The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-27

census next following Appomattox, S70,
 showed an increase over the casualties
 and circumstances of four years war
 and five years immigration of about 3
 per cent that is 30,000 souls in round
 numbers. The immigration of whites
 from the hill counties to Texas and the
 passing of negroes to the Mississippi
 river basin cotton plantations from all
 parts of the state was considerable. A
 county newspaper of north Alabama
 made note that more than 100 two-
 horse wagons, each containing the nov
 able effects of one white family, had passed it's door on the way to Texas
 in the winter of 1Ses-70. Through a
 neighboring village, more than 300 sim-
 liar wagons, with similar loads, had
 passed in the same season, each fol-
 lowed by the trailing women and chill dren afoot.
 The management of a large cotton
 plantation, as known in the slave era
 was a peculiar and fascinating voca ton. The mperious authority, the re- sponsibilities attaching to the con- science of the educated master, tie ceaseless necessity of judgment and in dustry in the plantation details, the ever advancing mental and moral growth of the slaves, apparent in each succeeding generation, the increasing physical efficiency of the generations of laborers, the growing personal af- lection between master and servant all these weSe incidents of constant ap- preciation in the life of the cotton planter
 It may be we'll doubted if the domes- tic servants of the educated planter s household in the black belt of Alabama ever had their equals, unless in the other slave states under like condi- tions. The unvarying cheerfulness of the servant, his visible pride in his masters establishment, his certain fidelity and efficiency in his duties brought to the masters home the logi- cal result, a gentleman's leisure, con- tentment, enlargement of mind and heart and devotion to family.
 I will relate an incident. As two
 English ladies touring the United
 States, shortly before the war, walked the Battery" at Charleston, South Carolina. black cloud stood overhead
 At the instant of their hurried passing of gentleman's residence, the negro
 butler was closing t6e house against the expected storm. He stepped quickly to the sidewalk and with the address LII d tOuItltI, tilNitcu ltlt ctdlI6tlo tp the protection of his masters parlor
 until the danger should be passed. AS they took their departure, one whisp- cred to the other Shame on iti such a
 man as that a slave" T have been thinking" replied the other what a benefcence is that mingling of white and black that can give to eannibal from the Congo the manners of court fer in Charleston"
 rl,- f,,l.. .f 1A anf fnn n tation for home and the daily rides over his fields had potential effect upon the freedmen in holding them to the land This complicated influence delayed the subsequent growth of villages and cities The old domestic servants r-
 mained in the old families, contented
 The daughter of the house was still young mistress" to them the heir of the house still young master" The Hong rows of cabins on the plantations with the overseer's house at one end the mule shed at the other, remained filled as of older days. If the future students of these wonderful times of transition would understand their secret springs, let him know that the black belt plantations were the nucleus
 around which the resolution of the leaders of redemption gathered. Still
 were their plantation homes the ideal abode of a noble race of lovers of lib erty
 Colonel D. Wyatt Aiken of South Car olina led a regiment in the Army oi Northern Virginia. Returning home tc see what sherman had done. he prompt | ly brought his talent to the front over waste places. He restored public spirit | by practical teaching in agriculture. The 1 farmers great and small heard him or a hundred rostrums. New -meaning was given to the agricultural pursuit, for the i first time new fertilizers came into the ordinary commerce of the cofntry.. De termined as were the planters of the black belt and tenacious of their traditions and customs, as they might be-. life as they pursued it for five or ten years after the
 war became possible only by the action
 of the crop lien system that produced cot | ton at s1o0 the bale. Little by little these | conditions changed. The plantation 1 homes began to be, rented to negroes
 while the planters moved with their fam l flies to towns. They had not moved
 however, until the carpetbagser had beer driven to his northern cover and the prin- | ciple of white supremacy made safe.
 ! As opportunity has suggested, the bot l tom fact has been advanced from time | to time in this series that AlafNma was
 not impoverished or even put in jeopardy I of industrial disaster by the emanicpa- ton of slaves. Whoever may have un derstood the character of the black mer | in bondage, knew full well they wert l capable and willing toilers in the wags l class from the very initial of freedom l As toilers. they were suddenly taker under the care of the United States to h'