The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1844-09-27


get no work. The gang master has them
then completely in his power, taking care
TO provide well for himself 10 his own CON-
missions, which must, of course, be dednc.
ted from the wages of the labotets, aud sub
ljeciing them, at pleasure, 10 the most des-
potic and severe conditions. Ii is not op.
tional with these poor creatures TO say
whether they will work or not, but whe,h
er they will work or die-they have no
other change their condition
they cannot-con.raci separately for their
labor they cannot, because the farmer con
tracts to the gangmasier and we may ln'
ie, from he Reports OF the Commissioners,
laid before the Government, tha! The sys
ten is one of Cypress on, cruelty, and plum
der, and in every respect leading TO gross
immoralites. The distance 10 which these
laborefs 90 is often five or six miles, and
this usually on foot, and 10 return at night.
Children and girls are compelled TO go these
distances, consequently must rise very ear
Is ia The morning and reach home at ve-
~ late hou. at night. Girls and bows and
Young men and women work ndisctin,,
nateIy together. VI hen the distances 10
which they 60 for work is len miles, they
are sent in carts. When The distances are
great, they occasionally pass the night al
The place Of work, aud then lodge 10 barns,
or any where else indlscrimluately togelh
er To talk Of morality IN such case IS
idle. One Of the gaug-masiers, who has
been an overseer seventeen years, gives II
l. N Z that
on, Of hundred Of the girls become pros
t,uies, and the general account given OF
the operations OF the system sho"san utter
prot gacy OF miud in their general couver
sa!ion aud manners, when morals must fol
low Of course. Ii they so 10 he morning
ani stay only htle whie, On account Of
rain, or other good cause, they are paid
nothing. The day IS divided into quar-
jers, bu, 40 fracllon Of tine are 10 any case
allowed to them. Then tue persons en-.
pioyel are required, 10 many cases, TO deaf
With the gang-mastefs for The supplies they
receive, III pay menl lor tie tabor. The re-
results Of such system are obvious. The
work being taken BY the piece, The gang
master presses them to their utmost
strength. The fragments Of days, in
: which work is done and not paid Tor 10 The
iaborers, are all to the benefit Of The gang.
+ master, who, in such case, gets large
amount OF work done al no cost. These
poor wratches, being unable % contract for
themselves, or 10 get any work but through
bin, he, Of course determines the price OF
the labor, and, one may be sure, puts ii
down 10 the lowest polut. But his adyIn
tages do not end here, for there Is 10 doub!
that he gets high advance upon Ihe goods
; which lie requires them 10 purchase Of him,
aid thus their wages are reduced still low.
er. No just or beneyoloa, mud, Il would
seem, eau lock upon any such system in oil
as details, as gwen 10 the Commissioners
Report, but with profound sense Of ils in.
justice, oppression, ard immortality.
Ole u The gang masters says, they
20 to work two hours and halt, Il is G
qIarier Of day. lfihey 20 long walk,
seven miles or so, and it comes 90 wet
DAY, there is the walk all for nothing. =
Cadren Of the ages OF four, FIVE, aud six,
work IL gangs. They earn 81. dag, the
blg ones the smu,i, L.; children Of seven
years old, 81. day l. IS tie run Of a
= gIrl, says parent, one Of the labafers, "a
b. such place as tbai, NJ chljfeu'.
I hands are 90 bhstered, says auather Of the
plrtu.s, pulling tufu,ps, that have bect
Obliged 10 tie them Up every night tais = ii
ter. Pulling iurnlps bds,eFs The hands We
: ~ much-lhey are obliged 10 pull them uE
Q they must not take tu,nip cfoues q sort
Y o. fork i9r fear of damaging ila lltnlPs.'
. luo gangsman, Or leader, say auoih
y er witness, pays the wages Of oil employ,
3. Cd IA The gang, and, Of course, MAKES hi;
profit entirely from their labor, IS the far.
. Hier takes care that the gang system sha'
Y DOT cost hm more th5u the common system
u individual laborefs. The leaders croft
Z as have heard is sometimes l5.. per day.
] The assembling Of twenty Eve aud thirty
woman and children aud lads, Of all ages
and conditions and characters, together has
= most fatal effect upon their morals and
conduct Another respectable and reyer
end witness says, The gang IS suPeriaen-
/ Odd by a lazy, ide fellow, Of pr d,ga,e
3 manners aud dishonest charactef-such,
at all events, are the characters Of Two il
VI my oan neighbofhood.'