The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-06-08
LEGISLATION ron THE FREEDMKS.
AGeOrgIa View or The Affair.
Fr0m tae Mao0a Jou pa and Messengsr

IRON ne Aaooa Jou. ua ana mestengar.
If the people Of Georgia are 70 be
permitted TO regulate the internal
affairs Of their State, 10 legislste for the
interests Of trade, Of labor and domes-
tic economy, there Is 3 vast field of
labor before them, and one upon which
they should speedily enter. To con
form 10 the new order Of things, there
viii have 20 be q radical change in the
statute laws Of the State. The rels-
Gonship heretofore existing between
labor and capital has been violently
severed, and We are now called on to
sdOpt measures which VIII, as far as
possible, render the change subseryient
to these two interests Free labor, as
an organized institution Of the South,
j. an untried experiment, and It il no
more expected that We shall adapt
ourselves 10 il without some perplexity,
than would the North sdapt herself to
slave labor The theory and practice
OF such an institution are as novel 70
us ~ have been those Of slavery to the
Northern people. The change involves
not only industrial, but social interests,
and in this latter particular the South
nae difficulties 10 contend with which
can nuly be appreciated by her own
people
lnOse who have labored 80 strenu-
Ously 10 free the slave seem TO have
thought that the change from proprie-
tory 20 compensated labor would Be Of
easy transition; that it Was only neces.
cary 70 assure the negro Of his freedom,
ana that be was st liberty 10 maks the
best disposition OF his industry for his
W benefit, TO at once develope the
greatest amount Of compensated labor,
. incite q spirit OF emulation among
the freedmen. Never were people
more deceived, If they thus judged the
character of the negro. How 70 regu
late slave labor 80 as to render il of the
greatest practical utility 10 the interests
Of the country at lsrge-the Notrh as
well as the SOuth--has been the pecu-
liar study Of Southern statesmen for a
great many years. How TO do the same
Tor free labor has heen equally the
study Of Northern Statesmen; and it is
fair 10 infer that these two classes of
students, theone is in proportion to his
knowledge of the subject 4 which his
mind has been peculiarly directed, il,
no-ant Of that which has not bean
made his study. Hence the Southern
man understands the nature Of slavery
and the slave better than the North
ern man. He understands that COM
pensated labor viii not do for the mes
gro, ~ = freedman, what compensated
labor has done for the white man; that
the former has no intelligent ~apprecia-
ton OF the privileges and responsible
ties which freedom confers, that be is
by nature indolent and careless, and
will only work under compulsion and
70 crafty temporary wants. Indeed,
no greater mistake has ever been made
by the Northern people than that of
believing the Southern slave destitute
Of all means 10 acquire wealth, il he
desired IL As compared TO the free
white laborer IN this section, his oppor-
tuuities for amsssing money have been
favorable, for being fed, clothed, and
otherwise amply provided for by his
master, his private earning land, If he
was industrious, they we're large) could
be husbAnded or invested 10 his own
exclusive benefit
But the truth is, and we presume
those Northern persons who AVE re-
Gently been among US have noticed il,
the negro spends everything he earns
in extravagsnt dress, trinkets, and for
the temporary qualification Of any and
every caprice which may enter his
tickle brain He is proverb:ally i'm
prOvident-neyer taking heed for 10
morrow, 20 long A. be can crafty the
wants OF to-day. lie has no idea of
system-order i not one Of his cranioN
logical developments, and without some
one 70 direct and restrain him, be viii
never become distinguished a. a prom
lneot Rgeut Of the Industrial prosperi-
y Of this or any other nation.
In the negrOs behalf, therefore. no
less than in that Of the public general
ly, legislation viii be necessary. and IL
our people are indeed 10 enjoy the civil
rights which were theirs befora The war
they should 81 once take steps 10 reeu.
late by law the status Of labor and the
social privileges Of the blacks AT
present they are in 3 state Of anarehy,
apparently coneious Of nothing but the
fact of their liberty 70 90 where and
DO what they please They infest the
streets and alleys, struggle over the su.
burbs, intrude upon private premises.
and with characteristic aimlessness OF
purpose. lounge hilher and thither
needless Of the time coming when thew
must either become q useful member
Of, OF n burthen 10 society. Relieved
from all obligations OF obedience 10
those who nee bad 3 legal right 20
control, and we're responsible Tor his
acts the negro must now become the
peculiar object Of the lsw'sregsrd. To
that end. il Is proper that legislation
eh,.1l a,aalI.- -.