Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1858-05-01
The African Apprentice IfliI.

EDITOR SUGAR PLANTER.-A considerable
number Of or newspapers throughout the
State have published and freely commented
on the bill providing for the Importation Of
free African Iaborers, which passed the House
without opposition at The last session of the
Legis|a ture, and was defeaiHd by oue vote
only III the Senate, and | notice that the
p~reEaili ug tone OF the press is in favor of the
scha1ne. But, whatever the opinion express
sed On the subj ect: it is one Of such Import
anee to- the State. that | Il N glad to seei dis
cussed In all it's points and bearings, as it will
doubtless come before the Legislature again
next winter and the members Of both Houses
will BY. that time be thoroughly pszted as 10
the Sentiments OF their constituents. As far
as / have yet been able to judge, a majority
Of the pc, pie of LOUISIANA are in favor of the
measure in the shape in which it passed tbe
House Of Representatives, but at the same
time: MANY Of these same friends Of The bill!
imagine thatthey can discern in the distance,
4 mountain of bad Consequences as the result
of atternptingrto carry such law into effect.
4 large proportion Of our planters need the
.cheapetied, and additional labor which the
Inauguration of the Apprentice system pro-
poses TO produce; but the decrease in tie
value Of slaves, which it would also probably
effect, is by no means palatahie to another
of the planting interest. 3nt the
main argument of those opposing the sch@me.
is. that it would result IN btarthening the State
with q large and worse thai. worthless free
population. This is certainly q con- |
that Should have lis pro, er weight
IN iutnEs legislation upon the question: bus
| see nd reason why the law cannct be 50
as to meet this grr e objection. which
is put forward as insnrnfountabIe. Every
possible evi! that can arise in carving out
he Apprentice p%rojec, may be g LA rtled against
stthe start. II there he bate. let all anti
1cte 80 with it, ai1d the system will work
we'll. 1t is but reasonable to suppose that a
asse proportion of the apprentices would al
he expiration of their first tern of service,
'e willing to renew their indeatures. on the
eeelHt kf a small bonus, even though they
II ght wish to change masters; afhI, as to
UGH as should hot be willing to enter upon a
terra OF apprenticeship, let there be
one provision in the law authorizing their
Importation, for sending them back to Africa.
At the time the bill was before the Senate.
expEhssed my conviction that an augn1en-
;oI negro labor Of the character eolttem-
was actually necessary to 4 develop
1ent pt the agricultural resources Of the |
tate7 ana tile si'oDsestqHastIon then nootet
Fas whether such u law would conflict in
ny mnnner with the Federal Constitution.
r the powers Of thgGeneral Government.
n this connection, | ~, pleased to learn that
l the opinions OF sos1e of the abIest legal
',nds III the State, nc such contingency can
rise ; :and, as I have before stated. I see no
reat d'thcu1ty III satisfactorily disposing of
the.local objections urged against the pro-
ct. The friends Of the bill seem to feel
'nhdant that with certain changes it will
ass at the next session Of the Legislature. {
ID donfess to being decidedly in favor Of (
aying* the experiment tried.
FAIRFAX d