, 1865-05-25
E, THE LABOR PROBLEM.
The Fal1acT OF the AfEunuen MT AEaIus3
kefdom fs1p<se<t.

Correspondence n. +. Tlmes, Mey a2l
We must eolse the problem ofthe freedmen
By THREE very simple rules: 1at, to observe
the 1Aws Of nature Ia regard 10 thelv condi-
ton "a, to organize negro industry On the
pEtnct{.!es ot Juattcc and Sd, to observe the
laws Of Christian duty toward them, exactly
Us toward otbeE men. To know exactly what
thest laws arc, We have sona aids Of great
Importance In the recent ceusuS statistics.
Ihey. throw great Light on this whole
question. We eau do nothing right without
frst Getting The precise state of facts. I have
before me the volume Of cnnn's statistics on
"Agiienltuse," prepared by Nj. Kennedy.
which contains the number Of slareholders
and The number OF Rlayes und this yeey state
neDt Rplyes some Of the difncalties of the
question. As fair sGnple Of the who1t. I
WaN give the main facts Is to the condition Of
FhtclIs baytng few Slaves, will not materially
vary TIE iactt, Thich will show how easily the
freedmen question can be settled rs TO two
1ns:etial poin1s-prbpt1ty and industry. Tac
following are the main fscts;
Number al .1avrholde1r.... .s2,fs3
Numhef who owu 1oa and Under @W ..,.... Its
Numee1 who own 81 and unter loo,,.,.,,,.. TiG
Num!e1 who owp 10 and under t0.....,13 13G9l
Number Eho own less lhan 10......-...-.-.,S7,7n
Nearly half the yhole number Of slave-
holders own less than five cach. The idea
commonly held Of great plantations cnlti-
rated By slaves il entirely gone in regard to
Virginia and the number Of such In the en-
Gse South il comparatively few. In Virginia
there ate not oFcr thousand such plant4-
IL NJ. There are not more than 80, 03o psr-
snns IN Virginia who OWL fam 1aboreta. and
ineTe arg eo,uou farms Of over ten acres. It |
y, therefore, evldtnt that the great body of |
istms IN Virginia Ate cultiva.ed naw by ffee ]
ianoe IN the large couuty Of Aueas:a, for |
eAanp!e, there ART bnt 553 farmers who own
McIc Tim Two slaves, and there are 5NJ |
1T thneIs. II is perfectly clear hat two-tlirds
tlese a1n ~ 1 ase cultivated by free labor. Nov.
t3,s se a3a ~ thc lazges: Slave State thr chanr.
-. l T., s'aee 1 70 Tree institutions wil BE- attrna
Ss,t - 10 Eact!cal difficulty whaIcvrr iens t
se1rants 1'ases arr nothing moro than bonae
fuur-a man % twatferp tsfarpose Jno. Jones owns
tHo shs|dren-and th,t IN aa naa}. seoak}. and
<s.ooA. This u. ,,a.s! a.Ss!ESeeAte va!ue
.os he has to pay a1t their cost ~ 49, "taith
nj. ssnent nn;;. anu medicine. Ta,aa7 H. e1s.,
t. 1as s 10 rslne 'o1ns al ,Saa On them temorroT,
sssnes , 10 h;m lie retslns their serEcn. .I III
Isyf mem A'ty centa a day, 1stg them ~, aoss r..
school! aud gsts It'd Of all obligations ~ so 10 70
port thcm. us Ac not better 81 In eyerr r.
met: I" 81, Ae h certainly Is. If shey Do not save
ttey E've no further trouble. S$l' aoo
In Tie clanngtd condition Of th,ors
e. 2rG;e,i 5ai sslue q hss disappeared xhateTeis
WIS before: She hks lost nothing % hnt ,nsas sas
0eti9n: The PROPERTY question Is b ihsrciefs 1Iets
absolutely noltfug; aud II it were. nut tno.o
than o"tJon'!A skr elite Fe9,2t Of Ji1oaig hsrs
e. ang 6 interest @ y *7g,y properly. Sapposns% % the
q wv Save holders 10 he heads of ,a1n7lies
!,nn Mno99gn n9a anany are nos they represent bul
white people. Thus ends It once ~ IT, eg13s E;a,s
hnmbng Of TIE sonth dependent up5n s s3.vt
properly. Nomfnally there were f,i1er tho".
ssnds Of millions Of dollars IN slayca .t nnt
ssa'1y there IVES nothing at I'll. Tbe Thn1e
value Of the s1.rcs was In their la6or, and
tbtlr labor Temafra.i