Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-11-18
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"A SAMPLE SOUTHERN STATE"
THE MORAL OF THE FIGURES OF THE CENSUS
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Census Bulletin" No. 8, gives complete
returns of population for the State of South
Carolina, the first Southern State from which
we have had any figures indicative Of the
course. of population in that section. The
following figures show the population, white,
colored and total, in that State in 1880, to
which we have added the corresponding data
for 1870, 1860 and 1850:
Total 1880. 1870. 1860 1850.
Population, 995, 1906 705, ,606 7O3, ,70S G6s, ,5O1
White, .391, 1,O71 289,667 291, 300 PA, 563
Colored, .6O4, ,235 415, ,S14 412,32O 1913, 944
This comparison reveals some very striking
facts, which will be best illustrated by the fol-
lowing per centages, showing the ratio of in-
crease in each class of population, and in the
total population in 1880, 1870 and 1860. as
compared with the respective previous cen
suses:
... 1880. 1870. 1860.
Inc over Inc. over Inc: over
1870. 1860. 1850.
Total pop, 41.O5 per ct. q per ct. 5.25 per ct.
White popa5oo per Ct Reeerase eer et coeper Ct.
Col'd pop. .45.31 per ct. .S5 per Ct 1866 per ct.
South Carolina has long been relatively
decadent State. During the ten years ending
with 1860, the increase in its population was
only 5.25 per cent, while the gain for the
whole United States was s5! per cent. Du.
ring the decade ending with 1870, the increase
was strictly nominal, being only about I of l
per cent, while the increase for the Union was
22.63 per cent. the rate of progress having
been seriously interfered with by the war.
Within the last ten years, however, popula-
ton within this State has taken bound that
will generally be regarded as surprising.
From a total of 705,606 in 1870, the number
has risen to 995, ,306 in 18SO-an increase at
the rate of 41.05 per cent, or considerably
larger than the average rate for the whole
country is likely to prove. Of this increase,
1O1 ,404 has arisen in the white population,
and 1877 ,421 in the colored or, to state facts
in per centages, the increase in the white has
been IS per cent. and in the colored 1881
per cent.
These figures are the more remarkable be-
cause South Carolina, during much the bet.
ter half of the last decade, has been repre-.
sented as in an intensely suffering condition,
its land and property. owners half bankrupt
ed by excessive taxation, and its colored pop.
ulation driven to other States to save them
selves from starvation. 1t has also been free
ly represented that the negroes we're subject to
a political oppression which had driven large
numbers to seek refuge outside the borders of
the State. The fact, however, appears to be
that, during this period, the class that might
be expected to suffer most severely from these
influences, has increased its numbers by near
ly one.half. During the decade ending with
1860, the white race in that State was in
creasing more rapidly than the colored, the
gain in the former being 6.O6 per cent. and
in the latter 4.66 per cent. whereas, during
the last ten years the comparison is reversed,
the colored having gained very considerably
upon the white. 1t is impossible to evade
the conclusion to be drawn from these facts
as to the effects of the abrogation of slavery.
Instead of the colored race proving to be
unable to take care of themselves and decay
ing in the absence of the supervision of white
ownership, their emancipatian has been fol-
lowed by an amazing development of fecun-
dity and growth, suggestive Of new refec'
tions as to the possible destiny and import
ance of the negro race on this continent.
This, at least, is the moral of the figures for
this one State; and we know Of no special
reason for regarding South Carolina as ex-
ceptional to the States at large; on the con-
trary, complaints of the suAerings of the ne.
gro have been more general from this State
than any other There is no possibility Of
accounting for this progress from any local
causes, such as development of trade at the
commercial cities, for the following compari-
son of population at the cities in 1880 and
1870, will show that the progress in those 10.
calities has not equalled the ratio for the State
at large:
1880. 1870.
Beaufort, ,..::......... .;5505 ,57,25oo
Charleston City, .49, ,999 48, ,956
Charleston County, .102,S05 SO, 1868