Corn-mills, saw-mills, gins, and factories have fed the flames.  Wherever our armies penetrated they spread devastation in their track.  Many portions of the South were not visited by a hostile force, but they did not escape the effects of war.  Southern Georgia and Florida suffered little from the presence of the Northern armies, but the scarcity of provisions and the destitution of the people are nearly as great in that region as elsewhere.

Until the present indignation at their defeat is passed away, many of the Southern people will not be inclined to give any countenance to the employment of freed negroes.  They believe slavery is the proper condition for the negro, and declare that any system based on free labor will prove a failure.  This feeling will not be general among the Southern people, and will doubtless be removed in time.

The transition from slavery to freedom will cause some irregularities on the part of the colored race.  I do not apprehend serious trouble in controlling the negro, and believe his work will be fully available throughout the South.  It is natural that he should desire a little holiday with his release from bondage.  For a time many negroes will be idle, and so will many white men who have returned from the Rebel armies.  According to present indications, the African race displays far more industry than the Caucasian throughout the Southern States.  Letters from the South say the negroes are at work in some localities, but the whites are everywhere idle.

Those who go to the South for purposes of traffic may or may not be favored with large profits.  All the products of the mechanic arts are very scarce in the interior, while in the larger towns trade is generally overdone.  Large stocks of goods were taken to all places accessible by water as soon as the ports were opened.  The supply exceeded the demand, and many dealers suffered heavy loss.  From Richmond and other points considerable quantities of goods have been reshipped to New York, or sold for less than cost.  Doubtless the trade with the South will ultimately be very large, but it cannot spring up in a day.  Money is needed before speculation can be active.  A year or two, at the least, will be needed to fill the Southern pocket.

So much for the dark side of the picture.  Emigrants are apt to listen to favorable accounts of the region whither they are bound, while they close their ears to all stories of an unfavorable character.  To insure a hearing of both sides of the question under discussion, I have given the discouraging arguments in advance of all others.  Already those who desire to stimulate travel to the South, are relating wonderful stories of its fertility and its great advantages to settlers.  No doubt they are telling much that is true, but they do not tell all the truth.  Every one has heard the statement, circulated in Ireland many years since, that America abounded in roasted pigs that ran about the streets, carrying knives and forks in their mouths, and making vocal requests to be devoured.  Notwithstanding the absurdity of the story, it is reported to have received credit.