Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-11-10
nne of the practical questions with which
~ the people Of the South have to deal is

Ane of the practical questions with which
~ the people Of the South have to deal is
that of labor. Our old labor system, which
has existed for years, to the advantage of the
entire country, by the aid of which we have
grown into first class commercial nation,
has been lately swept away. With it destroy
ed we must endeavor to maintain the posi-
ton acquired through long and prosperous
existence. To do this, shall we essay the
reorganization Of the labor system of the
South, adapted to the change of Circumstances
from our old material or introduce new and
white. labor? The withdrawal or removal of
the freedmen en- n,asse would relieve us of
the Necessity of solving this question, but
with them still among us and to remain
among us, for their removal, if ever accom-
plished, must be gradual and will take years
to consummatc it, we must needs solve the
problem at once.
They. as we have stated above, Will remain
among us for years, perhaps forever, and
since they must of necessity be consumers
they likewise must be induced or compelled
to produce. They have heretofore been ex-
cellent producers and with the enactment of
proper laws may still be as useful as ever
We are not of those who would cast them
aside, whether they are willing to labor or
nat vat 1ro cc fl,n:r o.4;o,, nv, H. ~,
nounccment of their freedom Has anything
but promising of future utility as a laboring
class They sought the towns, as many do
yct, and refused to contract to labor in the
country, but in short time they will learn
that they can not sustain themselves by the
precarious vending of Cakes, Candies, Lem
monadc &c, and must betakc themselves to
useful employment
4 contemporary, who shows desire to sec
the freedmen still made erul as laborers,
and at the same time advantaged, recon-
mends farmers convention" to meet at
some accessible and central point in the State
10 take into consideration this matter and de-
termine the best means, with reference to the
interest Of all parties, Of securing the end
desired, and to influence the Legislature, by
the result Of its deliberations, to pass such
laws. alike equitable to white and black, as
shall compel rigid adherence to contracts,
prevent vagrancy on the p1rt Of the older,
and the acquisition Of idle habits on the part
OF the younger freedmen &C., &c.
We submit this to the consideration of our
people, as 3 matter worthy of their interest,
and which will he productive of good to whites
and blacks.
In our desire to see the consumers among
us made producers, we do not oppose the
introduction Of white labor, simply desiring to
. call attention to the fact that we must make
producers Of those who are to remain with us
as consumers, knowing we'll that there is
abundant work for white immigration In
deed the vast fields Of productive industry in
the South, still in their undeveloped infancy,
offer to them inducements far greater than
the densely populated and more developed
North and West We believe that there will
be labor enough to occupy the freedmen, and
immigrants who may come among us for
years, but that in our desire to introduce
white labor we must remember that we have
large laboring class among us, which must
not remain idle consumers, to their own and
- the great disadvantage of the South and the
whole country,