WHAT THE BLACKS SAT. . 37 



the whole, I must adjudge the question " Will free niggers work ? " 

 satisfactorily answered. The Four and a Quarter Million bales of 

 Cotton grown in the United States in 1870 are not to begainsayed. 



On another point, the testimony of the old masters is less assur- 

 ing. They tell me that their ex-slaves spend their earnings unwise- 

 ly, improvidently ; often squandsring in a month the hard earnings 

 of a year. One planter instanced the case of a " boy," who recently 

 bought at once seventeen "Shoo-Fly" boxes, price $1 each; their 

 aggregate contents being worth perhaps |5, and consisting of candies 

 and showy knick-knacks, with a silver half dollar perhaps in every 

 'fifth box. The evidence to this effect is so positive and consistent 

 that I cannot doubt its general truth. The ex-slave, ignorant and 

 simple, finding himself for the first or second time possessed of 

 $100 to |300, the price of his crop, is too apt to fool it away in 

 purchases that wisdom would shun and reason must condemn. 



The Blacks themselves, through such as I have interrogated, give 

 far more cheering testimony. They admit that fools as well as 

 rogues are found among them, as among other races ; but they in- 

 sist that the great majority are saving as well as earning. They 

 assure me that many are buying lands ; others accumulating money 

 in the Freedmen's Savings Bank with intent to own homes at no 

 distant day ; and that nearly all are doing better from year to year. 

 They say that most of those who own no lands own mules and 

 plows, and are steadily learning to spend their money wisely or 

 save it carefully. I have conversed with no Black who was not 

 hopeful and confident as to the future of his race. The "carpet- 

 baggers," so called, of course- confirm the testimony of the Blacks. 

 Some of these are good and true men ; others aim to be particularly 

 good to themselves. At the worst, it may be fairly urged in their 

 behalf that the blind obstinacy and dogged refusal of the planters 

 to recognize accomplished facts rendered them a necessaiy evil. 



The ancient aristocracy of the South remind me forcibly of the 

 Federal squirearchy of our country after Jefferson's election as 

 President. Instead of studying the new situation and seeking to 

 master it, they content themselves with endless and fruitless com- 

 plainings. They lament the sway of the "carpet-baggers" over 

 their late slaves, but take no effective measures to counteract it. 

 Rogues as some of the " carpet-baggers " are, they are all zealous for 

 the education of the Blacks ; while the submerged aristocracy grudge 

 every penny assessed on them for building school-houses and pay- 



