The Portland daily press., 1865-11-23
The Labor Question in the South.


The influential character of your journal m
duces me to send you the views OF Hon. Ed
WARD S. ToBEY. one of the best and most
practical men, on the labor question IN the
South. Cast roughly forth, manned and bleed
ing, from their falling prison-house OF bondage
hated even by many of their deliverers, some
of the freedmen will need awhile guardians
care.
So, also, of some of the whites; and it is for
such as are "rot ashamed of Christ" in the
persons of these people, to see to it that they
do not perish.
The leading, earnest Unionists of Maryland
have published and endorsed these views, and
President johnson has recently said that the
plan met his approval. Nowlet Gen. Howaru'
through the Freedmen's Bureau, carry IL lhto
effect in Georgia and other States.
1t is proper to add that Mr.. Tobey is not on
" an enlightened philanthropist but repre-
sentative of Boston mercantile interests.
Below are some extracts from his letter,
first published in Maryland. CONE.
What can be done with the colored popula-
ti,n. when emancipated, to induce them to
contribute InelF d. ucEcbUlOIt, W Tile
wealth of the community, and not become a
burthen on society, Is it is assumed and APP
pretended that they may?
This practical and highly important ques-
ton proposed to me IN South Carolina, twen-
ty years since, has been the subject offrequent
and careful examination. Mature reflection
has served to confirm in my own judgement
the soundness of the answer there given to
the enquiry, which was based on the hypthe-
e;. of H.,
compensated emancipation, by common con-
sent.
And first / assume the probability that as
freemen the colorel laborer will generally be
more susceptible to the stimulating influence
of wages than has been supposed, and as al
ready has to some extent been proved. But
to whatever degree this fails to lead to such a
result it becomes at once a duty and necessi-
ty TO provide for the unfortunate class of la
b1rsrs, who either will not, or cannot procure
employment and subsistence for themselves
In providing, then, for the people who are
now placed in Lew relationship to you, let us
accept as fundamental principle and basis of
&C ion the Scripture declaration, off any man
viii not work, neither shall he eat"
In many, if not all the States, police laws
and regulations Of cities and towns, recogniz-
ing this principle, lay the strong arm of law
on every vagrant who literally will neither
provide for himselfor his household, and places
him in a public institution, under control of
an overseer, where he is compelled to perform
such kind and quantity of labor as he may be
best able to do, and thus contribute to his own
support and the institution established for the
protection Of society from vagrancy and its ac-
companying vices.
1t viii be strange indeed ifunler mistaken
idea of what constitutes true liberty, consider
able numbers of colored persons, hitherto COM
PEELED to labor under the severest penalties
for idleness, should not now fall into the oppo-
site extreme Of apathy and Incidence. Persons
of this class who persistently live in IMPROVE
delce and vagrancy, may, by stringent police
regulations, sanctioned by State legislation, be
male wholly or in part self-sustaining produ-
ers. by their labor. One or more plantations
may be owned by the State, or the county, OF
the town, where persons OF the class referred
to may be placed and compelled 10 work in
such department of agricultural or manufac-
turing industry, as by physical condition or
natural endowments they are best qualified.
They should be under the control and guild
ance of superintendent appointed by the
State, whose powers and duties should be
closely defined, and be held to a rigid respon-
sibility to thep public and the State for proper
and judicious exercise of these powers
Another class Of colored persons viii be
found willing to work, but without forecast or
energy, and therefore supplanted by the more
industrious and intelligent of their race This
Is by no means peculiar to the African 1t is
true OF all races of men, and everywhere mod
ned chiefly by the more or less general diffu-
sion acknowledge and Christian education.-,
For this class, let the State provide plantations
under its control, arranged with small but
neat and comfortable dwellings,, with chapels,
schools, and all the necessary ARRANGEMENTS of
colony complete in itself. Let those who
are willing to work but unable to procure
or II n, 1-Nt,N h.,
privilege of such an institution, and receive
compensation according t. the character and
quantity OF labor they are able to perform aid
ed and directed by an intelligent superinten-
dent, who, appointed by the State, shall be
subject to the supervision of a board of
overseers, and held accountable for the fidelity
and ability with which he shall perform the
duties of his office.
Under such an arrangement for compeDsat-
ed labor although it be smalll the self-respect
ofthe man is maintained even if his ambi-
ton be not excited to earn full wages.
lfany of the members of the colony who are
ablc-bodied fail by voluntary labor 10 be self
sustaining, let them be transferred to the in
stitution first named, where they may be COM
PEELED to labor.
1t might be urged that this is only modif-
cation OF a hitherto arbitrary system of labor:
it may be answered that it is voluntary sys-
tenn. II person will voluntarily support
himself by his own industry, the law cannot
reach him so as to compel him to labor and if
he is willing to labor but cannot find emplov-
ment, the State merely inoitcs him 10 become
member OF an industrial colony, where he
may avail himself of the advantages of a sys-
TEN under the guidance of an intelligent
mind. Whenever he desires to renew the X
pertinent self support in the community at
large, ne may be permitted to do SO, but fail
ing IN his effort, let him be returned to either
OF che institutions herein named, according to
his circumstances and condition. =
Dy the two fold arrangement, productive
industry will and must be secured, while il is
believed, as already stated, that no irconsider-
able portion OF the colored population win, un-
der the stimulus OF wages and the usual infiu-
ences OF increased educational facilities, ulti-
mately produce as much on the average as
white population In any part of the country.
To secure such results, the efforts of every
intelligent citizen may well be directed.
The principles of christianity, of political
economy, and indeed ofself interest, alike de-
mand that the wisdom of the statesman, the
enrgntened moralist and christian, should
combine to improve and advance the great
interests of the masses Of the people, who less
favored OF Providence are unable to devise the
Wlsest measures for themselves 1t is one of
the great laws OF the Creator, that the strong !
are bound to provide for the weak. aRear We |
one another's burdens and SO fulfil the law of |
Christ" ' ~" "
The greatest blessings are promised to those
who care for the poor II is in accordance
with these principles that large schools have
been formed in New York, and one is now be-
ing instituted in this city, supported by yomn-
tary contributions, to which the children of
poor parents and orphans are invited, clothed.
and educated, and many of them by mutual |
consent of parents and children, are adopted |
by christian families throughout the country, !
and become paer such influence happy and
useful members OF society. In every large
nn.@ce, responsible committees are appointed
charged with the duty ofcognizance Of the re-
lation between the child and its adopted pa
rents, and to report to the Central Associat ion |
any abuse which may occur. The most ex- |
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