The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1866-03-11

vt been much interested by
an article IN the New Orleans Bulletin
of the both ult, on this subject. 1t
assumes that owing to the uncertainty
and irregularity Of the prices of our
products, there iano safe method of
hiring laborers except by short con-
tracts. Referring to.the precious as,
ricultural disappointments and the
causes, it asks "what is the remedy for
the losses sustained by the planters Y
And answers:
What, then, is the remedy for the loss
sustained by the planters Undoubtedly
just what IL Is elsewhere. just what II Il
in the coal mine, in the cotton factory. or ~,
board the merchant ship; emphatically inst
what would be the remedyin the prairies Of
Illinois or in the grain farms of England
nhe remedy lies in short term labor contracts
ihe farmer, miner or manufacturer employ
ing free labor, fixes wages according to tie
price of the product of the labor. General
~, and for long terms rate of wages will
continue, because both parties are satisfied
Dut II decline or advance occurs in the
market rates of the fabric there must be 4 |
readjustment of the relations between tbe
laborer and the capitalist.
The remedy of the one is a strike or a co. |
operative association; of the other to close
ms tnlils. Now, unconsciously, this law of
LICE labor has come upon us. We continue
II apply the ideas OF one system to the exi.
Pencies Of another With much practical
influence in planting under the old system.
we are aware of the difficulties of organizing
the new in its application to an industry 40
peculiar as the cotton culture. We are
perfectly aware that cotton labor mnst lie
CONTINUOUS. That man can no more make
. crop OF cotton than he can make a voyage
without the certain command of his labor. /
Stiil we are satisfied that annual labor con-
tracts and annual supplies Land in, must end
IN the disappointment or ruin of the planter
and IN the starvation of the freedman There
must be sliding scale of wages dnring tbe
year while the ALLEGATION to labor oonfinu.
ously should still exist. This is a problem !
when experience and harmony between the
planters aud laborers can alone solve. I'D
.ney couId agree on any umpirage to fix the
rate Of wages and provisions periodiealIv I
6otR patties might be saved from rnin. Z
Under the present system of annual con- !
tracts and annual supplies great losses and :
suffering are inevitable. Whether our RENE q
~ be proper or even practicable is a ques- {
iion. That the planters losses have resulted e
Iou luiprodently binding himself for a rate .
y =, wages and supplies not justified by a de- ?
,nnln market price for the staple product 7
perfectly clear to our minds. q
We submit the views Of our intelli- y
gent contemporary as worthy os seri- 4
'us consideration. But even this plan \
'annot reconcile the difficulty before o
'lluded to between planters and freed /,
men touching the value Of labor.
Whether contracts be for long or
hort terms, theirs must be a very ma g
arial reduction Of wages; and not on i
this. but the service pledged must I
e more faithfully and iudustriousIy OF
sndered. else the condition of plan Il
rs viii continue % grow from bad % p
Verse