The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1865-12-06
From the A5beuiWe Banner.
AT HONE, November 25, 1868.

AT HONE, November 25, 1865
iur. Editor: Never before in the history Of
our State has the planting mind Of the coun-
try been 50 exercised as at The present. Each
neighbor is inquiring of his still further off
neighbor, "How do you propose regulating
labor on YOUR plantation next year?" This
one proposes to interest the laborer by giving
him a proportion Of the crop; that one thinks
as money made the mare 60" 1t viii be the
only efectual stimulus to the freedmen, and
hence proposes to payfnonthsy.
Iadvocate neither Of these plans, but prefer
a mixture Of the two, which simply means to
pay in money for the quantity harvested.
For instance, for each bale of cotton 600
.ponnds), each bushei of corn, peas, or snaK
grain, for each gallon of syrup, and pound or
hundred pounds of fodder, propose p"ying
so much, the aggregate being divided pro ratq
amongst The hands, who will in the contract
be rated rs full, three-q quarters, or half hands
Medical attendance and all other plantation
expenses to be furnished by the master, but
deductions to be made at the cxpence of the
laborer, such as loss of time from any other
cause than that created by the master, fines
imposed and boarding Of children. civic
ton" and discharges to be within the power
of the master at all times for disobedlence,
Iidleness, or impudence.
I Stock will be raised by servant not coun-
ted a field hand, whose pay will depend upon
the flock or herd, and the number of
pounds Of pork butchered. In similar way
is poultry to be grown. No employee viii be
allowed to raise chickens or cultivate patch
for himself, and by no means TO 0o0n q dog.
With these explanatory items, Mr.. Editor,
give you below my contract for a plantation
or farm working seven hands. Ofcourse the
same would answer in form and principle for
any number of hands:
FORM OF CONTRACT.
This agreement, made and entered into
this the first day of January, 1866, between
John Smith On the one part and sundry freed
men on the other part, Witnesseth:
That, (frcedmen), whose names are here
unto attached, do agree and bind ourselves to
labor faithfully for one year for the aforesaid
John Smith, obeying all his orders, consulting
defending and promoting all the interests Of
his plantation, and rendering it, by our indus
try, as productive and the ensuing crop as
abundant as possible. That We will be obe-
dient, humble. civil and polite to himself, his
family, or agent; and for violation Of these
pledges render ourselves liable to the punish
ments, or either Of them, mentioned below.
In consideration of the service above speci-
fed, I, John Smith, do agree to house com,
fortably, feed literally, and furnish medical
attendance for the aforesaid freedmen, deduc.
ting however, from their wages so cents per
day for each day lost by one of the laborers
from sickness, or any other cause, except
that created by me.
further agree to board and lodge the chill
dren (non-workers) of the aforesaid freedmen
at monthly expense 50 each, and at the
end of the yeav to pay the field hands, stock
lninder and poultry woman as follows The
field hands, for each bale of cotton 400
pounds), $40; for each bushel ofcorn or peas,
20 cents; for each hundred pounds Of fodder,
90 cents; for each gallon Of syrup, 10 cents;
for harvesting shall grain, cents per bushel;
these amounts to be aggregated and divided
amongst the freedmen as rated below, each
full hand receiving one seventh of the Whole
net amount.
The stock-minder will receive for each lamb
or calf added to the flock or herd during the
year, % cents, and l cent per pound for each
and every pound of pork batchered in the
fall of 1866. =
The poultry; woman will be paid cents
for each head of poultry grown. '~
Any or all the freedmen parties to this con-
! tract may be fined sum not exceeding 81
for each offence, for idieness, -inpudence, dis
! obedience, or for maltreating the stock OF the
plantation, aud for repeated offences may be
discharged at my. discretion, appeal being
granted in case of discharge to Magistrate
or the District Tudge-loss of time occasioned
by the appeal chargeable to the offender.
All expenses incurred by reason of law
regulating labor approval Of contracts, taxes
of freedmen, and boarding the {non-Workers)
children, will be deducted from the wages Of
each freedmen as he may be severally liable
This contract to continue for one year only.
JOHN SMITH, Employer.
Witness: PETER SNooKs, -. .'-
ROBIN HOOP,
FREEDMEN.
his
Simpson, = full hand
mark.
! her
Hannah, his wife, X three-fourths hand,
mark
Adam, o full hand
mark.
Charity, his wife, - half hand.
mark
their
Sam, Lewis, Eli, III each full hand.
marks.
Molly, thrce.fourthS hand.
mark.
Mr. Editor, as the subject of contracts and
labors one Of vital importance to the whole
country, l hope your readers will publish
their views On this subject, that the planters
may be able to deduce thcrefrom a complete
| form ola contract.
! Should not the State and each District for
itself call planters Convention anyhow?
Truly, SALUDA.
SPEAKER Washington, November
22.-The speech of ex-Speaker Colfax here,