Daily Democrat And News

Free Negro Cotton Culture played out.

A big thing was inaugurated at Beaufort, South Carolina, a year or so ago. Crack-brained abolitionists went in for cotton culture on the free negro system. It was predicted that failure would be the result, even at the highest price of that great Southern staple. The experiment was tried under the most favorable circumstances—the best soil—best climate—negroes without cost and provisions supplied by the government, still it was a failure. The N. Y. Tribune acknowledges it. It says:

It is understood that Gen. Hunter will direct the suspension of the cultivation of cotton on the plantations worked under the auspices of the government during the present season. He proposes to have all the soil devoted to the raising of corn, in order to afford some direct relief to the subsistence department, and decrease as much as possible the drafts of this department upon the Federal Treasury.

One of the reasons for the change is the discrepancy between the financial profits of last year's cotton crop and the government capital invested in it. It is true, uncontrollable meteorological causes had most to do with the unsatisfactory crop; but, in the present straitened condition of the national finances, it is well argued, similar investments of uncertain promise must be discountenanced.

Thus everything these philanthropists promised us has failed—every effort in the way of war, every enterprise of peace. The negro was to rush to the rescue of our arms—but he did not! He was to sustain and feed our armies: but he is a burden to them. He was to supply the North with free-labor cotton! He fails in that. He is now to be sent to raising corn, as if that must not still more surely fail. It is these men whom every development of events proves to be ignorant and worthless advisers, that bids us disband our white armies, and trust to negro soldiers! That will be the worst failure of all.