Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-18
THE LABOR AND FOOD QUESTION AT
THE SDETTH.

race for the time to be measurably exempted
from curtailment in numbers, the time is at
hand when, unless something can be done, the
account will be rapidly balanced, and new
and frightful sacrifice will be inevitable, thus
sweeping that section of a vast multitude of
both white and colored demanding years to
make good the deficiency of population. All
must take note of the faCt-that a country dis
organized to a great degree STILL and almost
destitute of food, cannot be inviting; and ii
the country at large desires to know what the
tendencies of things are, so far as the able
bodied labor of the South is in the case, the
following extract from letter written by an
officer of high rank, and dated at Nashville
last month"; addressed to one of the editors of
this paper will pretty effectually tell the story:
General Fiske, Of the Freedmen Bureau,
EEtold me last night that he had applications
"fom thirteen Northern States for eighteen
"thouSond contrdbdndS. He had sent twenty
''five hundred from Nashville, and six thou
''sand from Memphis; but the cry is still for
''more. Think of that, Master Brooke
DEMONSTRATING Michigan and Illinois crying
''for black labor! and 1t not to be had. We
''shall have Indiana and New j ersey presently.
''howling; and then the whole problem will be
..solved; or rather reduced to a simple rule,
''viz: send the negro North, and the white
imam Soath, and everybody will be satisfied"
The above letter, we repeat, is from the
highest source: and does it not show, in con-
nection with other evidence, what that drift of
matters is rhich threatens tie utter erting,tish-
mem Of all hopes Of q cotton crop for the aert
season, unless the Government comes to the
rescue by compelling organization and labor
from those left behind in the cotton producing
States who are able to work? And with the
loss of another cotton crop, where is the
labor--at a proft--of the North itself?
Where can hopes of a supply of cotton for the
mills of New England come from? and will
States which apply the most stringent laws
for the cOmpulsion and regulation of pauper
labor consent to be much longer taxed I'M
complainingly for the deportation of provisions
to feed the Migrants of other States, when no
efforts are made to tighten the burdens all are
thus called upon to bear?
And with this view of the case, the New
England capitalists arc-we learn-already
demonstrating their sharpness, their foresight
by buying up and laying by large stocks of the
Southern staple. Certain of them-we know
are wise enough to consider the probabili-
ties OF the case, and to act upon it, and let a
cotton famine indeed uUuv. ao. ,u,lca, the
Government moves promptly in the matter, is
sure to happen, and we predict that the most
urgent pleas that will be heard in favor of the
course we have indicated will come from the
New England States themselves. The Presi-
dent considers the starving colored pconle of
the South as the ''Nation' poor" and as in
case so well pronounced, so urgent in its needs.
relief must be had, let the Federal Executive.
we would again insist, be urged and en-.
treated to deal with them on a grand scale. as
would the authorities of any city or county
with their own poor, when the ''workhouse
farm is made the theatre of industrial under
takings to Tighten the cost of their support.
We have already shown from the manifesto
put forth by ''The Freedman's Aid Commits
slon," the dire necessities of Georgia and GER
tam other OF the cotton producing States, and
the letter we have given demonstrates unmis-
takeably that these States are to be left mainly
to the occupancy Of those of the colored race
who have not energy or physical ability to
strike out prosperous career of industry for
themselves. And now, as confirming the
worst views of the case, and as iustifyinp
every fear we have expressed as to the future
OF these poor people, we would call the par
hcular attention of our readers to some ex
tracts from letter republished bv us a few
days since from the New York Times. and
from one OF Its most reputable and truthful
correspondents now travelling in the South
We quote:
Hall million of freedmen are within the
borders of Alabama. Forty thousand Of
them are aged and infrm, and of course.
without the means and strength to assist
themselves. There are, in addition, one
hundred thousand children, necessarily helm.
less. Those who are able and unwilling to
perform labor, prowl around upon the farms
"and plantations and exc out a miserable life
"dy stealing and nsaraudinq.
Take it throughout the State. it is beIievod
that ten thousand hogs and one thousand
"cattle have been stolen and killed bv these
"lndolent men and women, all of whozn oye
liable to perform any kind of acork. Renorts
''are being circulated that great MANY freed.
''men are being shot down in cold blood Inv
their former masters and others. II is truo
THAT reports arrive at different Headquarters
'of this state of things, and in most cases then
'.Proce true. But in most cases it is made
"evident that those aUho acere shot dorm mere
'thieres and mu7derers"
Now, we insist once more, that such n con-
dition of thing. as exists in too manv of tbe
cotton States, of which the above extract gives
us tolerable idea, ought not to continue for
a single day longer than the Government can
reach it aciM tic strong hand If it is so ter
rible now, what will it be as the winter wears
on with its power to make all suffer an hun
dred fold greater destitution and misery; and
can it be good policy, will any sane man ad-
vocate the fostering still further this reckless
ness and crime, this idleness which is the
parent of every evil, by devoting the resources
OF the Government to pamper it? The case is
eminenty national in its bearings, and is ut
terly beyond the grasp of the States which are
the scenes of these horrors. Let the nation |
then speak out, and indicate to the President |
Its wishes, and who can doubt his readiness to |
meet the contingency in the only way that |
seems practicable.
COMPLETE CLOTHING HoUsE.-We take great |
IN calling the attention of our readers to the