The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-08-01
sPECULATIoSs ON THE LABOR SYSTEM


tracing a deal Of consideration all over
the country aud as it is a matter in
which all sections are so largely interes-
ted, and to us Of the South is OF such vital
Importance, we shall endeavor to lay be-
fore our readers the best views We can
find in our exchanges on this subject.
The Petersburg Lnder, in an article
headed "Speculations on the Labor Sys-
tenn" winds up as follows:
That which suggests itself to us, as the
efficient remedy for Incidence or vagran-
cy is Consumption. five are correctly in
formed the Government intends to keep
two corps of negro troops as a part Of the
military establishment, aud their ranks
could be recruited from this class, That
it will be sufficiently large there is no
reason to doubt. AS general rule the
negroes of the South have wholesome
aversion to becoming food for POWDER
villianous saltpetre is repulslve 10 their.
olfacteries, and this fear may be used as a
saluEary restraint Moreover their local
attachments are VIGOROUSLY strong, and
their aversion to being transported out OF
the reach of friends would operate to en-
force faithful compliance with their bar.
gains. The specifcterms of contracts such
as compensation, hours of labor, &C., can
readily be adjusted by the parties and
should be recorded in the Sub Bureau of
the county for the protection of both
parties. --..a ts. o
There is another matter, however, of
vital Importance, which requires active
Intervention on the part of the authori-
ties. At Newbern, City PoiAt and nnn-
berless other points the negroes have as
sembled in large numbers. At the first
mentioned place it estimates that there
are 10000; all non-produe5fs. Can this
endures Clearly not. What then is the
remedy? To assign them to duty; to send
them to work on plantations in order that
the great staples Of the Southern country
may not disappear. An observer at any
one of the numerous settlements to which
the blacks have moved is at once struck
by the fact to which we have already al
luded-lhe absence Of productive energy.
This cannot continue. Subsistence can
not be furnished tor them by the govern
meut, and they cannot, IN those large and
dense communities, wiring from the soil a
return adequate to furnish surplus for
the attainment of higher civilization, for
it is upon surplus production, that people
are elevated, refined and educated.
This subject. next to the establishment
of penalties for ipfractions Of contracts,
seems to us to demand attention, and an
enlightened administration of the Bureau
regulating negro population will not fail
to perceive it.
We feel warranted in asserting that a
judieious system, promulgated by the au-
thority in charge Of this particular branch
of the public service, will meet with a
general corporation. We say judicious
system, for we are. persuaded that one of
a contrary character, asystem which shall
ignore the white man, will fail, as inevi-
sably as the sparks fly upwards hat a
wise, humane and liberal system, at nee
generous and strong, may be adopted, we
sincerely trust. Without it, grass will
grow on the tow paths of our canals; the
iron of our railroads will be eaten up in
rust, Ignorant of the rush of engines; our
plantations will grow up in forest tres,
our towns decay, and the negro himself
degenerate into standardization.
The mass of the Southern people APP
preciate this, and if the disorganized labor
OF the country is put in working order on
basis to- give fair remuneration, but at
the same time, to make it available, they
will vigorously endeavor to avert SO great
a calamity. Nor can N Northern men look
on the picture with composure. Apart
from any considerations Of humanity,
every consideration of self interest sug-
gests The Importance of bringing back the
South to its original productive energy !;
Of increasing, if possible, its productive
capacity, and making its great staples of
cotton, tobacco and naval stores, tribu-
tary to the streams, which now, more
than ever, are necessary to the. Federal
Treasury. siI
Any wise and generously conceived
system to regulate system, will receive
general support Any unwise and uu.
generous one, will tail, because of the
apathy Of the Southern people.
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