Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-10-17
THE LABOR SYSTEM.
ton I?


he considered and solved by the people of vir
ginIa and OF the South is the reorganization oil
labor, now almost in chaotic state. Without
adequate regular and reliable labor, it is impossi'
BILE for any people to prosper or even to maintain
themselves. 1t is the foundation on which the
whole social, political and industrial structure
must he reared. II is idle aud out of time to dis.
cuss political theories and plan civil arrangements
until this basis is laid. With this view of the i'm.
portauce of the matter we will be glad to have
for publication the ideas OF gentlemen who may
have given attention to the subject. The approach
of a SEES ion of the Legislature renders il desrab
that as much light as possible may be thrown up.
on the question as guide to the deliberations and
action OF that body. As q beginning, We lay be-
fore our readers some private letters that have
beel received by Gen. VIM. H. Richardson, whose
patriotic and Intelligent igterest in the matter has
led him to place them at our disposal. We are
sure the writers will excus, the liberty taken:
FROM A JAMES RIVER FARMER.
Gen. W. II. Richardson
DEAR SIR: An absence from home for three
weeks has prevented my sooner answering your
favor of the Sd instant. | hope Mr.. Black may
be successful in introducing large number of my
countrymen. They would be valuable addition
to the community. Would not the Piedmont coun-
try be the best for his purposes They are all more
or less acquainted with the management OF cattle.
! That is a good country for them. There are very
few negroes left in it. Altogether, should think
1t the best {, r his purposes and for his tenants.
! have still more than go negroes on my estate,
/ scarce one third of whom do any work. | cannot
| get rid of them. If / were to send them off, the
/ Military authority would send them back TO me-,
as they have done to Others. Until
there is some way for me to get I'd of the large
number of women and children, see 10 chance
of using any other kind of labor.
FROM VALLEY FARMER.
OCTOBER 9Th, 1866
Nh Dear SRI have received your letter of
the Sd instant and about the tine it came to hand
! read communication in the Wing on the same
! subject in part.
Since the negroes have been freed, l have, in
! common with most other rejecting persons given
| some thought TO the labor question. | have in.
c.ined strongly to the conclusion that the tenant
system, as it exists in Englind could. under pre-
sent circumstances, be introduced with decided
and certain adv ntage, both to the landholders
and the immigrants. | am satisfied, from ny OBJ
servation, that the freedmen cannot be relied
| upon as laborers unless some better system for
their management than that now prevailing can
be adopted If they are to be made to support
themselves, the Government must adopt policy
that will compel them 10 respect their contracts
and faithfully fulfill their obligations The negro
/ is naturally inclined to be lazy and idle and to
control this disposition the Government must ex
ercise q control over him aud see that he works
/ have no feeling against them-on the contra
ny. have strong feeling for them, In considera-
ton of their good conduct throughout the recent
! struggle Besides, mine have all behaved with
she most commendable fidelity and propriety be-
fore duNlng the war, and since. While have
any thing, they shall be ired for. The great ma
jority of them however, are not like mine, and
require more control and stronger discipline.
FROM soUTHsIDE FARMER.
OCTOBER Z, 1865.
General w. H. Richardson, Richmond:
DEAR SIR am glad to see that you are again
/ turning your attention to the subject of the de-
| velopment of the agriculture Of the State.
Your zsal and known devotion TO that interest
will trcst, be of essential value In resuscitatng
| and revving it. 1t is, however, Herculesn task
Our system of labor s destroyed, so is all system
of agriculture. Our fiat lands are undrained, aud
instead of being tine source of profit are the pro-
life sources Of disease. Our high LANDS are worn
and waste, and washed into gullies; aud our en-.
closures and farm buildings are gone TO wreck
and ruin. Better to begin anew, but alas , much
that has been done has TO be undone or removed
before we can start to work. But beyond and
above and transeending all other difficulties sur
rounding our agricultural, and, indeed all other
industrial questions, is the condition oil our la.
\ VI,
duction, has become torpid and productive
and Ia absolutely and rapidly becoming exclu.
sively consuming.
The contemplation of our condition Is dreadful
and appalling, not the less so that the remedy is
in other hands and not in our own. Under the
control Of persons only incidentally interested in
/ 1t, ami who however sincere in their desire 10
correct the evil are, | spprehend, inexperienced
/ in the treatment of the subject and ignorant Of
the nature, habits and character OF the negro
fFain IN lam nd ral nj bn
were required by their own interest and the law of
the land, II protect and support them, this labor
ing class has become idle, vicious in their habits,
vagab md and vagrant Without local habitations
or regular employment, under no constraint or re-
straint looking ony TO present enjoyment: mis-
taking RIGHTEOUSNESS and the privilege of being
de for liberty II is rapidly becoming burthen
and terror TO the community that formerly re-
lied upon 1t for its raw production almost exclu-
1 sively. The man that will devise a remedy for
this alarming paralysis OF agricultural labor, and
apply that remedy, will be benefactor 10 the
Southern country equal to the greatest that has
lived in all ages.
And yet it would seem easy to correct and re-
move the evil. The cause is undoubtedly the
sudden. and soon to be general suspension and
paral sis of the Labor of the country which is left
uncontrolled and free 10 act or not, without coer
cion, restraint or the stimulus that belongs to an
active and energetic race with ordinary forecast
and precision.
labor from coercive control and struck Of its
shackles might il il saw fit, control and regulate
/ il by general laws and influences so as to put II
to work and keep it constantly employed.
Sufficient time has elapsed TO demonstrate that
it cannot be trusted TO perform the functions ne
cessary even for its own support and existence.
Why not take the matter in hand and dsmand the
/ performance of its necessary dutiesl Why not or
der, and then if need be- coerce 1t 10 go 20 work
/ We are ready to cooperate with the Govern
! ment actively and literally. Interest prompts,
US Humanity, selfpresery patriotism, all
are to be relied on TO assure our aid.
Let the military authorities fix upon day in
The future, in tue several districts for census oil
all the negroes in each of them, and classify all
who have fixed, permanent homes and regular,
permanent employment, and let them hire out, TO
the highest bidder, all able bodied males and fe-
males who are not so located and employed, COM
muting their moneyed wages for board and ratioIs
for the helpless families and tee evil disappears
at once that Is, provided all contracts be plac ID
under the State laws and State authorities
In my judgment, nothing short of this will an
swer. All paliatives are useless in case where
the vtals are attacked, and cheat the senses with
out curing the disease. This. or some other rem
edy must be applied, and that without delay.
The case will not admit of postponement. The
signs of approaching dissolution are obvious.
pray God that il may not be preceded by con-
wilson.
In the meantime, the introduction of foreign
white Labor, by immigration and colonization,
becomes matter Of present and pressing neces-
sity. Can we procure IL 7 If an how and nnon