Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-19
THErRUECoNDlrION OF rHE sOurn

The outrage convention, held in
August last at Chattanooga, induced the
propTietors Of the New York Times, and
the Tribune to send south faithful
and reliable correspondents, Republi-
cans in politics. These correspondents
have visited various portions of the
south, and their able, interesting and
truthful letters have thrown upon the
northern mind food Of light upon the
true condition of the south. The Times
is a Republican paper; its travelling cor
respondent is a Republican. In alelter,
dated Mount Meigs, Alabama, Novem-
Der S, 1874, he says:
The social condition Of the races in
Alabama has been so much nisreDre-
scented by interested politicians that
many persons in sll parts Of the country
have been led to believe that the ne
groes, IL not really in danger Of being
butchered in cold blood, are at least
looked down upon and maltreated by
tie whites II cannot be denied that
many Of the white planters firmly be-
Isve that the blacks are in every respect
an inferior race, but that they are badly
Treated on that account is not true. i
have been m almost every part of the
5-ate-in cities and villages, and on re-
mote plantStiOns-and / firmly believe
HAT the black men and women Of Ala
Jesma are generally better fed and enjoy
more freedom o action than any class
Of farm l8borers in Germany or France.
That they are more their own masters
than people OF the same class at the
north Is not To be disputed. It can,
without exaggeration, be said that they
come and go as they please. In the
midst Of cotton picking / have known
hundreds Of them 10 leave their work
and 90 miles on foot to attend q politi-
cal meeting, not returning for one and
sometimes two days. Would they have
dared do this in New York or any OF
the New England States? They are not
always well clothed, it is true, but the
snow never falls here, and Ice is Curl
Osity. As stated above, they are ex-
ceedingly well fed. Cornmeal and ba-
con are given to them in abundance by
their employers, and they are not slow
in providing themselves with the fish
aud game which abound. Many per
Sons viii be surprised TO hear that many
Of the negro laborers cherish the belief
that they are in reality their own mas
tiers, and that they are at liberty to
work OF not, as it suits their convent
ence OF inclination. This feeling is, no
doubt, to be attributed to the peculiar
system under which they work, and
the novel relation which exists be-
tween master and servant. AS al
ready explained in former letter,
the planters, soon after RECONSTRUCT
ton, finding themselves unable TO pay
their labOrers, agreed 10 furnish them
with land, supplies, and implements, in
return for which they were to receive 8
share Of the crop. This system is car
red out in various ways. In some
cases the landowner gives the negro
One-fOurth Of the crop he cultivates, and
feeds and clothes him. Another plan is
b let the lsboreT have one-third of the
product Of the land, one hundred and
twenty-five pounds Of bacon, and two
acres Of ground for his own use. In
this way il will be seen that field hand
j., 90 q certain extent, the planters
partner in business, and, consequently,
not entirely under his direction. When
they do not work, the negroes say that
they themselves are the losers, and no
one has any right 10 interfere. This in
dependence has resulted in badly-culti-
waited fields, small crops, and eonse-
quent poverty.
Every southern man win recognize
the fidelity Of this picture. It is true, as
this intelligent correspondent asserts, J
after a careful investigation, that the
eolored people are "better fed, and en-
Joy more fresdoms OF action, than any
oIaas of farm laboreFs in Cserfnanxy or
France" It is 3 misfortune with the
negroes that they do not appreciate this
fact While slaves, they were forced to
labor. and they interpret freedom TO