The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-11-07
THEGATECTTY.
KEOKUk, IOWA:
MORNING, NOVEMBER i.


So far as our observation extends we never
saw any evidence of the democratic dogma
TINT free negroes won't work. And we are
inclined to think there is no truth in it, SO far
as the colored men hereabouts are concerned.
Indeed we think there are no more persistent
~ industrious people in this community than
the negro. Esss-s
The following from Georgia correspond
snt of the Cincinnati Gazette will show why
some negroes get lazy down in Georgia: -.
pEsrITurIoS OF THE PLANTERS.
1t must be remembered, too, that the ne
groes now labor under peculiar disadvantages,
on account of the poverty Of their former
masters. The simple hearted, uncultlyated
children of slavery cannot understand how 1t
j. that all the representatives of wealth IN the
South-bonds. stocks and currency-have
been extinguished at blow They cannot
comprehend how it is that their former mas
ter who once reveled in luxury and wealth,
cannot now raise dollar to pay his laborer
little on account. Having learned this one
idea, that in the state of freedom they will get
money for their work, they expect at least
portion of that money to be immediately
forthcoming. As their master never PAID
them anything before, they distrust his prom
ises now: and as they go on week after week
receiving nothing but promises many OF them
become restless and dissatisfied, aud incline TO
wander off to the towns where they can occa-
sionally pick up quarter for stray job. All
these people need is little enlightenment,
and an intelligent assurance that at length
their wages will be paid to make them con-
tented and willing laborers. There is no gem
eral dissemination TO work among them.
Where they understand their new relations,
they betake themselves cheerfully to toll, and
/ cannot find that their employers complain
OF them.
THE SEcRo's WILLINGNESS TO WORK.
In the towns, where money has commenced
freely to circulate, and where the poor negro
can occasionally handle some of the fruits of
bis exertions, do not hear expressed that
opinion of his ineradicable laziness, which is
so prevalent among the farmers and planters.
While | was in Macon ! heard one day an
honest looking, bluff and hearty gentleman,
in the inevitable country homemade, de-
claiming in loud tones against the unwilling
ness of the negroes to labor. and their IN
iaithfulness TO their contract.
EXPLANATION OF THE Planters ERROR.
"Why," said he. Il" | promised every one OF
a
TO labor on my plantation. and before the
season was ont fully three-fourths of them
left me-"
turned to an intelligent Southern friend
who was assisting me to interpret what
beard aud saw.
Can this be true?'' inquired.
at is true said my friend. but it is not
the whole truth. / know that planter well.
He has two thousand acres of land in this
county. Last spring he contracted with his
negroes to paw them so much for the season.
and to give them q certain amount al the end
OF thee months. He had little money then.
derived from the sale of some cotton stored
away during the war. But, poor gentleman
H. found that the expenses incident to get
ting his plantation in orde- and to meet the
necessities and wants of large family. ex-
hausted all his cash before the expiration OF
the three months. OF course. at the end OF
that time he was unable TO pay ANYTHING to
his hands. He made little speech to them in
his blunt way, endeayoring to explain the
difficulty. and thought they ought to be salts
he'd; but their imperfect intellects could grasp
nothing more than the bare fact that they had
been promised some money at the end Of the
three months, which they failed TO receive.
Suspicious sprang up in their minds that the
whole thing was a cheat and, as the farmer
SAYS. TIE majority Of them became dissatisfied
aud wandered away
This case is o representative one, and fully
explains the planters idea that 1.-The negro
will only work when compelled to- Here
egain, we get glimpse of the benefcent re-
suits TO all concerned which viii flow from
an influx of Northern capital. The magic
power Of money will convert the entire negro
population into busy and cheerful laborers.