The daily phoenix. (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, November 19, 1865, Image 1
m TT Tl T\ i TTT7
lil?j VALLI
Daily Paper $10 a Year.
'Let our Just Censure
TT* TT rr\ IkT T "YT
fi! UBINIA.
Attend the Tne Event."
Tri-Weekly $7 a Year
BY J. A. SELBY.
COLUMBIA, S. C., SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 19, 1865.
VOL. I-NO. 200.
THE PHONIX,
PUBLISHED DAI LT AND TEI-WEEKLT,
B Y JULIAN A. SELBY
TERMS-m ADVANCE,
SUBSCRIPTION.
Daily Taper, six months.$5 00
Tri-YVeekly, " " . 3 50
Single espies 10 cents.
ADVERTISEMENTS
Inserted at tl per square for tho first in?
sertion, and 75 cents for each subsequent.
jay Special notices 15 cents a line.
MU
Interesting Letter.
We find tho following letter in the
New York Day Book :
COLOMBIA, S. C., October31,1865.
Afihirs in Louisiana and thc South
were the subject of an interesting con?
versation at dickerson's Hotel last
Friday evening. A gentleman who
owns a large plantation there and one
in this State, and who appeared to be
thoroughly acquainted with all the j
planting interest of tho South, gave a
statement of thc condition of the cot?
ton and sugar crops, together with a
good deal of information on tho gene?
ral agriculture of the country, the cap?
ital invested and the different branch?
es of trade connected therewith.
The appearance of thc country lie
said, as it nrst strikes the eye of thc
traveler in passing through Georgia,
Alabama and Mississippi, and the
concurrent tesiirnony of all the plan?
ters met with in travel, is that of gen?
eral poverty and destitution-the ut?
ter deficiency ot crops of every sort.
As a general .mle, on the uplands the
crops which should have made from
fifteen to twenty bushels to thc acre
will make but five or six. On thc
prairie lauds, where was formerly made
from thirty to forty, the yield is
about ten bushels to the acre. There
is an evident prostration of agricul?
ture in every part of tho country,
arising simply from the fact of the in?
ability of tho planters to apply thc
labor iu the present condition of af?
fairs.
The approach of Mobile and New
Orleans is marked by an evident ap?
pearance of thrift in business, which
seems surprising, considering the real
condition of the country. On exami?
nation, however, into the affairs of
the business of those two cities, the
whole trade is found to be based upon
small amounts of cotton, mostly of
the old crops, and some other pr -
duce of inferior value sent by persons
who for four or five years have been
deprived of the necessaries and com?
forts of life, to provide themselves in
these matters.
In New Orleans especially there was
a largo influx of transient population
from the. country, seeking an exami?
nation of old accounts with former
business men, and endeavoring to
provide means for the restoration
of their property to something like a
productive condition. There was no
money to supply those deficiencies
except in very peculiar cases, and al?
most every one after a week's sojourn
in tin- city returns disappointed to Iiis
home. Tlio business men were utter?
ly unable to afford any accommoda?
tion to their old ami valued custom?
ers. Thc largest and most flourishing
mercantile houses before the war in
New Orleans declared themselves
powerless, unable to resume the busi?
ness which was their only means of
Mlpport. One who before thu war
was worth at least six hundred thou?
sand dollars, stated to the speaker
that ho was obliged to confine him?
self to a small peddling trade- to IHM
euro fifty cents to get a meal at a res?
taurant.
The despondency of the people is
very great. A serious question in the
minds ol' business men is, how they
are to maintain themselves in their
respective classes in the absence of in?
coming crops, after the present sup?
ply of money from the old crop is
exhausted. The most casual eye, in
looking around what is called the
coast of Louisiana, is at once struck,
and the observation is corroborated at
every step, with the complete destruc?
tion of the cotton and other interests.
The levees in m-oiy places have fallen
in, th? rank weeds ard grass have
superceded the former luxuriant and
prolific crops, the canals and ditches
have been filled up with drained
lands, and the cultivation, which was
only second in beauty to that of the
lands in Belgium, is completely for?
saken. Such is tho condition of the
land that, leaving aside the precari?
ousness of labor, an immense outlay
of money is requisite to reduce the
plantations to their old state, or to
insure for many years to come, even
with abundant labor, much more than
half of their former productions.
Hie crops of Louisiana were thus
estimated. Taking the former mini?
mum crop of sugar to bc 350,000
hogsheads, and the maximum 540,000;
the cotton on the Mississippi and its
tributaries, minimum 300,000 bales,
maximum 400,000, the incoming crop,
as compared with that, will not bo
? more than 30,000 bales of cotton and
15,000 hogsheads of sugar, and this
is a very large estimate.
