Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-11-14
The Labor Experiment.

planters belonging to this association and
guests from the vicinage meet for the pur.
pose Of discussing practical questions connec-
ted with their associations. Several hours
are consumed in detailing the experience of
each member, and much substantial good re-
suits from active eintcrcommunion of thought.
After the mental exercise, savory meats, bar.
becued in the highest style Of art, and all the
vegetables of the season are served. We re-
gard this Club as an honor to the enterprise
of Beech Island, and have frequently mar.
veled that every district, parish or county in
the South did not emulate so creditable and
useful an example.
On Saturday last, says the Constitutional.
ist, the Club held its regular meeting. Pur-
susnt to an invitation TO that effect, Mr.. JON
athan NJ. Miller so. widely and reputably
known in this community, read a detailed ac.
count ofhis experience with white and black
laborers, during the past year. As Mr.. Mil.
ler's views would be interesting to large
circle of readers, we herewith present the doc.
ument in question:
Mr.. Chairman: "At the commencement
of the year employed as many negroes as l
thought necessary for the cultivation of my
lands, but in consequence of portion of them
being dissatisfied, dismissed them, thinking l
could procure others in their places. In this
was disappointed, and after repeated efforts
to obtain other negroes, and failing, Offering
to pay them ct the rate Of $12, so per month.
l was induced TO try white labor. Conse-
quently wrote to my brother-in,law, Major N.
w. Smith, in New York, to send me fifteen
white laborcrs, which he did, thirteen men
and two women. They arrived at Augusta
on the 18th of March, paying their passage,
to Savannah by steamer, and then by railroad
to Augusta, at S25 each, and was to pay them
at the rate for men, $Sl2 SO per month, and
for the women IS. At the expiration Of the
first month, their wages were paid them, and
they insisted that their wages should be rails
cd, for the men $l5, and for the women $40 !;
Notwithstanding they had made contract
for the first mentioned amount, before lcav-
ing New York. agreed to do so, as they
worked very faithfully. Their rations were
corn bread and bacon as they were unaccus-
toned to the corn, gave them occasionally
rye and wheat bread with fresh beef also
vegetables. such as peas, turpips, sweet and
Irish potatoes, as soon as raised them. l
also furnished them coffee, likewise their bed
ding, they furnishing their own clothing and
paying their Doctors bill. At the end ofthe
second month several Of the best workers
amongst them insisted on their wages being
increased still higher two Of them Sl7 per
month. and one who acted as gardener, to
S25. put up the wages Of thetwo to SIT.
as they were the best hands, and the garden
er dismissed; several of the others left?
one of the women I made cook and wash for
the men,.
About that time company was formed
in Augusta for the purpose Of introducing
white labor here. became member an(.
went on to New York as agent Of the com
pany. and brought on hundred laborcrs. |
selected nine more out Of those having made
contracts with them in New York for Sl2-
so per month for mcp, and $40 To- women. /
fonnd in q short time they were dissatisfied
with their wages. ard increased them 10 So.
By this time the weather became rather
warm. of which they comn!eined. They also
seemed dissatisfied with such ra;ionS as were
furnished item. therefore discharged them
all. except one, whom still have. | then
was able to prccnro u few more "egroea. !
further found that the last emierarts did not
work as we'll as Ike negroes, even at higher
wages and better fare. 1 have thus far en-
tered minutely into my experiment with
white foreign labor, aud viii now give You
nv views. The laborers are obtained through
companies established in New York called
emigrant companies. They put forth pam
phlets and hanibiis, containing terms, and
Offering 10 furnish any nur Der or class OF la
'borcrs, and Of all nationalifies, fresh from
emigrant vessels. Instead of this. however,
when they receive an order, they send out
runners and gather up the drcgs Of the city
of New York, and all such as they can pick
M and make from three 10 ten dollars per
head on each furnished. They charge both
parties, she employer and employee, tho far
mer for furnishing laborers and the latter for
getting situations. They bind both parties
in contracts which mi ght do in the North,
but as we have no laws to enforce sucn con-
tracts in the South, and as there is no honor
in such characters, look upon those compa-
nics and most of the laborcrs complete
swindlcrs, and the scle object being to make
all the. money they can out Of the South, the
societies, by furnishing them, and the laborers
by obtaining free passage to the South.
The Emigration Companyin Augusta sus
pended its operations on the 23d of June, at
ter sustaining loss of over $4,000, ard dc
not recollect single Instance where any one
of the laborers complied with his contract.
Mary Of them behaved very badly and ran
away from the company, and from parties to
whom they were hired by the company, which
placed the company in q very unpleasant po'
sition. My opinion. has always been that our
slaves were the best laborers for the South,
while they were slaves, that could be obtain
ed, but, after being liberated and acting so
unaithfully as many oft them did, thonght
if a class ofwhite aborers could be introduc-
ed that would act faithfully, they would slim.
ulate the negroes to exert themselves more,
and it would be the means Of restoring the
labor so much needed and of showing the
negroes that we were not entirely dependent
upon them for labor; that in q few years our
country would be filed by an honest, intell.
gent and Industrious class of laborers, who
Would become identified with us, and be
come tenants OF o"nelS vi iauNS, "Hu ou
dropping country again be made TO bloom and
blossom as the rose, in pouring forth its rich
productions under The tillage of moro skill
ful and intelligent labor. Of course, MIR.
Chairman, I, as the pioneer in this move. felt
some pride as being in some degree instru-
mental in aiding our depressed and down
troddcn South, to arise and take high posi-
ton, despite the cruelty and oppression OF
our enemies. But l have been disappointed
in my feeble efort,-but not discouraged. !
believe that white labor can, and will be sue.
cesafully operated with here as farm laborers,
MS much so as in factories. If the States
will make suitable laws for their introduction
into this country, send agents to Europe and
select the laborers and ship them directly to
Southern ports, have the contracts entered
into for two years, with penalty if they fail.