Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-11-07
EXPERIMENTS OF FREE LABOR IN THE
SOTITH

Some of the most striking illustrations we ever re-
member to have heard Of the mpracticability of ex
tensvely cultivating Southern soil by free labor,
either white or black, are related IN speech OF .
distinguished South Carolinan IN the House OF
Representatives. Experiments of this kind have
been tried in both South Carolina and Florida, ana
with similar results. The Rev. Mr. Capers dis
tinguished minister of the Methodist Church. gave
up his own plantation to his slaves having previously
endeavored to prepare them for their trust by
thorough moral and religious training twas after
harvest when he delivered over the plantation, and
he left them with barns FULL with stock Of cattle and
sheep, and horse to plough. On leaving them, ne
gave them all the good advice, both as to the man
agement of the estate and their own conduct which
his own experience and his observance suggested
After the lapse of several harvests Mr.. Capers re-
turned to the scenes of his philanthrophy, to see
how the objects of his benevolence were coming on
He found the fields uncutivated the cattle eaten
up the barns empty, and the horse employed, not
to plow or cart, bu! to convey the negroes to the
neighboring plantations to depredate. Another
failure in an experiment of free black labor was in
the year 1910, when the estates in Trinidad, which
had hourished under slave labor, became in conse-
quence of West India emancipation, deserted ny the
laborers A planter came to this country, ana from
the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland
many free negroes were induced to go to Trinidad,
TERMS This enterprise resulted in complete
failure The free negroes found the too hot and
resorted to the towns returned to this country.
The next experiment mentioned is of white labor,
and the experimental was the distinguished W III.
Writ, who had resolved to become planter, and
purchased land in Florida. Having some scruples,
he determined against the employment of slave
labor, and carried down to his plantation large
number of white men. The work was commenced
A. rGo6yU ind
fidelity during the winter and spring seasons, and
all went on as systematically and theoretically as
Mr. Writ had anticipated But the rich flowers Of
Mr. Wrt's fine fancy were no sooner in full bloom
than they were blighted. Summer came and the
gourd of Jonah withered as rapidly as 8 had grown.
Hot days and moist nights, and crseed demands
for labor in the Cotton fields, took kHthe Pith and
marrow ont of the Ango,Saxon Bnes. The men
began to fail, their sinews were relaxed, and, find
ing that they could not endure the climate, they
threw down their agricultural implements, and left
the PLANTATION in body. The autumn crop would
have been lost but for the fortunate circumstance
that gang of negroes were in the nelghborhood
for sale. These negroes were purchased, the crop
saved, and thus the experiment ended.
Another experiment was tried by gentleman Of
New York, who took large number of German
laborers into Florida and began the cultivation of
New Smyrna, a tract of land upon which the colony
of Greeks had once settled, but finding free labor
could not cultivate Southern soil, had Abandoned
The German laborerS at once set to work, as all
their countrymen do zealously, faithfully and in
dustriously, and having placed the ground in beau
tful order, they planted the crops But the Ger.
mans could not keep off the no; days. the moist
nights or the mosquitoes, and they also went away,
leaving the New York gentleman without laborer
upon the plantation There were no negroes in the
neighborhood, and he lost his crop and abandoned
the cattle.
In some of the Southern States the Thermometer
ranges from 1l3 to $50 degrees Fahrenheit, COM
Portable temperature for a sable skin, but white
man can live under it. In some of the most fertile
regions of the Southern States not only is white Ia
Dor impracticabe but the families of the propretors
cannot even reside on them with safety during the
summer months.-Rchmond Dispatch
RIGHT OF SEcEssIoN-We have been furnished by
a friend, says the Warrenton Nems, with copy of
letter from the "great and good" Macon to s. P.
Carson, one Of the Representatives from North-Car-
DINA. We submit it to our readers without COM
ment 1t has bearing on the leading question Of
the day, which requires no explanation:
Buck SPRING, 9th Feb'y, 1888.
SIR: have received your letter of the Oath ult.
There be no doubt that the United States in
a deplorabe situation, and that the publication of
the OPINION you desire would Oe useless IL mas
never been secret and always stated to those who
wanted to know it. In the year 1924, the Consttu-
ton was buried in the Senate-the Senators who
were then present will it is believed, recollect the
fact-and never afterwards quoted by me while
continued in the Senate. The opinions of General
Washington, Mr. Jefferson, and Gov. Clinton are
known. but not respected. | have never believed
that State could nufy and remain in the Union,
but always believed that State might secede when
she pleased provided that she would paw her pro-
portion of the public debt; and this right have
considered the best guard to public liberty and to
public justice that could be desired, and it ought to
have prevented what is now felt in the South-op-
preston.
The proclamation contains principles as contrary
to what was the Constitution, notification. It'll
the great error of the administration which, except
that has been satisfactory in high degree to the
people who elected the President. When confeder-
acies begin to fight liberty is soon lost, and the Gov
eminent as soon changed. A Government of opin-
ion, established by sovereign States for special pur-
poses cannot be maintained by force The use of
force makes enemies and enemies cannot live in
peace under such Government
The case of South Carolina is as different from
that of Pennsylvania, as any two cases can he. In
1916, the system that Expresses the South, was
begun. 1t was then opposed. In 1924 the Consti-
tuition was buried. Senators who were then in the
Senate will no doubt recollect. (Repetitlon-old
age will show Time to quit.
Yours, very truly,
NATH'L. MACON.
AN ATTEMPT tn RpIpr q Ap1p.Jpr-A storv told