Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-19
NEGRO PROSPERITY IN THE
SOUTH.
Progress Of the coIored Farmers
in the Valley Of the Mississippi
NeW York star.

the YazOO delt2--famous for
its fertility and the superior
quality Of its cotton. 1t was here that
the Hamptons, the Turnbulls and
Duncans owned magnificent estates
that made them famous for their
wealth. In fact, it was here the cot
ton planter Of ante bellum days -four
ished in oriental splendor, and became
noted far and wide for the magnidcence
of his estates, generous hospitality and
the ease and luxury of the life he en-
joyed. Fine cotton plantations, white
with the "tleecy staple" dotted the
river banks from Memphis to Vicks-
burg, giving employment to thousands
of slaves and the few white
mechanics and overseers demand
ed by the business. This was no
place for the white maj seeking his
fortune. There was only one avenue
open to him and that was to engage as
an overseer of slaves, and these situa-
tons were usually sought by young
men without means. dependent upon
their own exertions. for a livelihood.
II paid good salaries and to the eco
nomical furnished the means to start In
business for themselves. Every dollar
that could be accumulatedtwas invest
ed in slaves, until a sufficient number
were owned to start planting. Then
lands were purchased and clearing and
improving began. A few years and
the beginner was among the planters,
at least in name. Society was exclu-
sive In those days. Overseers were
considered inferior to the slave owner.
1t was a faint that his after wealth
could not wipe out. The Southern
planter was ar aristocrat, Of his own
creation if not to the manor born"
Those, and they were many, who
could trace their ancestry to old Eng
llsh families, in Virginia were proud
of the distinction. Their plantations
we're usually in a charge Of overseeIs,
who managed the business while the
planter enjoyed himself in travel
abroad or entertaining his friends at
home. The var came emancipation
followed ; plantations deteriorated in
value, until to-day these can be pur-
chased at $40 or $50 per acre. 1t is
needless to say that loss Of the slaves
caused this depreciation. The lands
are as fertile and valuable to-day as
then-labor gives value to lands. The
complete revolution in the system Of
labor brought with it changes in every
department Of business at the South.
Every man Of energy and determine
ton possessed an equal cbsnce with
the best Of the land in the ace for
honor and fortune, and to-day We find
more intelligent white laborers in all
branches Of industry at the South, than
would probably have ever been had
slavery remained an institution South.
The close Of the war left all tablespoon
and compelled to work for his daily
bread. The revolution was 50 vast
in Importance, SO grand in events.
it would be impossible to trace it to
the present time. The freedman be-
came a factor in politics that at one
time threatened serious consequences
to the country. He became also a factor
Of Importance In Southern industry.
Cotton fields were (at least, in the
Mississippi Valley) v~aluelesS without
him. 1t was for u long time a serious
question as to what could be done with
him and without him. Planters Sc
riously discussed the feasibility of
substituting Chinese labor, and several
experiments were made without salts
factory results. We determined. there
fore, to make the best we could of the
labor of our former slaves. AS money
was scarce, the system Of working
lands on shares was inaugurated. For
tunately for the Southern planter and
the freedman, cotton readily brought
high prices. This enabled the planter
to repair his property, so long neglect
ed, and it also gave the freedman
means to purchase teams and farming
implements, and converted him
into a renter. He thea received
the full benefit Of his labor.
Rents were high and are to day,
but the negro farmer makes a good
living, and some have accumulated
considerable capital. A desire has
sprung up among these people to
possess homes of their own. Unfor-
tunately, the system of land tenure is
such in this county that they can't
buy. A purchaser must buy six or
eight times the land he wishes or is
able to pay for in order to secure any
at all. This desire to possess homes is
so strong that many are tempted to
purchase in this way and risk the
payments. 1t is dangerous. This
county has many colored land owners
who have paid, or are paying promptly,
for their homes. and l have heard of no
failures so far and don't think there
will be any, because they are &C.
customed to pay SO and $40 per acre
rent, and never failed to meet their
obligation. I argue that the same
amount CASUALLY paid for rent) will
meet their notes.
1t is a noteworthy fact that those
who possess homes become better and
more valuable citizens. and devote
themselves to improving their farms
and making money, while the home
less share hand is a politician, careless
and ignorant. The exodus Of these
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