The Portland daily press., 1863-02-17

White Labor on the Plantation.
There is very prevalent impression even
among the intelligent portion Oh Nor.iielh
neople. that without the forced labor OF the
African there could be no success in cultivat-
ing the great staples of the South; that white
men cannot endure the climate or the hard
ships to which the plantation laborers are nee
essarily exposed, and that negroes, unless
forced to do SO, will not perform that labor
These propositions are based on the assump-
tions, first, that the white man has not the
physical endurance of the African, and, sec
ond. that the latter is not endowed with the
common sentiments of the human race, which
may be stimulated to activity by offers of re-
ward or hopes of pecuniary gain. We deny
both of these assumptions, and are prepared to
maintain, by the facts of experience, the sta
tistics of history, and the observations of the
most candid and most practical and prosaic of
white men, that the reverse is true; that the
white man can perform more labor than the
black man; that he can become accmated
like the black man, so as to endure any climate
or any conditions of climate as well as he can,
and also that the black man is influenced by
the common desire of gain, and that his activ-
tiles may be stimulated by offers of reward
precisely as are those of his lighter and thin
ner-skinned brother. But this is not our OBJ
ject now. We simply wish at the present
time, to lay before the reader an editorial ar
tice from the New Orleans Daily Delta, of
Jan. 18th, on the subject Of free white labor
on the plantations the extreme South, and
we do so with the single remark, that the ed
itors of the Delta-one of whom wrote the ar
ticle--are of anything but anti-slavery ante
cedents, one Of them having but a short time
since been attached to the editorial staff Of the
Boston Courier, and the other the editor of
leading Democratic paper in Vermont. Here
is what they say:
The statement that free white labor could
be made efficient in the plantation fields Of the
South during the severe and continuous heats
of summer, would. not long since, have met
almost universal derision, whether announced
in Northern or Southern circles. At the very
time, however, when the question as TO the
availability OF this kind OF labor is becoming a
matter of the greatest moment, owing 10 the
unavoidable events of the American civil con-
fict, we tind we have new sources of practical
information, afiording the necessary facts up
on which to found a solution OF the matter al
most conclusive. We say almost conclusive,
for it is not always true that because an ex-
pertinent succeeds In one case, il is certain not
to fail in another. The trial of free white la
Dor In this extreme portion of the Southern
States, has been made quite thoroughly this
year, on plantations--as well as upon public
works, compelling worse exposure and harder
labor-and there have been no where any in
dt,.afforS n, load hp raratut ohsarvpr N douhf
the feasibility OF this substitute for the pres
ent labor system of the Southern States. To
fully demonstrate the value of the substitute
a single season Is not enough. The health OF
Louisiana has been unusually good since the
inauguration OF the experiment. Under adj
verse circumstances ii might progress less IA
vorably. The result is decidedly success as
far as the trial has been made, and though it is
not matter regarding which the most devot-
ed lovers OF slavery need congratulation, we
confidently believe that those who have most
at heart the real interests ofthis country, may
feel very well satisfied with what the expert
ence of some eight months has plainly taught.
For the system Of negro slavery is terribly
shaken already. The progress OF events has
rivation of the great Southern staple has had
a paralyzing influence upon important branch
es of industry at the North and in Europe
BY the immense productiveness OF the South
ern States In the one article of cotton, want
has been created in the commercial and man
ufacturing world severely felt since the block
ade became efiectual. The inevitable dissolu-
ton of the slave labor system might seem to
promise a continuation Of that need for years
to come, or until necessity should open new
avenues for the employment OF idle hands and
capital; but while it is granted that slavery
must %. ultimately If not Immediately, and as
a general system, though IL may outlive its
usefulness In some locaities-if it Is shown
that there is reasonable hope that such sub
stitute Is at hand rs will relieve us from the
great difficulties OF the position, every man in
terested by regard for the fortunes of this
country, or the position of the industrial in
terests of England, France and the United
States, must rejoice thereat The indications
are that the requirement of the time may be
met by the employment of the free whites
perhaps even by the employment of free
blacks.
There is much proof already before us that
the climate is an insuperable objection to the
entrance of white laborers upon the ground
Heretofore titled exclusively by slaves. IL Is
undoubtedly true that the average white Ia
borer Is more industrious, more able, more in
teIligent than the average black. He will per-
form more work in the same time aud
perform it better than the black. Economy
would be consulted by employing him. He
needs less direction in the field, assumes the en-
tire charge OF his family, in sickness or age is
no burden upon his employer. He is moreover
able to add something, and not little, to the
aggregate intelligence of the community; to
add, in the persons of his children, immeas-
urabIy and in every way to the wealth of the
State, and the defences OF democratic institu-
ions against the approaches OF aristocrrcy, ma
tive and foreign. He would deserve and earn
with profit tohis employer good pay. The crops
would not suffer from the strikes of which