Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-08-02
Thursday Morning, August 2, 1866.
Letter from Mexico.

a letter written by Gov. Isham G.
Harris to a gentleman of Fayette-
vile, dated
CoRDovA, Mexico, July End, 1866.
The lands that were owned by
the Government in this district
have all been taken up long ago.
The labor system here is diff
cult to the stranger. Yet time
will remedy it and make it a
cheaper system of labor than that
of slavery.
The old established haciendas
here are cultivated by natives,
who live upon them under a con-
tract with the proprietor of this
character: The proprietor gives him
the use of 2 or 8 acres of land for
his family to cultivate, upon con-
dition that he will work for the
proprietor on the hacienda when
required SO to do, at Asa cents per
day. Under this arrangement you
work him as MANY days in the
year as you please, and have moth
ing to do with him except to pay
him for the number Of DAYS he
actually worked. He finds and
clothes himself as well when he
works for you as when he don't.
There is no reason why you may
not settle any reasonable number
of them upon your place under
this form OF contract, except that
it takes some time to learn enough
about them to know who to take,
and sometimes it is necessary for
them to learn something about
you.
| expect to adopt this system
and thereby secure a reliable sup
ply of labor. Upto this time, how
ever, l have caught up laborers in
the market places as | have need
ed them, and occasionally some
what embarrassed in doing so. by
the demand and high prices given
by the rail road now in course of
construction.
As to the country, / need only
say that SO far as regards soil, eli
mate and productions, it is the best
country that you have ever seen.
But do not be deceived ; time and
labor are necessary to make you
comfortable here. No family can
come here and settle without more
or less of privation and hardship.
The same may be said, however, as
to all new settlements, and espe-
cially settlements in new coun-
tries.
We have to rely upon each 9TH
er entirely for society. The diff
Guilty in language prevents much
social intercourse between our peo-
pie and the better class, and the
lower classes are totally unworthy
of association.
Once established and surroun-
ded by the ordinary comforts of
life, man may live here more
luxuriantIy and with less labor
than in any country that / have
seen or read of.
A Liberal commander took some
% Americans prisoners, and de-
tanned them for some weeks
These Americans had settled on
Omealca, which was Liberal head
quarters, and their strongest STRAIT
egetic point for all this country
Some of their members had dealt
very harshly and unjustly with
the natives. These natives COM
planned to the Liberals, and at
their instance the Americans were
carried off. They have all re-
turned.
Ihave nothing to say of myself
except that my health is excellent,
and I work harder every day than
any freed man that you have. !
hope and expect to make myself
comfortable here ere long, and
expect to live and die in Mexico.
] have nothing to regret In the
past except the blunders which
lost us our independence. My
own course was taken from astern
sense of duty, and long and sober
reflection confirms and strength
ems me in the correctness Of the
opinions on which / acted.
..A sigh for those that love me.
Asmile for those who hate"
Most truly your friend,
IcuAu q HARMS