The daily gazette., 1874-09-09
The Actual Condition Of the
Ne0rOes.

Leased from legal bondage. What has
been the result Of the experiment for
which SO much was hoped and fearedP
At the end of the first decade of freedom,
what is the political, social, moral, and
industrial condition of the freedmen?
The future welfare of the people of the
whole Union is involved in the answer,
and indeed the whole world is interested
In 1T, for commerce binds the nations to
the great cotton producing region be-
tween the Potomac and the Gulf of Mex
leo.
An important contribution to the in
formation for which we ask is the article
in tho last number of the International
Rerie,r, under the title of "The Negroes
DIR. Winkler. of Georgia, is evidently a
clear headed and pains-taking observer,
who has enjoyed unusual advantages in
obtaining information; and he has gath
cred, digested, and arranged O mass of
facts concerning the results of emancipa-
tion which enable us to get comprehen-
sive and probably correct idea of the
actual condition of the South at this
time. His conclusions are startling, and
to many will be disappointing.
We will endeavor to give n brief sum-
mary of the most important facts fur
nished by DR.. Winkler, but the article it.
self should be studied by those who are
interested in the solution of the most i'm
portant problem of the time, affecting
the political and social condition of the
American Republic.
During the past decade the negro in
the South has been favorably situated
for the development of such intellectual
and physical powers as he possesses. He
has been under the paternal care of Gov
ernment and the cherished object OF
h,1 ar,th 10 \
with schools and churches, votes and Off
ces, courts and garrisons and Legislatures
all manner of privileges and safeguards.
Surely under such circumstances he
ought not fail if the germ of improve
ment is within him. What has he done
about it?
First, us to his appreciation of his du-
ties as citizen. He has given himself
over politically to the control of the worst
white men in the community, either ma
tivcs or adventures from the North,
demagogues who are willing to pander to
his vices and flatter his conceit. He has
done this partially because, in his invin-
cible ignorance he fears that the re-
spectacle white class of citizens have de-
signs upon his freedom, and because the
"scalawags" and carpet baggers who
offer him their leadership belong to the
party to which he believes he is indebted
for his freedom. The result to the State
of his abandoning himself to these cor
rupting influences is apparent. The
Southern country groans under taxation.
In many parts of Alabama and other
Gulf States the lands have already been
contiscated to pay taxes. Bribery has also
been reduced to a system in every State
controlled by the colored vote. Elections
are declared or annulled at pleasure. The
facilities for fraudulent voting are multi
piled. The courts are secured by the ap-
pointment of incompetent and lawless
judges. Every safeguard of property is
swept away. Such is the condition in
Louisiana, Mississippi and South Caro-
lina-the three States in which the ne
groes are in the majority. From 1861 to
1871 the debt of Texas was increased from
81, ,000, 900 to nearly S14,000,000, that Of
Louisiana from Sll ,0Oo, ,8o) b, $40, 600 600,
that of Georgia FROM 81 90, 900 to 5 1000
900, and that of Alabama from l.rar,,
S8, 900 900 to S50,000, 900. From the vast
increase in each State the people re-
ceived no benefit; it went to enrich the
thievish white and black adyrHturers
And all this it should be remcmb. .red
represents just one of the various modes
of spoilation.
AS the voter the negro has guide, Us
q Juryman he has none. Dr. Winkler
says that if the case submitted to him
touches his political or social prejudices
in any way his verdict may be prognosti-
Gated, whatever the law or evidence may
chance to be, IF one of the black race
is tried for an offence against u white
man tho dusky juror'stands by his color
If one of the lawyers employed 10 of his
politics, the juror stands by his rarty.' If
the conflict concerns two negroes, the So
| licitor who has the last speech wins the
| xvipt - fnhn ap1nra1 20 60,
He knows but little of the principles of
justice and the system of law, and cares
| less. As result, notwithstanding the
| multitudes that have escaped punish
! ment, the rate of convictions in 1870 as
compared with those of 1860 is as follows:
| In Alabama. 1853. instead of l79; in
Georgia, l,775 instead of PSI; in Florida,
1886 instead OF SO. In the estimation of
! the negro juror the two capital crimes
are murder and witchcraft, the latter be-
ing the most reprehensible. Thsft, per-
jury and adultery are comparatively We
NAL offences. They are consigned to the
category of indiscretions and pardonable
weakness. Perjury is not regarded as a
| crime. On the contrary, to testify to the
truth when it would injure friend iG
esteemed an act of treachery.
As in Africa so in the South-the
negroes are adopts in stealing. Every
where il is common to steal cotton and
corn at night and sell them to the
cross-road shops, usually for old finery
and vile liquors, upon which tn" fence
makes at least 200 per cent. The stock
upon the pasturelands has been de.
stroyed to such an extent that regions
that could supply the continent with
food are obliged to import their meat
from abroad. So common has larceny
become in some of the negro coun.
ties-as in Wilcox and Marengo, in
Alabama-the jails cannot hold tho
convicts.
In reference to the sexual relation.
DIR. Winkler confines his statements tc
fact or two. There is little regard
for personal purity and little concep
tion of the lifelong union of mutua
hearts. The negro churches are con
stantly agitated by charges and coun
terchargcs of domestic infidelity among
the members. Ecnereal diseases are
rife. FGticide, crime scarcel,
known in the condition of slavery, i
now common. The crime does moi
como before the courts. There is ,
: growing tendency among negro wo
men to outerine diseases and barrenness
| Tnd hot. ia "A 4 a