Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-03-09

RE" BY publishing the cttor of Mr.. Ma
KEEG, we bring to the consideration of the
people of this section Of the State matter
of very great interest. How could it be
otherwise than question of great magni-
tude, when the system of labor upon which
the agricultural prc-eminence and prosper
ity of the South was based has been violent
" and suddenly destroyed?
1t is now fixed fact, that the South is
deficient in supply of labor. Gov. Patton,
of Alabama, puts down the decrease of the
negro population of that State at FIVE per
cent. Gov. Sharkey, of Mississippi at a
much higher rate in that State while we
find in an article in "The Land We Love-"
a magazine published in North Carolina
that it is estimated that there are at this
time only 5000, 900 instead of the 100000
in the South in 1860. But these general
estimates give us no just idea of the actual
falling of in the labor of that population.
We will therefore give the estimate of the
writer in his own words, believing as we
do, that it approximates the truth very
closely:
From this number, wiz: 3,000,000), of
the women who formerly labored in the
field, and who now refuse to labor, one-ffth
may be deducted, or 10000; in the army
say 5000; those women and children
who might labor in the field, but who now
earn preearious support in cities and
towns, 100000; number of children too
young to labor, ohe,fftb, or 100000; va
grants and oilers, rogues, &c., &C., 100000 !;
making in all, to be deducted from the
100000, 100000; leaving as laborers,
l 100000. Take from this, onc-third, to
represent small and feeble hands, and we
have 500, 1000 full laborers now standing,
out of a population of 100000, who before
the war could produce force representing
full laborers to the amount of 1900, 000.-
But when is added to this deduction, one
third to be taken from 500, 900 full laborers,
as the amount they loose by irregular and
slack work, lost time in visiting, &c., it
leaves actually only say $50, 900 black Ia
borers in Southern felds.n 4i
All can judge of this estimate for them
selves. The number put down as in the
army was perhaps correct at the time the
writer made the estimate, and their dis
charge does not vary the result; for if dis
charged, they will never find their way
back to field labor. H"
What wide field for reflection does this
view afford to the shrewd New Englanders,
who supposed that the negro was white
man with black skin, and that he would
be rendered much more effective laborer
by having his freedom. Bat this is digres-
ing from the subject The question Of how
this vast hiatus in our labor is TO be filled,
forces itself upon our consideration. The
sooner we cease to rely upon the indolent
and thriftless negro, and the sooner we
realize that our only relief is to be found
in importing foreign labor, the sooner will
dawn upon us.
A new era has opened in agricultural
pursuits. Labor-saving machinery and
implements have vastly augmented profits,
and the only reason why they have MOI been
introduced successfully at the South is be-
,ause negro stupidity has stood in the way.
We owned them and were under the neces-
'ity Of accommodating their capacity. This
necessity no longer exists, for now the way
e open facilities are. offered to procure
killed lsborers, and if we choose to stand
n the old ways, we shall be as justly the
ubjeeis of dsrision as the Mexieans who
ise forked limb for ploughing because
heir fathers before them did so.
But are there not families in Dallas that
re compelled to employ servants to assist
n their household Affairs, that would, by
with psgrres, add greatly to
heir satisfaction and the comfort Of their
antilles by the employment Of white ser
ants? Would il not be good economy to
o so7 II costs more 70 feed . negro, while
beg are prOverbislly wasfful and destrue-
We; when q white servant would do twice
net three times the amount Of work
Wears n5si anxious 10 see this business
Exaggerated. AID We ihersfers rec0mmend !
. srp,infBsn; ofr sub sEsni a. fhis place.