The New York herald., 1876-10-27
THE SOUTHERN QUESTION.

LETTER FROM HENRY s. SANFORD, LATE MINIS
TER TO BELoIUM-How THE SOUTH HAS sUF-
rERED FROM DISHONEST PoLITICIANs-coNpI-
TON or IT'S INDUSTRIAL nEsouRcEs-DANGER
LIKELY TO RESULT FROM PARTY CHANGE IN
THE NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION.
To THs EprroR OF THE HERALp:-
Tho following letter from tho Hon. Henry S. San.
ford, late United States Minister 10 Belgium who
rived in New York last week, will. am confident
attract the attention OF all classes OF citizens Imme
diately alter the Mr.. Sanford made largo invest
ments in Florida and Louisiana. He passes portions
OF every year In Florida, and has, by his intelligence
and enterprise given healthy impulse to the mate
rial and political interests OF the State. There much
valuable information and there many important
suggestions IN his letter. T. w.
Mr. sAyToRps LETTER.
DERBY, Conn., Oct. q, 1870
DEAR Mr.. WEED told you, when passing through
New York yesterday, that should write you moro
fully my views on political matters from a Southern
standpoint, and do while tho subject is on my
mind
You know how have often deplored much that has
been done In the Southern States by tho federal ad-
ministraton through mistaken policy or bad advice,
and havo had frequent to earnestly combat
many of tho irresponsible adventurers who, under tho
republican flag, have too frequently attained 70 place
and power there, bringing SO much odum and scandal
| 10 the party and mischief TO tho South.
Devvting myself since my return from Belgium in
1869 to the development OF large landed property IN
Florida and other States have felt keen interest in
their prosperity, and have hnd, and have now in
tercsts subserve those which would add II
and TO the general welfare OF tho souh, the basis Of
which DO peace. security 10 life and property and
public confidence therein at the North.
And It is on this ground place myself when say
10 you that consider the transfer this time OF tho
federal administration OF the government the dem
ocratic party would be positive calamity to tho
South. would check the flow OF capital and lmmgra-
ton finally we'll started and steadily augmenting
tnthcr and cause fresh perturbatons OF elements
generally settling TO and which need to be per-
mittcd TO rcsI
Capital always tmd, had for years past been fright
enod OF from the South by tho partisan outcrics and
oics OF both sides but the field there iucrn-
tive investment and its remarkable development with
n more general diffusion OF means OF comfort nd well
being than ever before known had, together with
'hard tlmcsn North, attracted more attention 10 IT,
and crowds of people are now seeking IN It's wonderful
aud permanent resources for comfort and wealth a
living denied them IN Industrial and commercial
tres at the North An era OF unprecedented prosperity
seemed opening Tor II, which, in my opin,on,
would be seriously compromised aud retarded
by democratic success The south has arrived at a
point (savo in exceptional cases where II needs to DO
let alone and allowed 10 work out from
temporary Ills IL bearsthc results Of lhe and
tremendous social and political revolution that has
passed over H. The conservative influences oi in
crease OF property and education among she working
classes will soon do their work IN correcting the evils
and abuses of local governments
Another instance OF progress which will increase If
we avoid iurther disturbanccs:-The south to-day
takes from the North more than fouriold The amount
OF its products consum ed there before the The
600 900 OF freedmen whose qultcd labor formerly
mins,ered mainly TO the wants ana business Of few
Their owDcrs-now work for themselves, and tho
500 0oo0 900 the world mas to the South for th3
years. crop OF 600 600 bales OF cotton In
great part earned by them and is applied 10 satisfy
the wants created by their condition, and
the results "crop OUT In varied forms all the
South. II our transportation com panes would give
ports OF thcir shipments there The constantly in
creasng numbers OF full reghted aud ships
II wopld astonsh the Northern puoIic. recent re.
port IRON the British Lcya ION az Washington to Its
government, when attracted wide attention and
mcDt abroad shows that foreigners not inattenvc
to this new development Tor vast trsflc, which
people generally seem 10 ignore
The constant increase OF small dwellings clear
ings. with tho sccompaniments OF wcil-to-do exist
encc oil manufacture 0f articles OF first necessity, tell
theif own sorry OF the augmcntng increase oi pros
perity among the laborng classes Vt both South.
while the former large proprctors, burdaned with
deDt and taxes, ilnt,ed TO adapt Themselves the
new conditvn OF things, still suffer aud should havc
our sympathy check TO the movement OF capital
and immigration south, which Will give vnluc and
create demand Tor thor ruined Plantations will be
especially prcjudcla TO othcir prospects oil rciicl
AGAIN, the negro has eagerly embraced tue oppor-
tunties Tor Instruction Afforded since the war, and
the result OF free labor aud free schoos is u very
lnrgc aLd increasing Lumber oi tho race who
have common school education. have properly and
lay taxes. anu who arc likely 10 emancipatc shcm