The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-28

aht NHtfN
ton which affords matter for grave consideration
FREE LABOR AND ITS RESULTS.
The results of last year's.labor in agriculture e
far to prove that the question OF freo lrbor IS IL
longer problematical. The crop OF last year, bot
in rico and cotton, was about m average one
when viewed in connection with those raised duh
ing the ten wears before the war; and this IS tn
more gratifying when ". take into considerable
the fact that while there were many
planters who felt that it was but right and just, n
well to the freedmen as to their own interests, l.
fulfil in the minutest particulars their contract
with their laborers, yet there were on the otnc
hand a large number who took every opportunlt
TO defraud the laborer and discharge him wlthou
fair remuneration.
Tho absence Of sufficiently energetic civil magils
trates threw the freedmen almost wholly upon IN
bureau for the maintenance ot their rlGhtS' a
evil law had been nominally established an
Provost Courts had been in consequence abandon
ed. I was powerless TO render the adequate assist
ance, except on the sea islands, where CIVIL au
thority had not been restored, and at the posts o
Aiken and Sumter, where at a late PERIOD III
du,ed the District Commander to estaDlsh ITO
vost Courts. H.
At the commencement of the present year, Their
was found but nttl. difficulty in inducing freed
men to make contracts, especially with tnosI
planters who had made a reputation for far deal
ing. and it is gratifying to know that up 10 a lal'
period there was every reason to eXpect q large
crop OI COILOD, IlCC uuu CUIu tidh iiuu DNNH ANN
for wears; but about the 18th of June heavy rain
damaged the rice crop upon the Combqhee, Ashe
poo. Ponpon, Cooper, Santee, Wacamaw, Blaci
and Pedec Rivers, to such an extent that TIT
latest estimate will indicate only a half crop o
this product.
In the upper counties Of the State q larger croI
of short cotton and corn Gas L am informed b.
competent judges) has been grown than ever be
fore in this State; while on the sea islands, owing
to the destructiveness of the caterpillar, the crops
of long cotton are well nigh ruined. III corr
crop of the interior is, without question, a goot
one and l have no doubt that sufficient q%uantltle!
of that cereal have been grown to supply hom
consumption during the next season.
Had the cotton on the sea islands been even
fair crop, l an satisfied that there would have
been no need of the people on those islands re
ceiying assistance during the coming year, but tn
entire destruction of that crop takes away from
the people the means wherewith to purchase food
and without assistance from the government o.
other sources, great destitution is likely to cxis
there during the coming Winter and Spring.
CONTRACTS AND THEIR CHARACTER.
The systems of fines and forfcitures, which con
stituted a part Of every contract for last year, wa!
found to work badly, owing to the fact that thu
owner of the land was the arbitrator, and in man.
instances acted ~unjustly. l therefore issued
circular providing a form Of contract for q share
of the crop" as also one 'for wages" While il
most instances this circular has been followed
with most beneficial results, yet in many IL
stances contracts of a very unfair nature were
entered into between planters and their laborer:
which are, now that the time of settlement is ap
preaching, Just coming to the knowledge of thu
officers and agents of the bureau. Thes will no
be recognized as binding unless their terms arr
mutually equitable and fair.
Al the beginning of the year l found a grea'
disposition on the part OF some freedmen not u
contract upon such terms as would give the entire
control OF their time to the landlord. This dlsln
chnatlon to enter into a contract, which ACCORDING
to the terms OF my circular would have been fair
resulted in many contracts being made by which
the freedmen agreed to work part OF the time fol
the planter aid the remainder for themselves
Tho general result has been injurious, and bott
partits have suffe' .Ss,c such contracts have
been IN. Aeassbu Just tohtns rr"edpeople tC
saw that their refusal to make the conn 49, aug
Cested by the circular, was owing to the indIfer
ence to their interests, and injustice shown by
~planters in settlement under the contracts or last
season. In many instances throughout the State
freedmen have rented lands and paid a cash rem
therefor, and | take pleasure IN bearing testimony
to the almost entire success OF those who have
pursued this plan-not n single instance has come
to nv knowledge OF failure on the part OF the
tenant to produce q good crop, which can be
attributed to any neglect to attend to their inter
cts. Bearing this fact in mind, | cannot but
saw that the fears OF those WHO have hitherto pre-
dicted and still pretend to believe that the freed
men will not make successful farmers are entire
" unfounded.
