The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-01-09

Circular from the Frcedncn's Eu-
The following circnlar addressed to
the landlords and laborers' of this
State has been issued by General
Scott:
HEADQUARTERS,
ASST Con-, BUREAU REFUGEES.
EREEDM'N AND ABAND'D LANDS,
SOUTH CAROLINA.
CHARLESTON, S. c., Dec. 26, 1866.
To tie LtmdlorLs and Lu5ore7.s of the
Sl0te Of SouA Carolina:
The season of 1866 is about to
close, and 1 deem it my duty to in
Ylte the attention of both landlords
and laborers to the following deduc-
tlons IN regard to the system of free
labor, which are drawn from my OBJ
servations during the past year:
The work of the past season has
been to great extent experimental
IN ITS character; and from it may be
gathered lessons Of great practical
value. In fact, the planter has only
to avoid repetition of the errors OF
the past season, and to discard theo-
rles which experience has shown to
be lmpractlcable, to insure success in
the future.
In very many instances where
planters have failed to realize pay
ing crop, the failure is easily traceable
to ignorance Of the free labor system
and general naislnangement. Others,
IN attempting to secure by unfair
contracts more than would Justly re-
vert to them, have over-reached them
selves; rs the laborers, discoverin =
that their toll would bring them
small recompense, have left the grow
ing crop to labor where better remu-
neration was offered. From this, it
is easy to deduce the principle, that a
contract unfair to the laborer is un-
profitable to the planter.
Mutual distrust between the planter
and the laborer has also contributed
to failure; the principle that the in
terests Of capital and labor are iden-
tical having been ignored by both
contracting parties, in many in
stances, failnfe was to be expected.
The labor OF the season has not
unfrequently been interrupted by
misunderstanding respecting the re-
qnirements and stipulations of con
tracts. Crops have been greatly
damaged by suspension of work at
critical periods, and in some in
stances the entire crop has been lost
while awaiting the settlement or ad-
judication of questions which should
have been thoroughly understood by
both parties at the time of contract
ing. In view of this, cannot too
earnestly urge upon both the land
owner and the laborer a careful con-
sideration and deliberation before
binding themselves to contract, and a
strict and honest adherence to both
the letter and spirit of the contract
when finally entered into.
Difficulties of the character above
indicated may be, in a great measure,
avoided, if the planter will, by care
full and patient explanation, assure
himself that the laborers fully under
stand the contract. Experience has
shown that it is a policy to impose as
few conditions upon either plante or
laborer us are consistent with faith
1ul i)Sl1Ol uliIlCC Ol CuelE mutual OD1l-
cations.
1t will be the duty, as it certainly
is for the interest, of the planter to
practically acknowledge the freedom
Of the laborer, in its fullest sense, as
guaranteed by law; to kindly, and in
a friendly spirit, correct those erro-
neous ideas OF license and independ-
encc which the freed people too fre-
quently associate with freedom; and
to teach them the obligations imposed
upon them by citizenship.
Nothing viii more etfectuaIly con
duce to this end, or sooner afford
them q correct understanding of their
status, and a knowledge of its respon-
sibilities, than education. And I can
not too earnestly advise the planters
to encourage, by every means in
their power, the disposition on the
part of the freed people to learn to
read and write, and educate their
children. 1t will not be found diff
cult to dispel alienation and distrust
between the two races, if such exists;
the planter need detract nothing from
his own position in practically accept
ing that of the freedman Consider
alton and respect for the rights of