturs alone; bat
they have failed, and IL many
| Montgom ery-Great distress prevails.
OF late the plantcrsin that section have
been compelled ordinarily to mort
gage their crops in advance, IN order
to obtain the bacon and corn with
which to feed the laborers who culti-
vate the crops. Placing their whole
reliance upon cotton, it is easy to see
that ii that staple fails them they are
reduced to the direst extremity-not
even having food to put i'll their
mouths, nor any money to give III ex-
change for food. During the last cot
ton year the visitation of the yellow
| fever in Montgomery, the dreadful
ravages of the coterpillars which de-
str0y the young cotton plants, and re-
Gently, the course of the financial
panic, have resulted in reducing the
nu nber OF bales usually received in
the city of Montgomery from 80, 600 or
GO,0OO to about $4,000. Hundreds OF
cotton planters have lost not only their
crops but their homes-which must
now go into the market under sheriff ;
sales-and women and little children
are suffering for bread. The trains
for Mobile and New Orleans are filed
with discouraged-looking men and
women, ''going to Texas" Those who
cannot procure the means to get away
must remain, and-starve.
: The papers are filed with accounts
indicating the general trouble. The
! Lott II 4
) in Montgomery journal as sample
} OF a great many received by private in
: dividuals
MONTGOMERY, Dec. iO.
Mr. Please give the bearer
!, what is left from yolr table for myself
and my suffering family. I am suffer
ing the plngs Of hunger and have IT
help. have been aiel, and help t,ss;
am now unable T. walk 4 square My
little child. one wear ana fullr months
old, cannot stand npon !Iis feet OF 81
alone. Fer Heavens sako for pity ;
sake. send ue Ho:1ethjaG u cat, II it
be nothing !"v tie SCRAPS from yoEl
table, and C0l vii! bless vou. As soon
as I can walk ] VIII call to see y1n.
, The negroes throughout thc section,
. lerpltEe.i and vtyed 1t tire situation,
? become dissuil,ta and reckless III thci,
, IDEAS al 55lc2.2s and tst,<.l3. .tut2 great
numbers of thota are fioclliDG Into
. Mississippi, hoping ther,' to fall Upou
{ better times. Ihc streets and market
, places arc crowded w:tit ;.?.e ai1 mon
/ eyiess people.
: .AIuI,ana has an area of 50,0N
! ! sqnale miIcs.; hcr nayigahle waters
: drain n fertile territory for nearly