The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-02
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE.

sOUTHERN AGRICULTURE,
Now that the new year has set in, pre-
parations should be made at once for q
crsP. Our people should not suppose fol
q moment, that because the negroes arr
free, the country is ruined, and that it is
impossible to raise Gotten We believe
that period of great prosperity is open
ingfOrthe Cotton States, if they will only
availthemselves ofthe advantages within
their reach. Our soil and climate is as fa-
vorable to the growth of cotton, as they
were in the days of slavery, but to raise
cotton, we must have labor of some kind,
white or black. With the proper ener-
sy and industry, large amount of cot
ton can be raised by white labor. No
business or employment that our young
men can go at, will pay them so hand
somely' as cotton at its present price,
and the best thing they can do, is to 90
to work in the old fashioned way. If
the negroes won't work, and but little
cotton is made, the prospect is more GER
tain that the present high prices will be
sustained. While an entire failure of
the cotton crop, would paralyzs all
branches of business, our interests VIII
be promoted by making a small crop.
and selling it for good price When
ever planters can get free negro labor |
they should avail themselves of it. It'll
will be cheaper than ever slave labor
was, and even if not so efficient will |
still be highly profitable. Under the old
plan farmer would pay from 1000 to
1000 dollars for hands, and usually had
to feed and clothe quite as many chill
dren and old negroes, as he had working
hands. Besides he had taxes to paw,
doctors bills, &c, money was often bor-
rowed at ten per cent, and invested in
this kind ofproperty. Besides the risk
of death running away, clothing, taxes,
&c, the interest on the investment for
good hand, was at least $50 AT ten
cents. 1T required 500 pounds of cotton
10 meet this expense. Now the same
Labor can be procured for 300 pounds
Pt cotton, ne taxes, no medical bills, no "
Flsk for the disease or death of thelaborer,
Pnd If he has children the freedman
must provide for them; our peo pie should
pot be too hasty in coming to the conclu-
ion that our prosperity is destroyed be- {
|"use the negroes are free With cotton d
i've times the old price, and labor cheap
r than ltsver was, planters can certainly
. well. No doubt it willrequire patience :"
p get along with many of the freedmen, Il
hey will be lazy, negligent, and in 4
pine instances absolutely worthless, >
lot, as general thing, whenever they u
Rn be kept on plantation, they will u
3 profitable. Many planters have been @
DO impatient and dismissed them for tri- 'e
Eal causes. Farmers should take a plain, q
tactical view of the labor question, and 10
be new relations with thenegro, and en- 8
Paror to make the best of it they can. 81
possible stimulate the industry of the al
esdmen, treat them with justice, and &C
they prove wholly inefficient, get :"
hers to take their places. lu
We have very little confidence in 90
eir doing well as tenants. As vet io'
Et few otthem have capacity to manage TIL
crSp as it should be. and left to them
Ives, the fields would remain unculti- I
tied. 1t often happens that the ne
o Whe left alone, would starve from c4,
|eness, becomes an excellent hand when
|rklng with, or under the daily super Dr.
|lon of white man. If our people pos
\ go to work resolutely and energet- r.l reb
ny we can live and prosper, "nigger an an!
mo niger" We may have too many Ike.
rchants too many lawyers, too many dag
Ftors' eVon more newspapers than the cess
[ntry needs, bat the honorable employ and
ht of fcultivating the soil can never be sa.,
"ded. Our young people should re- e1: aeF:.
Mber that as this useful ayocation is aue
foundation, and corner stone Of Ma en-, enc
pal greatness and prosperity, 50 it !.
surest means of Individual success.
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OnVenIiOn OF thc Press nt Memphis
1t the recent Convention of the -