The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-11-28
JUSTICE TO THE LAB0RER.

|
Tt is well known that many planters
who were unable this year to procur,
laborers on any other terms, employed
them by promising them certain pro
. portion of the crop, or by holding ou
to them inducements that their wages
would be paid out of the first proceeds
of the crop that should be sent to mar.
ket. This would have worked very
: well, and the negroes might have all
been paid the full amount of their wa
ges at the end of the year, if our plan :
ters had realised their expectations OF
making good crops. But since it has
proved to be such an unfortunate year
for the planting interests of the State,
and since those who have brought the
planters into debt to them in many
instances resorting to compulsory meas
ures to collect their debts out of the
small crops that have been raised, it
becomes a serious question to the poor
freedman to know how he is to recover
his scanty wages. He has doubtless
been laboring under the misapprehen-
sion, which has been shared by many
of his more intelligent white neighbors,
that he has privilege on the crop, of
high grade, and that he has nothing
to do but to seize the cotton or sugar
before it goes to market and satisfy his
claim. Now, the most cursory reader
of our Civil Code knows better. Art.
1884 gives privilege on the crop to
the osrner Of slaves for their hire, and
though the reason might be the same
| why the free laborer should have the
same privilege, it is fact that the
"inestimable blessing of freedom" has
taken away this right while it has be-
slowed the liberty. It is only one of
the many disadvantages which poor
Cufy has suffered by his sudden trans
formation, but it is none the less plain
that, as the law now stands, there is no
escape for him. as
In several instances that have been
brought to our knowledge in this par
ish, the agent Of the Freedmen's Bu-
reau, whose uniform fairness and JUS
tice to both laborers and planters have
elected much praise, acting under in
structions from higher authority, has
had to interpose to protect. the freed
men, though he has fortunately sue
ceeded so far in giving offence to no
one by the conscientious discharge of
his duties. But this necessary action
places him in an unpleasant position,
and makes it appear as if military pow
er were necessary to protect this class
OF our people when such is really not
the case. 1t makes it appear as if we
are really incompetent to manage this
question of labor ourselves, without the
Intervention of Freedmen's Bu1eau.
which the Radicals have persistently J
alleged, and which we have ever as
strenuously denied.
Now, there are many reasons why '
'ur planters should do full Justice to q
he laborers in this matter. Their own 9
should prompt them to do
%; for, once let it be known that the t
negroes are to work the year round
Without getting any pay, and it will be c
with their disinclination 6
or labor, to obtain hands without Ell J
her paying in advance, or giving such 6
ther security as would seriously inter- a
ere with the planting interest in Lou Il
'lana. Besides, we have ever held 0
nat the Southern people were the true Il
tends OF the Negro; let us not, then, u
heat him out of his wages after he has y
cen set free without any fault or crime o
n his part. And while we plead for Al
lstice to the negro, we are also plead a
'g for the white man; for, none can y
oil how long it may be before white W
thor is very generally adopted in the p
altlvation of Southern plantations. X
We would, therefore, advise planters
ho are indebted to their laborers, to
9cure the payment of their wages, at
asst concurrently with the debts of the !,
ghest privilege, and thus avoid the vi
ecessity of bringing the authority of !,
le government to bear on this delicate We
omestic question. As soon as the it
eneral Assembly shall meet we doubt N
1t that our legislators, in the spirit of i,
stice, will so amend Art. 1854 of the nv
lvil Code as to place the freedman on III
IN Same foatinr with ~ ~ fo,,,,, ~, . XII