Year: 1865

appeared; rs in Indiana and Illinois. The
lands bordering "The Shores" fresh water
courses are held at very low prices-at from IS
to $50 per acre-and ninety out OF every hun
dred such tracts will yield to Northern indus
try, skill and enterprise in the saleable fire
wood and ship timber upon them as much as
their cost in tee simple and the expense OF their
proper draiI age. 1t costs less to drain on 'rhe
Shcre" than anywhere else within my knowl-
edge; as there is no rock there, and the soil is
light, in some loo alities sandy, and in others
clay loan; all with q clay spbsoil. i do not
know a single farm in Dorchester county stu
ated more than six miles from river. bay or
creek, not navIgable for vessels freightiug
hundred tons. Most of the county 10 within less
than three miles OF such waters, which pene-
trate il in all directions; the land forming mar
row peninsulas or necks between them. Thus
in the lower part OF Dorchester the sail canoe
rather than the buggy or carriage is the family
vehicle, hundreds OF them being seen moored
around their camp meetings in the fall In place
OF the carriages and wagons of various descrip-
tions one is accustomed to see bivouacked
around such gatherings else where. or the great
advantages incident to the existence OF such
water courses there, i shall, however, write
hereafter more at length than / might venture





now to point out the fact that emancipation
in Maryland is already solving the gravest
problem involved in the policy of aboI-
ishing slavery throughout the South.
Every man in the loyal States who is opposed
to il for a reason other than his direct and
palpable sympathy with the rebellion, is op-
posed to 1t almost solely because fearful that
the freed negroes will become curse to the
Iand-idle. vicious, worthless ana expensive to
society. In single twelve month all will
know we'll that the freed negroes il. Maryland
are contributing vastly more to the wealth OF
the community than when in slavery. That no
legislation or other interference OF the State has
been necessary to make them do SO. That they are
rapidly improving in honesty, handlnees and
intelligence, and may be relied on for the most
part to do a fair days work for a fair days
wages. They are already fast demonstrating
that we may not properly deduce conclusions
with reference TO the character and capabilities
of the American negro as class, from expert
ence in emancipating the West India negro.
The latter, when emancipated, was bat one
generation, or at most two, removed from the
barbarism OF Africa, and had learned little or
nothing from immediate individual contact
with the white race In large masses The
American negroes OF TO- day are all from six to
ten generations removed from their African
progeDitors. All of them know infinitely more
than the mass Of the freed West India negroes
knew, (when emancipated,) by and through
attrition against the white race in whose M idst
they are. They are not situated in = country
where nature will supply their absolute wants
absolutely without labor, as generally In the
West Indies; nor is property and business so
held and conducted here he to make little or M
competition for their labor and that little at to-
toll ino odopy To
sideration the importance of slim mulatine their
industry. The large estates Of the South will
necessarily divide into much smaller farms
and plantations. The white man ernigrating
thither will carry with him non -sla veholding-
State methods and modes. The terms On which
he will get the lands, Though unconiscated, J
and the opportunities, and the fecundity Of the
soil will enable him to pay high wages for
such labor as he requires TO hire. The compe-
ution for labor on comparatively small farms
ana plantations growing out of the immense
emigration that is not long hence to pour into the
South will offer such inducements to the negro
TO be industrious, faithful and inoffensiye as
will make him go, past peradventure, Judging
from the way he is conducting himself as a
freedman at this time in Maryland Because
the war has paralyZed for the time being all
organized industry where it has liberated the
AcslCes a. tnc coulH, preventing Such northern
emigration from setting in there and denying
TO the negroes fair chance to labor q uietly for
tair wages and under good treatment, is no rea
son whatever that he will not speedily avail
himself OF the altered condition OF things that
is soon to come to pass


Whenever the white man can conduct plant
ing ana farming operations as safely and
quietly in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mfssissippi
and Alabama, as at this time in MARYLAND, the
labor of those States will at once take adyan.
tage OF the new era, as it has done in this State
to the amazement OF the opponents Of emanci.
patton here. This will come to pass gradually.
commencing in Tennessee and working It's
way South as the authority of the United States
becomes 60 re.es tabished over the States in
rebellion as that the turmoil and insecurity of
war will give place to the renewed dominion
or peace with its pursuits, advantages and
blessings


The State may wisely keep its hands off the
subject matter. 1t will be best for both white
and black to be left solely to the influence
of free-State institutions and to the immense
competition for labor on small farms and in
various other callings which are so marked in.
cidents or features of the institutions and pur.
suits OF society in this country where slavery
was long since abolished. WI W.





Rebel Peace Commissioners.