The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-09-11
The Actual Condition of the Nc
ETOeS.

was hoped and feared? AT the end of the
first decade of freedom, what is the politi- /
cal, 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 it, for commerce binds the
! nations to the great cotton producing re-
gon between the Potomac and the Gulf of
Mexico.
An important contribution to the inform
alton for which we ask is the article in the
last number of the International ReUtec
under the title of '1he Negroes in the
Gulf States" The writer, the Rev. DR..
( Winkler, of Georgia, is evidently a clear
headed and painstaking observer, who
has enjoyed unusual advantages in obtain
ing information and he has gathered, di-
gested, and arranged a mass of facts con-
corning the results of emancipation which
enab ble us to get a com prehensive and pro-
baby correct idea of the actual condition
/ of the South at this time. His conclusions
are startling, and to many will be disap-
pointing.
/ We will endeavor to give a brief sum-
mary of the most important facts furnish
ed by DR.. Winkler, but the article itself
should be studied by those who are inter
ested III the solution of the most impor-
/ tant problem of the time, affecting the pol
/ itical 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 ply
sical powers as he possesses. lie has been
under the paternal care of Government aud
the cherished object of philanthropy. He
has been provided with schools and
churches, votes and offices, courts and gar
risons and Legislatures-all manner of priv
ileges and safeguards. Surely under such
circumstances he ought not fail if the germ
| of improvement is within HIM. w hat has
, he done about it?
First, to his appreciation of his duties
as a citizen. He has given himself over
politically to the control of the worst white
men i'll the community, either natives or
adventurers from the North, demagogues
who are willing to pander to his vices and
tlatter his conceit. He has done this par
italy because, in his invincible ignorance,
he fears that the respectable white class of
citizens have designs 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
suit to the State Of his abandoning himself
to these corrupting influences is apparent.
The Southern country groans under taxa
ton. In many parts OF Alabama and 9th
cr Gulf States the lands have already been
coniiscatcd to pay taxes. Bribery has also
been reduced to a system in every State
controlled by the coOred vote. Elections
are declared OF annulled at pleasure. The
facilities for fraudulent voting are multi
Piled. The courts are secured by the ap-
pointment of incompetent and lawlcsS
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 negroes
are in majority. From 1861 to 1877! the
debt of Texas was increased from So. O00,-
tn ly hot nf I
from Sl1, 200, 0CO to $4,000 coo, that of
Georgia from $4,000 900 to $42, coo. 900,
I and that of Alabama from nearly So, OOO.-
600 to S52, 600, 600. From this vast increase
in each State the people received no bene-
fit it went to enrich the thicvish white
and black adventures III power. And all
this, it should be remembered, represents
just one Of the various modes of spolia-
tion.
AS voter the negro has a guide. as a
Juryman he has none. DR.. Winkler saws
that if the case submitted to him touches
his political or social preiudces in any wuy
his verdict may be prognosticatcd, what
ever the law or evidence may chance to be
''lf one of the black race, is tried for an
'oflence against white man the dusky
Juror stands by his color If one of the
lawyers. employed is of his politics. the
Juror stands by his party If the con-
''fiIct concerns two negroes, the solicitor
who has the last speech wins the vic
tory" The colored juror is failure 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 punishment, the rate of
| convictions i'll 1870 as compared with those
of 1850 is as follows In Alabama, !, 269
instead of 119 in Georgia, 1,775, instead
off, IN Florida, 80, instead Of 3:i. In
| the estimation Of the negro juror the two
.r6S itcl raft
the latter being the most reprehensible.-
Theft, pe:Jury, and adultery are compare
lively venlal Offences They are consigned
tothe category ofindiscrctions and paIdona-
ble weaknesses. Perjury is not regarded
as crime On the contrary. to testify to
the truth when it would injure friend is
esteemed an act of treachery.
As in Africa so in the South-the negroes
are adopts III stealing. Everywhere it is
common to steal cotton and corn at night
and sell them to the cross-road shops, usu-
ally for old fnery and vile liquors. upon
which the fence makes at least 200 per
cent. The stock uponspaSture- lands has
been destroyed TO such an extent that re-
gions that could supply the continent
with food are obliged to import their meat
/, from abroad. SO common has larceny be-
come that In some of the negro counties
as in Wilcox and Marengo, in Alabama
the Jails cannot hold the convicts
In reference TO :he sexual relations DR..
Nlnkler confines his statements to a fact
r or two. There is little regard for persoua al
; purity and little conception of the lifelong
union OF mutual hearts. The negro churches
are constantly agitatated by charges and
, counter-charSes of domestic infideIity
l among the members. VenereaI diseases
are rife. FGticide, crime scarcely known
IN the condition Of slavery, is now common.
Ihe crime does not come before the courts
mere is growing tendency among negro
women to uterine diseases and barrenness,
ana tneTc Is a marked decrease in the mum
, Der of children born.
The practice of carrying deadly wear,ons
: by this passionate race leads to freonent
murders. They are often the results OF
| Gcentious rivalries. There is a widesprea 4
/ belief in witchcraft These var;o,,s ~.