The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1875-12-16
y From the Southern sOul6vator.
A Very Important Question What ade
We. Drifting to2

h'S o"S"Reu III TWO OCCupatl0nS, my
time is so completely occupied, that
l have always to write in a ahurry- i
shall condense as much as possible.
The negroes were set free and turn
ed loose among ne without any pre-
llmlnary training for freedom. We
had contended that the negro left
fee to direct and control himself
could not live to any advantage in a
temperate Zone, where long winters
prevail, and subsistence must neces-
sar1Uy be dug out of the earth f. by
patient, perservering toll, backed by
judgement and economy. OF the
trpthcof this proposition. l am now
as fully convinced as ever. But he is
here with us and free at that. Those
who know nothing about Sambo,
may prate as much as they please
about his excellent qualities; they arc
at ealc distance from him and know
hofhing OF the Subject that they pre-
tend to discuss SO sapiently; but one
Thing is certain-1I speak most en-
phaticaIly-rwesmust control tho nc,
grocs, or ruin rs inevitable, both to
them and us.s The sooner we under
standthis, theabetter it will be for tAe
welfare of our country 1 do not
mean by this startling declaration,
t'at we should deprive them of a
solitary right that legitimately be-
longs 10 tIlem as freemcn; but the
great law of Nature declares in di-
vcrs ways too clearly to be misnn-
derotood, that "Epowledge is power
and that within the grand circle that
it sweeps, are to- be found wisdom,
peace, safety and prosperity. This
law also declares jnst,asaclcarly, that
ignorance cnthroned, is power for
evil! sc
knowledge belongs comparatively
to the white race, AND must have full
sway and scope, in all grand departs
ments ot business, or else prosperity
and progress will ever bo meIe G phan-
tasm of the brain-a coveted goal
dat will never be reached. The nce
grocs arc tho best laborers that we
have or can get; but they arc Liable
to undergo great changes in the tu-
ture, unless we control them and keep
them in the right channel. Ifleft to
float at will, they will zig gag in every
direction along the cross and com
plex currents OF q boundless swamp
AS for white laborers, it is nonsense
to talk about them where land is
cheap and farming very'unprolitabIo.
They are only adapted to sections
where land is scarce and rich.
For a Snort time after the negroes
were set free, they were hired mostly
for wages, and working under the
control and direction of the whites,
both races bid fair to prosper; but
great change has come DER the spirit
Of our dreams In the mind of the
negro, great deal Of idle time is the
"sinc qua non" of happiness. lie can
grasp the present; but all the powers
of his intellect combined into one
mighty q locus, fail to illuminate the
dark future one inch in advance of
his nose; never did and never will,
batting a few. Since being set free,
he has taxed his limited intellect to
the untmost to discover some plan by
which he can give large portion of
his time to fishing, hunting, meetings,
visiting, cold weather and general
idleness; but how 10 make money,
accumulate property, and secure the
solid comforts OF life, are questions
with him OF minor Importance.
They settled down finally upon the
plan OF renting land, and paying said
rent i'll cotton. This is now the negroes
plan, originated by themselves, and
is fast bringing both races to tcmporc
al ruin, as | will clearly show. The
Whito man aruuos thno. GA holf