I The levees of the Mississippi River
and its tributaries and outlets embrace
a length of 3,000 miles, with an ave?
rage height of embankment of per?
haps about twelve feet, with a base of
ninety ot- one hundred feet. In many
localities, the levees have a height of
thirty feet, with a base of three hun?
dred feet. These large works arc
located always at the most dangerous
places, where there arc the largest in?
roads of water upon the tillable land.
Without a coerced system of labor,
these breaks cannot be repaired and
. kept up, unless, indeed, the Govern?
ment of the United States undertakes
j that laborious and indispensable work,
j Even Tinder that system, if such an
i appropriation is made, thc levees
would be less effectual in keeping out
thc waters than heretofore, because
. the eye of the owner of each particu
! lar property day and night is to exor
j eise a guardianship which a disinte
I rested hireling is not likely to do. In
j addition to this, a large pori >u of the
improvements on the plantations, the
! sugar houses and machinery, erected
j at snell heavy cost, have been in most
1 sections entirely destroyed during the
; war. Thc outlay of capital required
i to restore the buildings, the private
. embankments, the fences, (most of
j which have to be purchased,) thc
ditching, equalling, ?fcc., puts it out of
the power of the great bulk of plant?
ers to resume their former avocations
It must also be taken into considera?
tion, that in the delta of the Missis?
sippi, for the effectual cultivation ol
the cane and cotton crops, for each
! thousand acres of land there must bc
j at least three hundred miles of canal
j ling, ditching and cross drains, thc
latter varying from four feet in widtl
to five in depth, also an enormous
canallagc that is to connect the drain?
age of each plantation with the regu?
lar outlet or bayou for carrying of
superfluous water. When these dim
j culties are considered to thc plantel
. in his present condition, without
', credit, without an organized systen
I of labor, the risk before him of under
j taking such a work is really appalling
And yet, unless it is done, the depre
I dation in the value of his lands, tin
! entire loss of all the improvements
! buildings and machinery, will leav<
the planter penniless, even were hi:
, possessions before the war wortl
, millions.
Mr. John Burnside's plantation
I one of the largest in thc South, mai
be taken as ?in example. It has beet
the most systematically managed
j both as regards agricultural develop
monts and economy of expenditure
and notwithstanding a liberal com
' pensation t<> the few hands Se ha
I broil enabled to employ, his crop ha
boon reduced from 8,000 hogshead
of sugar, in 1861, to between 500 am
600 hogsheads in 1865. But chis los
' of products is not the least he has to
i encounter. On one estate of <'>.<)()<
j acres of cultivated land, from the in
j ability to procure the reasonable labo
and remove the difficulties of drain
j age in thc rear of his estate, near!
i or quite one-half is lost altogether to
[ present use.
The adjoining estates of Govcrno
John L. Manning, Hon. Duncan f
Campbell, Mr. Branch, Mr. Landry
Mr. Volcour and Mr. Aime have a
! been reduced to a condition far les
r available than that of Mr. Burnside
and so with all the lands lying on j
what is commonly called the coast of
Louisiana, but which is really thc
banks of thc river down to tho city of
New Orleans and below it.
Ahove Baton Ronge, which is more
immediately on the seat of war, the
destruction has been entire. Nothing
remains to the proprietor excepting
his abandoned lands, and even those
are subjected to a taxation "which he
will not be able to pay, and in all
likelihood will bc removed from his
possession or sold for taxes.
General Wade Hampton's planta?
tion on Lake Washington is in ruins,
although tho family throughout the
?war resided there, under tho care of
the General's brother, Mr. Christo
i pher Hampton. During the war the
: General removed his negroes, about
11,100 in number, to South Carolina,
j Between 200 and 300 romain with
him on his place here, which is also
but the wreck of a once magnificent
estate, the remaining negroes, sup?
ported by thc efforts of thc General,
doing little or no work to help them?
selves.
Up Red River, Louisiana, as far as
the war extended, the destruction is
as completo, with thc exception that
I the lands, being moro elevated, will
not be so much injured in the matter
j of ditching and drainage. This is
i what is more strictly called the delta
I of thc Mississippi. In all those
I regions thc oxen, the mules, tho plan?
tation utensils and most of the ma?
chinery have either been so injured
or destroyed as to require fresh re?
plenishing upon the plantation as if
it had been an original settlement in
j the forest. So much for the destruc
? tion of the property ot" the agricul
I turists in the delta of the Mississippi,
; in the valley and its tributaries.
