The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-04-18
For tue Herald.
Our Situation.
M .

We have spoken of labor as the great lever by
which everything usefal is put in motion. When
labor is spoken of, not only is the cultivation OF
the soil referred to, but every kind Of business
and occupation required by the usages and ne.
cessites of society. The kind of labor to which
reference is now more Immediately directed is
the cultivation Of the earth. Everything that
suStains life, that gives energies to the working
man, that causes him to have hope and to know
that he is properly appreciated, will contribute
to the prosperity of the whole people and elevate
all the members Of the body polite to a higher
position than now occupied by any people. This
will require virtue, fortitude, patience, perseyer-
ance in the path of duty.
The labor directed to the cultivation of the
soil, this year, will be that of the freedmen. It
is presumed that by this time, almost all the con-
tracts are made, that will be, entered during this
year. especially sach as are for the work on plan
tations. These contracts will be enforced on
both parties: and it is right that this should be
done. 1t is also presumed that all the contracts
arc Just and fair-Such are meant, as have been
approved. All that remains in these cases, is
that the parties, employers and laborers, faith
fully discharge the duties and labor which have
been contracted for. This should be done in
spirit Of kindness On the part of the employer,
and of willingness on behalf of the laborer. 1t
may be safely assumed, that in almost all cases,
If the laborer does his duty, the employer will
not only be kind, but reasonable in all that he
requires under his contract. Forbearance must
be exercised towards the negroes, by the white
population; this will concate, and soften down
all those aspcrities which would grow up from
different course Of conduct.
Every man who has owned negroes, or has had
them employed, ought to know that the ignorance
of the negro, and his ideness are the great draw
backs now upon the productiveness of his labor.
Whether he can be so educated as to enable him
to be more profitable as laborer is a problem
yet to be solved. This cannot be done immedi-
ately-time is required to effect this change:
but there can be no doubt that persons who are
educated, will and can labor in any department
Of industry, with more efficiency and profit than
those who are ignorant. The training and edu-
cation of the negro will take years to place the
race in a position to be largely benefited by
their freedom. Having been accustomed to the
same routine of labor, without enquiring into the
reasons of things, it will, of necessity, be long
before these habits, formed by the usage of
Years can be entirely broken of, and new sys-
ten of labor adopted. This must be accomplish
ed BY degrees and will be done by the intro
duction on our farms of labor by machinery, put
in motion by either horse power or steam. BY
these means much more work will b. performed
than by the old hand method. Then will result
increased production of the earth by the greater
amount of work performed-and by such means
more attention will be devoted to the arts and
sciences than heretofore, more leisure will be in
the hands of men to engage in those pursuits that
tend to adorn and beautify the homes of the peo-
pie and render them attractive.
Our remarks may be desultory-but We shall
not. at any time, fatigue the reader with long ar
ticles, and shall give him something to think on,
if he will favor US with perusal.
MACON.