Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-03-14


By reason of this influence, the tenn
lper of the whites. toward the freedmen
is not friendly and cordial, as a genera
thing, and the temer of the late slaves
toward their late masters is of the same
character. In their new relation, there il
a mutual distrust, which under wise leg
islation, will soon disappear. Speaking O
slavery, NJ. De Tocqueville, in his great
work entitled Democracy in America, ,
page 80, says: Slavery, as we shall after
wards show, dishonors labor. 1t introdu
ces idleness, ignorance, pride, luxury and
distress. 1t enervates the powers of the
mind and benumbs the activity of man
The influence of slavery, united to the
English character, explains the manners
and the social condition of the Southern
States"
Thus far, the freedmen have falsifed
the predictions, if not disappointed the
hopes of the whites of the south. The
negroes have refrained from doing, what
the whites insisted they would do, and
they have done what the whites insisted
they would not do. 1t was given out in
the papers of the south, that the Holi-
days, were to be the occasion of gener-
al rising among the negroes, and that
the horrors of a serYile insurrection, were
near at hand. The holidays came and
passed off as usual, except that the me-
groes were little more jubilant than COM
mon. 1t was confidently asserted, that
the freedmen, would not enter into con-
tracts after the 1st of January, but that
they would be vagrants and vagabonds,
robbing and stealing for a living. The
negroes have entered into contracts and
commenced the performance thereof,
with will and spirit that surprises the
advocates of slavery. 1t is amusing to
hear white men and women, who never
did days work of manual labor in their
lives, confidently asserting that the ne
groes will not work, except on compul-
sion of the lash. l submit that it is not
fair to judge others by themselves.
An intelligent white oVerseer, of ten
years experience under the system of
slavery and who has worked about TWEEN
ty hands since the lst of January, told
me the other day, that he had never
known slaves to labor more faithfully,
than they have labored since they COM
menced under their contract. The re-
port is general from all parts of the
State, that the freedmen are working
| UOAAf oA0 III G0SA
has been the demand for plantation i'm
| plements, that for several days past not
trace chain could be purchased in the
largest hardware establishment in New
Orleans. Plows and harness in any
quantity are not to be had in the New
Orleans market. This scarcity has been
caused by the general impression among
planters and merchants, that the negroes
would not, as a general thing, enter into
contracts, hence, the limited supply, to
meet the unexpected demand. Hands
are very scarce, and planters are offering
from five to ten dollars bounty for each
laborer furnished, and brokers, for sup
plying hands are as numerous, in New
Orleans, and other cities, as were substi
tute brokers, in the north during the
war. Many acres of tillable land, will be
the coming season for the want
of laborers First class hands are readily
commanding fifteen dollars per month,
with board, clothing and medical atten-
dance, and cabin and garden furnished
This is higher than the general estimate, |
but not higher than the one made in |
my last letter.
The question most nearly connected |
with the prosperity of the south is not,
will the negroes work, but will the
whites work? Many of them must, or
starve or steal. The present indications
are, that not many years will elapse, be-
fore the whites of the south, ,unaccustomed
TO labor, under the rule of slavery, will
be producers by their own hand. The
,hange in ideas as to the respectful bility of
abor, has already commenced.
An enterprising lawyer III New Orleans,
who owns plantation in the Parish of
It. Landry, informed me that planters
on, who had never done a days work,
lold of the pillow himself That young
nan if che puts his hands to the plow,"
lot rturn ing back" vii! succeed and will
lave no d ficulty in procuring negroes to
york with him. tits inconvenient and a lit
lie vexatious for that man, who, during
he existence of slavery, by means of
,apital and by authority of law, could ,
ay to this man, Ego, ana he goeth, and !
o another, come, and he cometh, and to i
lis servant do this, and he doeth it." to I
'e obliged to go about, asking his form {
r slaves and others, if they will agree to I
york for him, for just compensation
nd with fair tr eatment. 1t no doubt
Ioes seem intolerably provoking to those s
ady housekeepers, who had man and
naid servants at their control who would J
cater to their whims and capri
es, under fear of severe punishment for
efusal, to be obliged to regard their SER
ants as hired, and to temper their COM
nands to the.eon istencey of the new re-
atoms between tn emselyes and their do
lestics.
No one need be surprised that such per
ons, should exhibit a little bitter feeling
t change so radically affecting their /,
omestic relations. 1t is not, as a gener- ,
thing, in human nature to do other !
Use. The more intelligent persons, in !
he south are adapting themselves to the Z
ew relations of capital and labor, quite :
5 fast as could be expected. The fact
nat the negroes are freedmen, and as such '
ave a right to make their own contract {
generally recognized to the fullest ex- G
snt. In some portions of the south, 7
lere are, no doubt, exceptions and {
ave heard of such in La Many of the {
lanteIs are so managing as to retain {
ortion of their former slaves.
On a steamboat the other day, | heard 9
conversation beween two planters, on 4
lGIE lIOLA NOW tuC
ne to purchase supplies, the other, to
btain hands. One appeared to be dis :
listed with the negroes, because he could
OF obtain as many as he wanted, the 9TH
? who was rolicking, good natured sort =
? a man, appeared to be well satisfied !
ith the way be was getting along. He =
nd to his friend that she never felt
lore confidence in free labor, than he did y
the present time" He used, in sub f
ance, this language. | called up my v
egroes and said to them you are now as O
ee as | am, you can make your own J
,ntracts, you can work for me, or if you
link you can receive better treatment Q
I'D more wages from others, you can go p
Id and work for them. / cannot now, c
1 used to do, lay you over barrel and
addle you if you do not work. am will
g to treat you well and give you good wa
ss.' They staid with me and are working b
we'll as formerly for anything can see n
i'd 1 expect to raise good crop" The b
her persisted is asserting his want of O.
ith in free labor. l knoB of another u
anter in st. Landry, who has made a D