I The great trade of the North-west
I is thus seriously affected. Each plan
j ter formerly in himself afforded tc
I each customer the consumption of ti
i medium sized town. Hay, grain,
, machinery, cutlery, implements oi
! agriculture, wagons, carts, mules.,
oxen, glassware, crockery, coal, iron,
lead and copper were all formerly de
j livered ?it the planter's own door,
I without wharfage or other city charges.
I and for which the trader received ii
! return either cotton, molasses ot
I sugar, as he might desire, and hav<
the balance, if any, given ou a ched
upon the banks or merchants in New
Orleans, which no one knows to hav<
been ever disputed on presentatioi
j for payment. With the exception o
the trade which might be afforded bj
the few planters who may be enabled
to carry on their business and make ?
few cheap purchases, tho whole trad<
to that region of country is entireb
lost, unless capital, a coerced systen
of labor and a more liberal legislatioi
on the part of Congress to the Soutl
gives thc planters encouragement t<
renew their former avocations. It i
undeniably the case, that after con
versution with tho most intwlligen
men from eery agricultural distric
of the country, unless some hope o
this kind is realized, thc prosperity
of the country is lost for a period o
at least twenty years.
The condition of the negroes wit]
the dissolution of all ties between tb
former master and freedmen through
emt the entire South, but moro espe
chilly in tito Valley of tho Mississippi
has produced a desire on the part c
many of the negroes that their forme
masters shall return and extend thei
old protection to them. For him the;
are willing to hire their labor at an
reasonable service that may be agree
upon between the owner of the land
and themselves, if they are only lei
to their own discr?tion and judgmer
iu the matter. But where their gain
are wrested from them by rapaeion
and greedy officers and they are cor
tinually incited by fresh insubordini
! tion and renewed thefts in order t
' 8?pply the greed, all the efforts of th
\ muster must fail to result in any pe:
! manent good. Where the negroe
j have been left to themselves, an
without coercion to their duties c
solicitations, have remained on tl
I plantations, they seem desirous to r<
sume their former relations with th
proprietors of the .several plac<
to which they belong. During tl
absence of the proprietors in the ws
rind thc occupation of the country V
soldiers, the negroes were lt?ft to take
care of themselves in great part. The
most painful consequences ensued.
Out of eight hundred on Governor
Manning's plantation, but three
hundred are alive, the rest having
died of disease and neglect. In old
timos the negroes were attended to
like children; an able physician was
employed at a liberal salary to visit
them daily and see to their health.
Valuable
Lands & Stock
FOR SALE.
S?L ? ?ta. ??
THAT VALUABLE COTTON and PRO?
VISION PLAFTATION, in Darlington
District, known as "Bunker Hill," formerly
thc residence of John McClcnaghan, de?
ceased, is offered for sale, containing- 1,156
acres, hy a plat of W. H. Wingate, Sur?
veyor. It is hounded on thc South bj- thc
line of Marion District, defined by a canal
draining thc waters of Tolk Swamp into
Black Creek, which stream is it? Northern
boundary. Some five to six hundred acres
are cleared, under cultivation, and present
thc advantages of fine cotton lauds, with
rich bottom lands for com.
I On the place is a DWELLING HOUSE,
with eight rooms, a Vegetable and Flower
Garden, with all convenient out-buildings;
a new Gin-house, Barns and out-buildings
which have comfortably accommodated
from fifty to sixty persons.
It is situated "within two miles of Mar's
Bluff Station, on thc Wilmington and Man?
chester Railroad, and within five miles of
Florence, and is too well known for its
healthfulness, fine water and its advan?
tages of society, to need a further descrip?
tion.
With the place, will he s..ld. if desired,
some 8 or 10 prime MULES, 2 HOBSES,
CATTLE. SHEEP, HOGS, COHN, FOD?
DER. ?fcc.;WAGONS, CARTS. Blacksmiths
.and Carpenter's TOOLS and FARMING
IMPLEMENTS.
In the event that no sale is made, this
place will In lca.-ed for one vear from 1st
January next: and the perishable articles
mentioned will be sold on the premises, for
cash, on SATURDAY, Otb of December
next.
Forterms and conditions, apply to L. W.
T. Wickham, Richmond, Va., or to thc
undersigned, at Mar's Bluff.
W. W. HARLLEE,
Agent for L. W. T. Wickham.
