The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-12
COLUMBIA.
Sunday Morning, Nov. IL. 1853
Freednem's Labor.


labor and capital, having been utterly an
initiated during the last six months, there
must now be immediate legislation for the
protection Of the white capitalist and
farmer, as well as for the negro laborcr.
Until there is legislation upon this subject,
all attempts at successful business enter
prise, either in town country, for the
next year, will be worse than useless.
There would bo no better grounds for
taking out a commission in lunacy than
for it to be clearly proven that any one had
embarked in a great enterprise, the sue
cess of which depended upon the negro
employees fulfilling their contracts for the
space Of twelve months.
+ From the Rio Grande to the Susque-
hanna, from the planters Of Texas and
from the farmers of Maryland, there is not
the slightest difference of opinion as to
freedmen" treating their contracts as
nullities. No treatment, however kind, no
rational indulgences, however liberal, make
the slightest impression upon these most
inconstant and tickle Of human beings.
They have no moral principle where con-
tract is concerned, and their instability
~'e1ceedcth that Of water and sand"
We believe that in this State the officers
Of the Freedmen's Bureau have done all
that it was possible to correct this great
and universal evil, but, in the absence of
Legislation upon the subject, they have
been able to accomplish very little. The
Legislature must speedily provide laws
which will secure the negro in the enjoy
ment Of his newly acquired rights, and also
protect the white man from the conse-
quences of the negro's utter disregard of
Ibis contracts. We desire that when a
negro contracts with white man, that the
law should thoroughly protect his rights,
and that he should never be victmized by
that class Of bad men who might be base
enough to avail themselves Of his ignorance
and improvidence. Before he enters into
AN agreement, he shou d have the nature
.of the contract explained to him by impair
tial and disintcrcsted persons. Before
binding himself, no should be allowed time
for deliberation, and after he has made
himself party to contract he should be
dealt with fairly, humanely and honestly.
If his employer fails to perform his part
of the contract, the negro should have
relief at once afforded him in some legal
tribunal whose sessions should be weekly,
and where the justice shall be administered
at very cheap rate.
All this we concede should be provided
by law for the protection of the negro
iaborer. But there should also be effective
legislation for the purpose of compelling
the negro to perform his contracts, where
his employer has fulfilled his part of them
faithfully. The terrors of the law should
be arraycd with so much solemnity upon
the side of "respcct for contracts" that
Cuffcc shonld be taught that the worst
thing that he caA do in this world, short
Of murder, burglary, and larceny, is to de-
libcratcly violate them. Unless there shall
be legislation to effect this result, the en-
ployer is without remedy. He would never
be guilty of the absurdlty of seeking re-
lief in the courts against Il defendant
whose worldly effects consist of less than
that mcagre modicum Of personal pro-
perty which the law exenpts from cxccu-
ton for debt. =
We have been informed by = distinguish
ed jurist, who is a member elect of the
virginia Legislature, thaC tnc lapof laws
of England and of several of the European
States contain just such provisions for the
protection Of the employer arc needed
by the farmers, planters and all others who
have now to depend upon free labor at the
SoT+l.
4 ~ this is question of the utmost i,rao-
i teal Importance, we hope that it will
receive tie early attention of the Lcgisla-
turc. II possible. well matured, judici-
ous Labor Jaw" covering the whole ground
which We have travclscd in this editorial
should be enacted by / Legislature be