The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-12-15
CHI A r i T. S TON
SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER Is 1866
FIR LABOR.

Among the questions Of vital import to
he South after the cessation Of hostilities, and
the great change in its social structure, in con-
sequence Of tue Emancipation Proclamation and
the abolition of slavery by the State Conven- !
tlons, there was none of more immediate and
pressing consequence, and oEc more anx:o,isly
regarded BY the people among whom such
changes had been wrought, than that as to the
regular and efficient labor 50 necessary to
resuscitate and, develop their exhausted re-
sources. ,:
Whether the fneedmen could be depended on
to bring forth the wealth of he South from the
ground, there it then enl,, xisted by furnish
ing that sedulous and slnr emitting toll and care
necessary to produce the great staple on which
SO msny large communities depended, was q
matter conned with earnest solieitude, and cen
cerning which there was very little Of the light
Of experience to guide
With their fields desolate ana wasted before
thnm, their homes destroyed, their fortunes and
their credit ruined, our people did not waste
precious time in!gloomy doubts and forebodings,
nor did they yield to despair when there seem
ed so little even to hope for, but with lofty
! conviction Of duty, with an energy and deter
mination which should. be an effect1al refuta-
tion of those who are continually harping on
the idea founded on the most superficial rea-
sons, that there is q want Of enterprise and
! exertien among us, they devoted themselves at
once, with whatever means were available, to
| the work Of repairing their exhausted re-
sources. And now we are able to look .back
| upon these exertions, and can fGd, in contem-
plating them and their results, much of enco,1,-
agement>snd Of hope
The experiment of free labor has been tried
but a shert time, and we woulE not undertake
to speak confidently as to the final result; but
notwithstanding much discontinue and distress
and faik1re, there is much in the prospect Of
the past year that opens cheering prospect of
1.-The future.
It mcst,be a matter Of universal ,wonderment
that in a society where large component ele-
ment,was so suddenly elevated from the status
Of slave to that of freedman, the order ,,rn.
ulu prevail at the South, when the hitherto
dominant caste were completely disarmed end
Powerless--a matter which. can only:be under
stood sy those who can appreciate the genius
Of our tormer system; but even they could: feel
no assurance that such state could .continHe.
but regarding the probable antagonism, Of fze
races Ehen placed altogether upon equal legal
basis, aad the measures put forward to accom-
plish that object, felt that or this account there
was great reason to apprehend such disturb
! ances as would altogether conflict with any weH
settled gystem of labor. But no devices .of
human invention can produce an unnatural
equality. The freedmen have quietly acknow1-
edged the moral and intellectual superiority
which has continually and still does exert its
influence .sover them; and inauenced by this.
as well as by the general coed feeling that has
been displayed towards them by their former
masters, and the promptingssf, want, they have
] afforded . reasonable ground for the hope that
| there may net, at least for many years to come,
I be such an aEtagonisn between them and the
whites, as will prevent their efficient co-opera
tion in the work Of Improvement, and that. too.
whatever additional means may :be used to hot
out all distinction
! Then there was reason to apprehend thai.
even if orderly, the freedman would not work.
In cher countries where negro free labor has
been tried and has disastrously failed, the
negre could almost gain, without care or labor.
sustenance from the bounty Of the tropical soil.
Here he must work1.or starve. His pretended
friends have enriched themselves from their
misplaced confidence, but have failed to feed
and clothe him in retnrn., He: hos begun to
| understood that freedom does not mean idle
ness; and hence want, as well as the Influences
Of superior sagacity and ability, have contri-,
! buted as we'll to his industry as to his good
order.
We are not arguing frone any great success
that has attended planting operations during
the past year. There win be great distress
from the failure ofIcrops, undoubtedly. The
weather was unpropitious, capital was wanting.
and no doubt that the labor was in many in
stances Detective But in many instances
planting operations have been attended with
considerable success By judioious manage
meat, ia several cases labor has been wei and
regularly applied the slaborers have been well
cared for and contented--and there is enough
in these examples to base the expectation that
such systems Of free labor may be digested as
will be attended with abundant success. (.
4 The vast resources Of the South afford al
extensive field for the employmeatef far greater
labor than we can now commend, and for the !
,F-~ . ~ ri - u ~