Mr. S. LUCAS, on the place, will show
thc premises, and give persons, desirous of
inquiring, the facilities of deciding for
themselves. Nov 15 ll
fi*
Watchmaker and Jeweller,
,~o BEGS leave respectfully to inform
Y?yX his old friends and customers, and
eS.jfethc public generally, that he is now
prepared to repair
WATCHES AND JEWELRY
Of every description, at the shortest notice
j and on the most reasonable terms.
Apply at his residence-up-stairs-As?
sembly street, West side, one door from
Pendleton street.
KIT All orders left at the store of MEL?
VIN M. COHEN will receive the promptest
attention. Nov 5 Imo
T.W. Radcliffe,
AT THE
<
ct&uSib
(Formerbf ol the Corner of liiehordson and
Plain street.*: nom at the Corner of Pen?
dleton and Assembly streets-hts dwelling,)
OFFERS evcrv article in bis linc, viz:
WATCHES; JEWELRY, GUNS, PIS?
TOLS, rOWDER, SHOT. CAPS, CAR?
TRIDGES for Smith's and Wesson's Pis?
tols; KNIVES, FORKS, SPOONS; Spectacles
-to suit all ag?-.-: Gold Pens--the hist
assortment ever brought to this place;
Fishing Tackle, new and fresh selected by
mvself; Hair and Tooth Brushes. Combs,
Walking Canes and everything usually
kept m our line of business.
I will also receive from abroadcvery arti?
cle of MERCHANDIZE that may be con?
signed to me. for which I wiil make monthly
or quarterly returns-soliciting a share of
patronage.
Watches and Clocks carefully repaired by
experienced workmen. Jewelry repaired.
Rings mail- to order. Engraving neatly
executed.
The highest rates paid for old Gold and
Silver, and all of the above goods named
will be sold at the lowest pries. Nov.")
Law Oai?c3L
111 AVE resumed the PRACTICE OF
LAW. Office at Greenville.
Nov 5 WADDY THOMPSON.
V
PB. GLASS t?as established, in connec
. tion with the Book and Stationery
business, a general COMMISSION AGENCY
for the purchase and sale of Merchandize
of every description, Bonds, Stocks, Real
Estate, Ac.
Careful attention given to all business
entrusted to him.
Office, at present, on Plain street, near
Nickerson's Hotel._NOT 1
MW k WM,
COMMISSION
AND
FORWARDING MERCHANTS,
Office Washington Street, near Main,
COLUMBIA, S. C.
WE, the unders^ne^ Lavo tormo? a
copartneX?nip, for tho purpose of
transacting a general COMMISSION and
FORWARDING BUSINESS.
On hand, alwavs, a full stock of GROCE?
RIES, HARDWARE, HATS, SHOES anet
FANCY GOODS. H. D. HANAHAN,
Oct 21 Imo_FELIX WARLEY.
Greenville, S. C.
THE EXERCISES of this Institution
will be resumed on thc loth of Feb?
ruary next.
For C ircular giving further information,
application may he made to
PROF. JNO. F. LANNEAU.
Oct 28 07 Secretary of Faeultv.
Charleston Courier, Augusta Chronicle &
Sentinel, Edgefield Advertiser, Newberry
Herald, and Yorkville Enquirer, please
copy until the 15th of January, and forward
bills to the Secretary of Faculty, Greenville.
RECEIVED AND FOR SALE BY
h. C. CLARK!,
Washiugtt
?rv
Old Jn H.
TOOEXHEB WITH
RIBBON'S. COLOGNE, TOILET POW.
DER. VERBENA WATER. TOILE*
SOAPS, SOZODONT, DIAPER PINS, Toilet
Powder Boxes, Silk and Leather Belts, Cor?
sets, Tooth. Nail and Hail-Pl ushes, Gloves,
Linen Braids, Tape. Shawls. Edgings. Bal?
moral Skirts, Calicoes, Traveling Bags,
Portraonaies, ('anton Flannel. Cassimeres
and Cloths, for Gent's wear. Blankets. Hats,
Whalebone, Zephyr Worsted, Black Bomba?
zine, Black French Merino, Black Alpaca,
B. E. Diaper. Huck. Diaper, Cloak Orna?
ments and Trimmings, Serpentine Silks and
Worsted Braids. Fancy, Pearl. Agate. Bone,
Metal and other Buttons, Shell and Imita?
tion Tuck Combs, Dress Trimmings, Mar?
celine Shawl Pins. Hcnefour, Ladies' Meri?
no Vests, Drawers and Petticoats, Gilt and
Jet Belt Buckles, (?cut's Merino Drawers
and Undcrvests, Waterfalls and Pads, Lace
Veils, Marci iiiu- Silk. Ac. Oct 29