Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-11-16
THE FUTURE OF SOUTHERN LABOR.
We take the following from an artiol,
n Tho Ma, nrlooos D:....,s

| In the New Orleans Ptcdyune:
We cannot fail 10 see that all other peo.
pie, situated as we are, have failed to re-
ceive prompt aid to their industry, either
from emancipated slaves or from immedi-
ate immigration of laborers from other re-
gions. The West India Islands afford am.
pie illustration of this. 1t is true that in
the Island of Barbados, the negro works
hard and we'll but there he is encompass.
ed by water, and the population is dense.
The better of of his own class, az we'll as
the white man, insists upon his supporting
himself by bis labor or means, and this hs
must do, or compulsion is used to induce
it, rule which is applied to black and
white alike; but here in this open coun-
try, ard with institutions so excessively
free as ours, this is impossible.
This ~e say irrespective of civil riphts
acts and constitutional enactments intend.
ed to dignity and pro!ec, Iaziness. Al! the
orders OF Banks and Butler, which were
infinitely more severe than the labor laws
enacted by Southern legislatures since tue
war, could not get steady, uniform and
saving work out Of the negro, nor can anv
reliance be placed on his contracts for fu-
ture labor. AS it has been found in Ja-
macia, Trinidad, Briti*h Guiana and else
where, year by year the old habit of work
will wear away from the older ones, and
the younger will never acquire it, unless a
new system of employment be devised.
1t ls Of this we wish to speak now.
The Whole system Of labor in tile past
has been one Of life, or, at least, yearly
employ OF the laborer. We have lever
planted our corn and cotton as the Wes-
tern and Northern farmer has his corn aud
wheat, by laborers employed from month
to mouth, week to week, or by tho day.
We have never thought it practicable so to
do. Yet their crops, including an intini-
tude OF things wlirh We hardly think OF,
require, to the space cultivated, at least as
much labor as does ours, and they get
along exec edingly we'll, though there are
more proprietors of the soil in proportion
to our population with them than with u.s.
The objection made to this course among
'ls is, that large plantations cannot be thus
cultivated; yet there are farms in the We
of over 10000 acres in actual cultivation
and tillage. where labor saving machinery
supplies additional arms to two hundred
snen, who, from time to time, are there
employed. Yet, if it should prove true
that large plantations could not be 80 cul-
tiraicd, can the labor be otherwise secured
to cultivate them? Much the better plan
would seem to be to plant less land at less
risk of entire failure or great pecuniary
loss, and thus be secure Of some gain, if
it be not Of fortune.
The chief end to be secured by short
terms of labor is, that this course will tend
to make the laborer more honest in work.
If lie does not do the work he is hired to
do, he will be discharged and another hir-
ed in lis stead. He will come upon the
land, not as tenant, with an idea that it
is his home, whether be work or not, but
with the knowledge that he must work or
leave. Paid for his labor by the day,
week or month, as he may be employed,
his term ended, he must 60 elsewhere, un-
iess he give satisfaction. He has himself
the came right to leave. il not pleased, and
no sullen, unwilling labor, diversified, per-
baps, by obopping off the crop, or stealing
it from the ground, will render bis pro-
longed stay an injury rather than bene-
6t.
The truth is, the effort to adapt free Ia,
Dor to the old plantation system makes the
employer the slave. of the employee, aud
thelonger the former regards it as neces
city, the more dependent he becomes. But
il we 40 diminish our farms, or rather so
subdivide and thus increase them that there
are on the land more intelligent men, able
to use improved implements. in proportion
to the breadth IN cultivation, than now, and
If we thus do away largely with the pres
ent demand for agricultural labor, yet Keep
up its product. We shall soon Be able 10
increase our plantations 10 size, and labor
will seek them, instead Of the plantation,
Ms now seeking labor. r. :. 80. -
- -------------s- $780,
TsA.-Mr..M. Jones, ofiLibsrty coun-
y, Ga, has written for the. Calt;vator a
communication on the cuhursof tea jn the
South. The editor Of the Caztivator SAYS;
Our correspondent. has furnished . sample
Of tho ten prepared by him. In appearance
tfrag,aoce and aayor.it precisely resemble.
a fine article Of Chinese Black Tea. II
| our plantations can prodpcs tea as; finely