The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-06-06
For ihe Herald.
The Labor Question.

r. MEssRs EDITORS: Agriculture IS peculiarly
the occupation of the South. 1t not only en-
ploys majority of our citizens Immediately,
= butit furnishes, ALMOST exclusively, those
productions whose ma..~. cement and protection
~ have rendered the other professions necessary,
and whose value must repay the labors OF
those professions. Yet this branch Of indus
try has been the chief sufferer by the events
of the last few years. War forced US to grow
tie crops least profitable to US and forced US
to waste these crops; peace has deprived US
of the means by which our crops were grown.
So that it is hardly an cxaggcratioa to say
that we have nothing ard have no prospects
of making anything. The crops of the last
year were exceedingly small, there is no great
prospect of one this year, the value Of land is
feareully deprecated, and in addition to all
this, the country is drowned in debt.
We naturally lock around us fer some
scheme which may improve our condition.
The general modification at our failure to es~
tabhsh the GonCederacy, and the excitement
created by the war, led US to look abroad for
relief, both political and Qecuniary. We could
not think Of enigrating to an old country
for we had no reason to hope for much profit
from our labor where there was great com
petition Of laborers* But when we turned to
new countries, We found the view limited to
Mexico and South America. Perhaps these
comparatively unknown lands still have
charms for some ofus.- But think they will
vanish on close inspection. Let US take Mex
leo. There the soil is undoubtedly. produc-
tive, and so abundant as to be purchaseable
at Insignificant prices; and the climate is, in
many places as healthy and pleasant as We
could desire. But we should not only be
obliged to take long journey thither, and to
have energy to conquer an untamed nature,
and sufficient capital to afford to bide the
preparation Of The soil for agriculture, whe we
arrived there; but we would have to risk the
greatest political dangers and hardships. Could
the Emperor Macmillan establish himself
firmly, we should enjoy there not only the Sc
cnrity of a settled government, but, asI think,
the favor and assistance Of the government.
But not only has Maximilian failed to quell
the lawless republican element, and thus sub
iected every citizen toyiolence from the SOL
dlery and to the depl elations of bandits; but
his Withdrawal from the country is rendered
absolutely certain by the decision of the French
to recall those troops who alone gave him the
little authority he has heretofore enjoyed. 4
Southern man will find no difficulty in imag-
lining the theft, robbery, bloodshcd and gene
raj disorder which will follow the abandon
ment of Mexico to its own lusts. The letter
{" General Early, recently published, is entire
~ 70 this effect.
Brazil was q favorite notion Of ours for a
time but it has been SO generally given up
that l should but waste time in arguing
against it.
Five do not 60 abroad, we must stay at
home five stay at home 2co must work
our fields with some sort of labor. Shall We
work them with our own hands only? Sure
ly not. We must, if possible, cover the earth
with laborers, so that the whole dormant
wealth ofnature shall come into our barns,
and our lands be profitable to other men to
5uy. So far imagine we are all agreed.
The question to be settled is, what kind Of la
Dor shall this be.
Shall. it be negro labor? The Ameri-
can race is certainly better qualified physi-
cally, forthe agricultural Is Dor of these lati-
tudes than any other class Of men, and as long
as slavery. existed it was more profitable than
any white race could have been. But | only
express the sentiment of thousands, when
say that the negro will not work out Of bon
dage. 1t is probable, that when the excite
neat Of freedom wears of and sickness and