按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
is chief difficulties； for； to whatever cause we attribute it； the fact remains the same； namely； that the ordinary negro has no sense of morality。 After all the attempts made on this plantation to improve the moral nature of these men and women； Governor Aiken； during a yellow…fever season in Savannah after the war； while visiting the poor sufferers； intent upon charitable works； found in the lowest quarter of the city； sunk in the most abject depths of vice； men and women who had once been good servants on his plantations。
In old times Jehossee was a happy place for master and for slave。 The governor rarely locked the door of his mansion。 The family plate； valued at fifteen thousand dollars； was stored in a chest in a room on the ground…floor of the house； which had for its occupants； during four months of the year； two or three negro servants。 Though all the negroes at the quarters； which were only a quarter of a mile from the mansion； knew the valuable contents of the chest； it was never disturbed。 They stole small things； but seemed incapable of committing a burglary。
When the Union army marched through another part of South Carolina； where Governor Aiken had buried these old family heirlooms and had added to the original plate thirty thousand dollars' worth of his own purchasing； the soldiers dug up this treasure…trove； and forty…five thousand dollars' worth of fine silver went to enrich the spoils of the Union army。 Soon after； three thousand eight hundred bottles of fine old wines； worth from eight to nine dollars a bottle； were dug up and destroyed by a Confederate officer's order； to prevent the Union army from capturing them。 Thus was plundered an old and revered governor of South Carolina one who was a kind neighbor； a true patriot； and a Christian gentleman。
The persecutions of the owner of Jehossee did not； however； terminate with the war； for when the struggle was virtually ended； and the fair mansion of the rice…plantation retained its heirlooms and its furniture； Beaufort； of South Carolina； was still under the influence of the Freedman's Bureau； and when it was whispered that Aiken's house was full of nice old furniture； and that a few faithful servants of the good old master were its only guards； covetous thoughts at once stirred the evil minds of those who were the representatives of law and order。 This house was left almost without protection。 The war was over。 South Carolina had bent her proud head in agony over her burned plantations and desolate homes。 The victorious army was now proclaiming peace； and generous treatment to a fallen foe。 Then to what an almost unimaginable state of demoralization must some of the freedmen's protectors have fallen； when they sent a gunboat to Jehossee Island； and rifled the old house of all its treasures！
To…day； the governor's favorite sideboard stands in the house of a citizen of Boston； as a relic of the war。 O； people of the north； hold no longer to your relics of the war； stolen from the firesides of the south！ Restore them to their owners； or else bury them out of the sight of your children； that they may not be led to believe that the war for the preservation of the Great Republic was a war for plunder； else did brave men fight； and good women pray in vain。 Away with stolen pianos； 〃captured〃 sideboards； and purloined silver！ What but this petty plundering could be expected of men who robbed by wholesale the poor negro； to protect whose rights they were sent south？
The great political party of the north became the pledged conservator of the black man's rights； and established a Freedman's Bureau； and Freedman's banks to guard his humble earnings。 All know something of the workings of those banks； and to everlasting infamy must be consigned the names of many of those conducting them； men who robbed every one of these depositories of negro savings； and left the poor； child…like freedman in a physical state of destitution； and in a perfect bewilderment of mind as to who his true friend really was。
A faithful negro of Jehossee Island was but one among thousands of such cases。 While the tumult of war vexed the land； the faithful negro overseer remained at his post to guard his late master's property； supporting himself by the manufacture of salt； and living in the most frugal manner to be able to 〃lay by〃 a sum for his old age。 Having saved five hundred dollars； he deposited them in the nearest Freedman's bank； which； though fathered by the United States government； failed； and the now destitute negro found himself stripped in the same moment of his hard…earned savings； and his confidence in his new protectors。
As the war of the rebellion was slowly drawing to its close； Mr。 Lincoln's kind heart was drawn towards his erring countrymen； and he made a list of the names of the wisest and best men of the south； who； not having taken an active part in the strife； might be intrusted with the task of bringing back the unruly states to their constitutional relations with the national government。 Governor Aiken was informed that his name was upon that list； and he would gladly have accepted the onerous position； and labored in the true interests of the whole people； but the pistol of an assassin closed the life of the President； whose generous plans of reconstruction were never realized。
In the birth of our new Centennial let us eschew the political charlatan； and bring forward our statesmen to serve and govern a people； who； to become a unit of strength； must ever bear in mind the words of the great southern statesman； who said he knew 〃no north； no south； no east； no west； but one undivided country。〃
On Monday； at ten A。 M。； two negroes assisted me to launch my craft from the river's bank at the mouth of the canal； for the tide was very low。 As I settled myself for a long pull at the oars； the face of one of the blacks was seemingly rent in twain； as a huge mouth opened； and a pair of strong lungs sent forth these parting words： 〃Bully for Massachusetts！〃
〃How did you know I came from Massachusetts？〃 I called out from the river。
〃I knows de cuts ob dem。 I suffered at Fort Wagner。 Dis chile knows Massachusetts。〃
Two miles further on； Bull Creek served me as a 〃cut…off；〃 and half an hour after entering it the tide was flooding against me。 When Goat Island Creek was passed on the left hand； knots of pine forests rose picturesquely in places out of the bottom…lands； and an hour later； at Bennett's Point； on the right； I found the watercourse a quarter of a mile in width。
The surroundings were of a lovely nature during this day's journey。 Here marshes； diversified by occasional hammocks of timber dotting their uninteresting wastes； there humble habitations of whites and blacks appearing at intervals in the forest growth。 As I was destitute of a finished chart of the Coast Survey； after rowing along one side of Hutchinson's Island I became bewildered in the maze of creeks which penetrate the marshes that lie between Bennett's Point and the coast。
Making a rough topographical sketch of the country as I descended Hutchinson's Creek； or Big River； the latter appellation being the most appropriate；