Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-26

ne 0ullgIdJiOH Vi negroes IrOIl tue up
lands of Mississippi to the lowlands OF
that State is so great as to attract general
attention. Planters have held meetings
and appointed committees to give the
agents who are enticing the negroes to
emIgrate gentle warning that their oc-
cupation does not meet with general ap-
prevail. II the warning is not needed it
is not improbable that other means will
be adopted to check the movement of the
negroes to the river counties.
The upland planters have good reason
to be alarmed. Already they are feeling
the scarcity OF labor. There has been a
marked advance in wages, and still the
outlook for sufficient force to work their
plantations is not promising.
New plantations are being opened in
the river counties, and the negroes, it is
said, find. plenty of employment there.
The chief incentive to emigrate, however,
is said to be the promise of land. The
probabilities are that the promise Will
not be kept. Negroes who have money
enough TO buy land may become proprie.
tors of gardens and little farms, but those
who have no other means than their
wages will have to be content to be labor
ers.
The effect of this emigration ofthe me-
groes will be to cause the upland planta-
tions to be cut up into small farms, which
will be worked by white men. Less atten-
ton will be given to cotton,
and more to corn, wheat, fruit.
hay, stock and dairy products. While the
change is taking place the land owners
may suffer embarrassment, but when it
| Is completed it Is not improbable they
will soon reach more prosperous condl-
ton than they ever enjoyed before.
A curious case came up IN New
| York court day or two ago that points
to a very serious defect in the law relnt-
ing to the custody of children. A child of
Mrs. Augusta Beers was committed to the
! Five Points House of Industry, being
| found, as was alleged in etate of desti
tuition, while the mother was charged
with being a woman of bad character.
An attorney named Jeroloman obtained
writ OF habeas corpus, and submitted
an affidavit that the mother was q hard
working, industrious widow, that the
| child was in the care OF a neigh Dor when
taken by the society, that her character
was beyond reproacb, and that she was
| quite able TO take care of herself and the
child. Mr.. John B. Pine, counsel for the
Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty TO
Children, through whose fundamentally
the child was committed to the House of
Industry, presented the commitment bv
Police Justice Duffy. Mr.. Jeroloman
traversed this return and renewed his
previous affidavit; his traverse was mot
by demurl er, and there, in a deadlock.
ended the legal proceedings. The Judge
Barrett, OF the Supreme Court, said he
must dismiss the suit, for there was no
power IN the court TO grant a remedy. 1t
makes no difference, he said, how reputa-
BILE in lie or morals the mother NAV be.
the surrender OF the child depends wholly
on the will OF the society. The weeping
mother demanded: "Has it come
tc this, that if my child or
your child while playing in the street
should be carried of and improperly COM
mitted to the Five Points House of Indus.
try there would be no way under the law
OF righting that wrongf" THAT" said
the Judge, ''seems to be the law.v 1t ia
about time that law received the atten-
tion OF the New York Legislature. It's a
disgrace TO the country.
Senator BlaiI's friends really think he
has Presidential timber in him, although
the great majority OF the Senators are
reported TO regard him combination OF
"crank" and an "old woman" Blair,
however, manages to keep his place In
the Senate. He has the knack of favor
ing whatever he thinks will please his
constituents. 1t is claimed for him that
he is for prohibition, for free food and
clothing, cake at every meal, and horse
railroad running by every mans door.
1t is not TO be wondered at that he keeps
his place in the Affections of his people.