The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-01-04
Wednesday, Jan. 4, 1899.
NEGRO EniRrRtiOn.

Negro Emigration.
Note-This article was written for last
weeks issue of the Press and Banner, but by
accident was omitted.
Elsewhere In these columns may be found
views Of some of the editors Of this State on
the subject Of negro emigration. This news
paper does not pretend toLargue with these
gentlemen, nor do we intend TO combat their
statements. But their statement ts being In
reference to questions upon which there ;may
be difference Of opinion, we venture to sug-
gest that there are other causes for our
troubles than the presence OF the great multi
tude Of negroes In Abbeville County.
The low price at which our farming lands
are sold is not the result OF the presence Of
the negro tenants.
But the lands 90 at low prices because there
is not greater, number of thrifty farmers
who have The money with which to buy the
land thatiis now idle and improbable.
Thousands Of scres Of good: land are un-
cultivated in this county because there is not
capital and labor to work 1t.
Every negro who goes off to the West leaves
his plow In the furrow, and his mule stands
idle, while the owner of the Abbeville land
is left in the lurch.
To encourage the emigration Of the labor
ers from this country, is to urge the destruc-
tion Of our. farming interests, which are now
badly suffering for laborers.
Abbeville County farming lands could give
employment to at least three times lis pre-.
sent population.
: It is true that We need In Abbeville County
greater number OF prosperous farmers.
1t is true that the Abbeville lands are better
than the lands OF Anderson County.
1t is also true that lands can be bought at
nom IS to ss an acre within five miles Of Alb
beville Court House.
The same lands upon which people amassed
fortunes before the war are now lying idle,
overgrown with pines and more or less wash
ed into gulleys. The creek bottoms upon
which grew as fine corn as ever greeted the
eye Of Joseph in the land Of Egypt, have gone
Z to waste. The beds Of the creeks have been
tovergrown by bushes, the streams have filled
11ap, and the bottoms are now covered with
water or are too wet for cultivation.
Vast stretches Of fertile lands are here
waiting for the coming gilmore labor and more
capital--not waiting for the departure OF the
limited amounts Of labor that may now b
foundapon the Improbable fields.
Our s.reams have been filled qp, and their
course Hnow the width of the valley, and
with each succeeding rain the valleys be,
come great seas and additional deposits are
being made upon them. If these creeks
were ditched the bed Of the streams would
be so lowered that the bottom land would
again become profitable.
Why the people OF Anderson County will
pay SIS or $40 an acre for lands which are
Inferior to those In Abbeville which may be
had at from Sc. so to sS is more than we can
tell, but we are quite sure that the price Of
our lands is not depressed because Of the
presence Of labor.
But the State OF South Carolina would gain
nothing by the immigration OF citizens from
another county to this county. In that case,
II Abbeville gained, other counties would
lose. ....
Abbeville County has, In the past suffered
by emigration. 80.
Before the war, the small landowner and
other "poor white trash, were encouraged or
forced to 20 to the West. Thousands OF white
people Of this county, under pressure, or
from force Of circumstances, went Westward
before the war. For several years after the
war a great mass OF our young white men
left the negro-ridden State for new fields OF
usefulness.
+ After Democratic reconstruction thousands
OF negroes went to Louisiana and elsewhere.
SO great was the injury that was being in
ficted by emigration agents that. a law was
passed against their business.
Speaking our oyn:mind, we trust that there
may be no great removal OF men from this
county. J. GODS
We trust thatths negroes ;nasy be so well
treated that they may have no desire 20 go
Off to distant lands. where they will fare
much worse than they do In Abbeville.
II any white man shall hereafter lead the
negroes into riot against white men, we
hope that the leaders may first be punished
as they deserve. While the negroes are not
irresponsible, yet we think the white men
who lead them TO break the peace, or to
disturb the present friendly relations between
the races, ought TO be dealt with. Forbear-
ance has ceased to be a virtue.
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