The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-10-09
Communicated


Mr. Editor-Sofne years have elapsed since have
used nv ssstylusn for your columns, and perhaps
would not ask small space in your paper, were
it not for the inevitable ruin that awaits the planting
interest of the South, if the present state OF things
continues few years longer. Il viii reduce noble
and gallant peopie 20 poverty and wretchedness and
cause them regret their destiny was not cast IN some
other country if that country be the wllds OF
despot not government in the land OF ciVllisa
ton is worse despotc, than that now meted
out TO the South, which is too well known to require
proof in communication of this kind Therefore to
my purpose.
Experience has satisfied me that the planters cannot
sustain themselves much longer, if they continue to
pay such exorbant prices for labor, particularly such
labor as they are getting. The negroes do not
labor much more than half the day through the year;
the mornings now arc too wet and damp for them to
leave their cabins until the has blessed the earth
with lis beams and dispcIed the noxous dews. From
the first Of June until the latter part of September
the middle Of the day is too hot for his sable hghness
they care no more for the planters stock than if each
animal was a stone, will they repair fence to
protect the growing crop, though interested i'll it
than the planter They just as Indifferent in
gard to the tools they use, all may become mass Of
ruins for what they care They to have
thought Of the future, and are happy in the knowl
edge that they have supply furnished them for the
present Well, after much delay in lodging here and
lodging there, Sambo gets to the field, aud pretcnds
work, but it is with apparent love for it, he does
not whether he performs half days labor or
not. Yet will not do his sable manhood the inlus-
tice to say he is afraid of work. for have several
times, since he has been cursed with freedom, known
him to sleep by it souudy II lued to repo5e by
aromatic zephyrs.
Now let US see the result of his years labor that
we may know for whose benefit the planter has done
and paid so much. S mbo will pretend to cultivate
twenty acres of land ten in and ten in cotton.
Let suppose the ten in corn produce one hundred
and fifty bushels, fifty of this 90 to Sambo and leave
hundred for the planter, as many suppose, but
will show it is not SO replace the seYenty-ive bushels
the mule has consumed and thirteen that Sambo has
eaten, to produce this crop, and how much has the
planter clear ?-twelve bushels, to feed his family an
other year. He has not grain for piggie nub
bin for brnGle Sambo either directly or indirectly
gets nearly all the he makes. Now, will sup
pose the other WELD four bales two thou
sand pounds of lint cotton. Of this Sambo gets six
hundred and sxtysix pounds, and the planter gets
thirteen hundred and thrty-four pounds From this
money is to be raised to replace the meat Sambo has
eaten TO pay tax to supply tools to pay the black
smith and medical bill of his family and to purchase
supplies for another year. Sambo is at cents
expense for all this outlay. He has house, ratons,
land, mule, pillow, wagon, hoe, AK and wood furnished
him gratis
There is crisis before the South that must be ruin
Gus, If not timely met with energy and moral cour
age worthy Of the cause aud very existence, and
we should not hesitate. Some, who have not moral |
courage may ask, low this crisis is to be met and
turned 10 advantage | answer, and say the remedy |
is simple and easy There must be surplus of labor
in the country, before anything be accomplished
towards reducing the price of labor, and the people
must bid against each other for it, and hold
out ruinous inducements to the laborers, and thus
change their selfimporance to dependence. Suppose
each planter resolves to employ but onehalf of the
hands he has; this will throw the other half
of employment and produce competition, many no
doubt will seek for employment | am aware some
persons afraid to act the wise part in this particu
lar, and give q that the ebones will live by
theft. To which l reply, that theft cannot increase
much, as it is common as the rays of light. ]
would soon believe there is nothing material in mat
ter as to believe the planters prosper by paying
onethrd of the crop aud mourning all the expense
of production. | also as firmly believe the two races
cannot live together in peace, and separation must
take place before the South prosper unless Sambo
is taught bis true situation and position.
DION.