The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-03-12
Tine Labor system OF the south
Destroyed How Shaia il be Re.
Organized.


TO make the negroes into soldiers was
violently opposed and to issue the Proc
amation OF Emancipation was eered at as
void and inefficient. But these measures
are fGjt Gccompit. They are no longer
questionable; and Ike the sword of Alex
ander cutting the Gordian knot they have
accomplished what no skill, or genius, or
legislation can do. They have destroyed
the system OF labor, as il existed III the form
OF organized slavery throughout the South.
Our armies have penetrated the regions
where slavery was the densest. Hundreds
of thousands of slaves have been released :;
tens ofthousands have been converted into
soldiers, and the rumor OF the negro mil
lennium has penetrated every negro quar-
ter of the South. Ii anything remained
to he accomplished. few short months
will do it. The wild dream of African
slavery in America will soon be ended
The clear-headed men of the South have
already woke up from their delCsion in
regard to both cotton and slavery. They
no longer think mankind are dependent
upon one fabric of industry, or that
slavery can be forced upon "a country
against the opinions OF the civilized world.
| the Richmond papers openly propose 10
| give freedom TO eottOn--that is. let 1t pass
our lines. In other words, they think We
| will give bread for cotton: very nice
plan 10 prolong the war, but rather late
| in the day.
| On the subject of slavery very remark
able document has been issued to the peo-
pie of Alabama by a Mr.. Eumphrys, who
appears to he a man of influence there
He has taken the clearest view of how the
war affects the South, of any man who has
written on the subject. Hegives this strik-
| ing picture Of the actual condition Of the
South.
| "What now is the social condition Of the
South? Not family to be found but
mourns the loss Of some inmate. Fiction
never pictured what reality has disclosed.
| Fathers have been slain in battle. Sons
| have been sacrificed. Thousands OF brave
men have perished ca the ground where
some memorable ba,,le has been fought. AS
if to try the skill of commanders III con-
ducting the instruments OF destruction.
| It is time to put an end TO the desolation
of home, to the slaughter of kindred and
the ruin of friends. The restoration OF
Government saves our honor as political
communities, reconstructS social life, gives
/ security 10 the person, reputation and
property. There are those VINO atfec: dis
dain a: the reconstruction Of the Union, as
though j; would dishonor and soil forever
the character o! the Southern people. To
reconstruct the Union is to re-establish
law, order and constitutional authority
1t is to re establish society, with the safe
guardsanG'prOtectiOns which once existed n
l.
| ton was the cause, and the preserv alton of
the institution the end to be attained. This
| is correct. Then, he SAYS, IL this revolu-
I ton, made by the Confederate Govern
ment is to prove the destruction of the in
stitution, ii is unreasonable to continue the
struggle, certainly. What then does he
propose? He says if the South had the
power, against all the world, to accomplish
their end, it might have done; but that
the United States people and Government
have armed for the purpose Of extending
the authority of the Union over the rebel
States, and have they sufficient power TO
resist it? Can the institution of slavery be
preserved by war? And, ii not, can it
not be preserved by reconstruction? Mr..
Humphreys continues:
| Certain it is, that il the armed struggle
continues, and the Federal power is push
ed forward in the same ratio for eighteen
months to come, that it has advanced since
the war began, the whole labor system OF
the South viii be unsystematized. The
question may here naturally be asked, will
the restoration of the United States Gov
ernment restore the labor system Of the
South, and give it security believe it
will. It viii secure to the State the right
to dispose Of its labor system in the way
and manner that shall accord with the cir
cumstances surrounding us. We can't
subsist without labor, nor can the labor
ruin. We can have no government as long
as the war continues. And We can have no
means Of carrying on the war without
llabor.''
Mr.. Humphres here touches the true
point. The fault Of the Confederate cur
lrencv. of the means of substance, and
even the want Of men, arise mainly from
the destruction-part accomplished, and
part going on-of their labor system. What
sustains the credit, currency and substanc<
of the United States Government is '0Ao
lies behind ;t-the energy, production and
expansion Of free labor. Look North O
the Ohio, aud see the boundless field of pro-
ductien, titled by the energy and enterprise
Of a free people, undiminished AID nm
checked by even this gigantic war! Ther
look back upon this picture Of Mr.. Humph
} reys-a desolated country, and Labor
j jsystem broken UP. That Mr.. Aonpnrey'