Carl Schurz

“ Some felt inclined to use their freedom first in walking a little away from their plantations. All this is perfectly natural, and I do not know of any white race on earth that, under the same circumstances, would not have yielded to the same impulse, only to a much larger extent — for it is surprising how little on the whole these liberties were indulged in by the negro. Just as natural is it that they should feel inclined to stand up a little more independently before their former owners. ”

“ But, on the other hand, he is rather inclined to insist that the negro shall work for him as before; for, he argues, the work must be done, and there is at present only the negro to do it; but, as the negro will not work unless compelled to, we must have some means of compulsion to make him work. This shows that there is in the mind of the planter a vast difference between the abolition of slavery and the organization of free labor. The free labor he has in view is based upon the assumption that the negro is compelled to work. ”

“ These people do not seem to know that foreign emigrants do not come to this country to work as farm hands for others, but to acquire property for themselves. The prevailing sentiment seems to be that, if they cannot have the negro as a slave, they do not want to have him at all. I have no doubt all these impractical notions will gradually subside, if the military power of the United States continues to hold its protecting hand over the negro. ”

“ But the distrust between the whites and blacks is so great and the ill will with which the free negro is looked upon by the whites so apparent, that it absolutely requires the presence of the troops to prevent explosions.
At present it is well for the people to understand that the free-labor experiment in this part of the country is in so precarious a condition as to call for continuous attention and protective care on the part of the government. Time will do away with many of the more threatening difficulties, provided it be well employed. The elements of a great and lasting success are there ”

“ Free labor in South Carolina is certainly not what free labor is in Ohio or Illinois. It will still be far from reaching that standard next year, although there will be a nearer approach to it. While the planters know so little what free labor is, it would be unjust to expect that the negro should know it better. In his former condition he was aware that the more he worked, the more he benefited his master. He will certainly become a far more efficient laborer as soon as it becomes clear to him that the more he works the more he will benefit himself. ”

“ But the planters in the country take a different view of the case. Whenever any thing does not go as they would have it, when a negro does not show the same style of obedience the master was formerly accustomed to, when a laborer takes it into his head to prefer another plantation to that on which he was formerly held as a slave, the argument is at once ready: “You see, the niggers will not work unless they are forced. They are not fit to be free laborers.” ”

“ They were ready to die for their principles. They made the issue, now they are overpowered — ‘not conquered, but overpowered,’ as some have it. They acknowledge their defeat. The questions at issue are decided; secession is gone up and the slaves are emancipated. ”

“ I am informed that the origin of this notion is to be found in the habit prevailing among the poor whites to devote their Saturdays, not to regular work, but to hunting, or fishing, or going to town. It seems to be the impression of the negroes quite generally that the privilege not to work on Saturdays is one of the characteristics of the freeman.
On the whole it may be said that the negroes laboring under the contract system, in spite of the distracting influence of the confusion of ideas inseparable from so abrupt a transition, are doing a “middling fair” share of labor. ”

“ But a short time ago they were slaves, forced to work for others and forbidden to think for themselves. The shackles suddenly falling off, it is by no means wonderful that their first impulse should be to have a holiday. ”

“ The advantages of school education have so far been enjoyed only be the negroes living on the sea island and in Charleston. There is as far as I can learn, not a single school established yet in the interior of the State. It is most important that this matter should be taken in hand as soon as possible. The authorities or the benevolent societies of the North should see to it that there be a school in every convenient locality as soon as the crops are in and the people have time to spare from their daily avocations. ”

“ In some localities the idea has got into the heads of the negroes that the land belongs all to them. A single word from an officer in blue is sufficient to abuse them, and as soon as they are informed that the land belongs to somebody else, they go on working, as if they had never indulged in a contrary impression. But there is one notion which prevails so strongly and so generally among them, that it seems almost impossible to eradicate it. It is, that they are not obliged to work on Saturdays. ”

“ An attempt to introduce some new system of forced labor, not, perhaps, exactly slavery in its old form, but something similar to it, would probably draw consequences after it of the most serious nature. Such is at present the disposition of a large majority of the whites. ”

“ The people of South Carolina accept the results of the war and mean to be good citizens. There is no State in the Union in which there will be less trouble than in South Carolina. Our people are chivalrous and high-minded people, and having once made up their minds, &c, &c. ”

“ Immediately after the close of the war a great many planters made strenuous effort to keep their former slaves on their plantations for the avowed object of having them still in their possession when, after the complete restoration of civil government, the emancipation proclamation would be declared unconstitutional and the negroes reduced to their former condition. ”

“ The whites have a vague apprehension of negro insurrections, which sometimes gives rise to ridiculous local panics, and they look to our forces for protection, while the blacks have full confidence in our officers and soldiers as their natural friends. ”

“ Most of the planters have entered into contracts with the freedmen, and a large majority of the freedmen remained on their old plantations. A not inconsiderable number have indeed gone to Charleston, especially such as formerly belonged to hard masters, and their crowding together along the seaboard gives rise to a great many inconveniences. That the general disposition is to stay is shown by the fact that there are many plantations on which the full force is still at work. ”

“ Not a moment should be lost to make arrangements for this important object, and sober, discreet, sensible persons should be selected as teachers to give the negroes a just and clear idea of their situation, their rights and their duties. ”

“ A hope like this may be lingering still in the hearts of a few, and here and there you may still hear a South Carolinian planting his foot heavily upon constitutional ground; but a large majority of the intelligent have undoubtedly given it up. ”

“ This is owing partly to an order issued by the confederate government during the rebellion enjoining upon farmers to devote most of their land to the raising of breadstuffs, partly to an impression prevailing among the colored laborers, who look upon the cotton culture as something reminding them too forcibly of their former condition, and who deem it best to see to it that there be something to eat, which, under present circumstances is very sensible. ”

“ The reason is not that anybody desires it; neither the whites nor the blacks, and least of all the true friends of the blacks; for it is impossible that such a collision, while it would bring with it great calamities to the whites, should not result in greater and more permanent disasters to the colored race. ”

“ It is not remarkable that irregularities should occur, but that they should not be far more extensive. Several intelligent persons in Charleston, who take a more comprehensive view of the matter, assured me that they looked upon the conduct of the colored people generally as quite admirable. ”