Year: 1865

the Negroes Think of Them,
&C., Sc, Sc


Our Special Southern Correspondence.


OK BOARD STEAMER MoLIIE ABLE,


MISSISSIPPI RIVER, July %, 1865.


PUTTING A ROUND THE SOUTH.


For the purpose of giving the readers Of the HERALD
idea of the social political and agricultural condition
of the Southern country after the few years of civil war
just closed travelled distance of four thousand
miles visiting principal towns and cities in the nte
ror of Virginia, North and South Carolina Georgia and
Alabama talked with the planter at his home and with
the negro in the field the results Of observations
have been given by letter. from time to time, the
HERALD. Having commenced our tour shortly after the
surrender of the rebel armies and before the various
railroads destroyed by Sherman Wilson and Stoneman
had been repaired, oentimes at loss to obtain
conveyance from one point to another sometimes COM
PEELED to walk, sometimes horseback, sometimes by
rail WATER and about two hundred miles of the dis
tance in army wagons We at last faced Northward,
of the finest steamers that float the Mississippi
luxuratirg after long diet upon hog and homny"
on the best afforded by the New Orleans market


coMPAGNoNs DU VOYAGE.


We had during the whole Journey for travelling
companions, rebel officers and soldiers returning to
their homes often being for days beyond the reach Of
Union soldiers and have been universally treated with
courtesy and Kindness notwithstanding the fact was
known that from the North, and at times differ
lng in opinions and sentiments regarding the war; We
have heard nothing OF guerilla parties or nsar-
rectionary bands of robbers; but found the country
peaceful and quiet and the people generally anxious to
settle down to business quietly and to their rela
tons with the federal government We also found the
people ready and willing to discuss the slavery question:
and anxious to get all the light and information they
dipo tha xptch M fha Mt nd
manifestng desire to conform nearly possible, to
all rules and regulations prescribed for their guidance


sUBJuGArIoN COMPLETE.


II any there be who think the s not at end, or
have any fears o revival of the rebellion at this any
future period during the present generation, they have
only to take trip to the South, talk freely with the
people, and they will soon be disabused Of the idea


No one, unless he has witnessed it, form any
conception of the utter ruin and exhaustion of the whole
eouth. Tho railroads worn out the rolling stock
either destroyed nearly useless fences gone houses
many of them burned and what left badly shattered
horses and mules carried Off by the armies, stock of all
kinds very scarce negroes free and often insoent and
neither money or the wherewth obtain any, enable
them to start again in life. Notwithstanding all these
troubles the people, general thing are not despon
dent disposed to yield to their troubles They went
into the with their eyes open saked their all upon
the result, and have lost They say, eve have
done the best we can for our cause We don't admt
that our cause was q bad one, but we have failed
and are willing to abide the consequences You have
the power in your hahds; do with II WILL II you
of citizenship, will be Sbd aw-abiding citizens
We accept willingly the emancipation proclamation, and
wish TO pay our share of the national debt. We
whipped subjugated.- you pease--and never
want TO see or hear q soldier again. Ali want is
chance 70 be quiet and to make living for ourselves
and families II you see n To punish for past
sins shall be obliged to submit; but, the other
hand, II you wish to love and cherish the old flag
again. and feel that the Union Is blessing treat us
This is about the way they all talk There are many
who profess TO have been Union men from the begin
ming, opposed to the not only from principle be
cause they lccsaY the result Others who fought against
il at the start, but were finally drawn into the cur
rent, and once in, staked their all. This class,
when once engaged, worked the hardest for
success, and lost the heaviest The original
fire eaters, who swore the loudest and talked
the grandes who stood ready drink all the blood that
would be spilled in the war; and would die than
be subugated are the ones who kept out Of the army
and the first welcome troops with open
They remained at home o fire the southern hearth and
speculate In cotton and blockade goods taking good
TO convert their money into gold or greenbacks which
they now have hidden, awaiting the pardon from the
President Men Of this class can be seen in every
Union officers drinking champagne with the command
ing general, their houses open and their daughters
riding out or not doing worse) with the Yankee offers
They generally known and dcsrsed by the rebel
officers and who have gone boldly into the field TO
risk their lives for the cause, and will find their resi-
denc, Ia future anything but pleasant.


GREAT ABSORBING QUESTION AT TIE sorrH
now and the which thepeopear interested
than in anything else is the labor question II Is i'm
possible under the present dsorganzed state of things
and confusion existing consequent upon the freeing OF
so many blacks TO Judge except from the experience OBJ
tanned in other parts of the South where they have had
three years trial. what effect free labor is to have
upon the future growth and development of the South
The people, whole, whether honestly or otherwise,
talk discouragngly, and express the opinion that they
will be unable cultivate the land particularly in cot
ton, to advantage with free labor They judge AZ they
profess from an intimate knowledge OF The habits and
disposition OF the negro and contend that he Is by ma
ture lazy idle aud shiiiess perfectly contenied
posed TO labor unless compelled TO- That to raise
a crop OF cotton to advantage requires constant
and hard labor for many months That tho planter had
of enforcing the demand, and whcnevcrhis ne
had gotten little money ahead, or felt keakng
trip about the country they liberty leave
date attention and few days delay might ruin the
whole CROP and that under the military rule now exist
ing at the South the negroes allowed TO leave their
masters whenever they chose TO do so; hut, II from
choice necessity the former Is desrous to get
rid OF his slaves he is not permitted TO do that
less they are allowed TO regulate their state laws 20
systemalize labor obRng the servant to hire by the
troll over him. NJ the same time compelling the employer
to act the part OF nd and faithful muster, there
he no such thing M successful and profitable farming at
the South for many years to


THE NEaRoEs,


with many Of whom have talked upon the subject al
most unanimously express Willingness and desire TO
work and seem TO feel the responsibility OF their new
position Their ideas OF freedom are undergo ng rapid
change, and instead Of ideness aud plenty hey are be.
ginning TO feel that II work Tho Yankees TO
hcr shame be 70 said TO whom they look ed for aid and
whom they considered their friends have in numero1s
instances proved their worst enemies Many oe them
both officers and men, In order TO curry favor with the
pope where they stationed, and prove that the
war has not been waged for the abolition OF slavery
have pursecutod the negroes IN the most cruel manner
suhoctng them TO worse slavery than that from which
they have been rescued. 70 is clearly demonstrated
daily that the principal sufferers for many years come
from the abolition Of slavery will DO the negroes them.
selves The strong and ablc-boded viii manage get
along well enough but the suffering misery and death
among the old young and inhrm, will be frigbtfuL


NBgro SUFFRAGE.


Another subject which is occupying the minds OF tse
South aud which is the almost universal theme OF con-
versatiOn hotels barroons and on the street Is negro
suffrage.


they claim, in the first place, that according 70 the
position taken by President johnson nnd he consttu
ton OF the United States, question % be de1urd
by each State respectively as who shall constitute W.