T can SEQ no reason to suppose that the career Of
these people az agriculturists Is likely to be any
different from mat of such OF the white race rs
pursue the same ayocation. Some will fail from
manifest reasons, but the large majority VIII DC
successful and prosperous: a..
I am thoroughly convinced, and every fail
minded and observing person must, i THINK,
come to the same conclusion, that all that Is
necessary on the part Of the planters in this State
10 make the freedpeop!e as good II not a better
class of agricultural laborers than can be intro
duced into this section is TO show by their treat
ment Of them that they intend to pursue a 1alr
and hiph-minded course in all their dealings, to
the end. that they may instill them with conf
dence in their honesty and integrity; that the
benefits from such a course must, IN the nature
of the case, be mutual is easy to be seen.
To protect the freedpeoplc from the injustice o.
snch. as principles OF honor would not bind to tan
dealings! an equitable system of laws, which would
place within the reach of the humblest citizen the
means of protecting himself and obtaining redress
for wrongs. should be exacted and faithfully exc
cuted. Such a code of laws has never. and doei
not now exist in the State OF South Carolina.
EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS.
In the Educational Department OF this Bureau
great progress has been made during the pas,
Year. There has not been Z very large increase IL
fhe number OF schools supported by Northern so
cletlCS, OF Ill Vie iuillpC VI Put"D
schools, but the schools have been conducted WITT
more system AMI greater efficiency than hereto
fore. and the results are entirely satisfactory
The Northern teachers have evidently been select
ed with giHat care, and Ill almost every Instance
have been We'll fitted for their duties.
There has been d large Increase In the number
of schools sustained blythe freedmen themselves
but the poverty Of the. people has prevented then
from securing the right kindr&ft teachers. and thcil
schools IS a consequence his far mGcfaoIte tho
others, 'fnd must RSmain so, uutil competent
teachers can be secured. The total number o
schools is rs; tn',l Number OF teachers 139 (G
white and Al c~oloredj; to;al attendance OF pupils
June l, 1867, was $3.50. =.
During the past year a very marked change II
public sentiment has taken place favorable TO the
establishment Of schools and tho education OF tho
colored people. This change ~ INDICATED IN va
ricus ways by both whites and blacks. In TIM
connection / would call your attention to u schoo
in this city that has been organized by and stlrtet
1nder the direction Uf Inc Rev. \. L. Porter. Il
is controlled and supported by various Episco
pali5n Societies of the North and bids fair to d.
q successful and prosperous lnstltution' l cannon
doubt hat the experiment will DO an unquaaifiet
success. The number oil pupils in attendance
during the term just closcd have averaged about
$40.
The city authorities, through the Board o
School Commissioners, have furnished one OF tn'
largest and most ComDle:o school buildings IN THIS
civ sOT InS uSt VI COitICQ hoiSh ~ "+A ~
commodate 1000 pupils. This action Oh the Far
of the authorities is Il CRAFTY me evidence Of thcl
increasing i,bcrality Of sentimcnt toward the freed
people.
TT is a constant source of regret that orr ability tC
extend aid is so limited. Ny ain las been 10 assisi
Us far as possible In the establishment of por?n9nen
schools. 1t is a significant fact that no schools c.
tablished und"r the auspices OF this Bureau have
been discontinued. The indications are that The
schools will be opened this fail with Il largely III
creased attendance and interest, and that during
the coming year, as in the past. they VIII DC ioun(
among the most potent and invaluable AID
towards the reconstruction Of the government an'
the establishment Of harmony among ali c!2s ses o
the community. A..
The number Of sick who received medical treat
meut Tas-froedmen, 81, 13f; refugees, III; :"
vacciratcd, both classes, 2O52; making a total o
refugees ard froedpeoplc who have receiFcd medi
cal aG from the Bureau, OF GO ,957. Ihcso cases
arc given in detail III the statistical report for cacl
month.
The sanitary condition of the people Throughout
the State, with the exception OF The fev@rs pecu
liar to the climate, has been very good, From
comparison OF all the cases treated during TIT
past two years, tllcper ccntaSc OF mortality \
r-.1 IL - ,,,.I 1 -. ~ ,..0t. tnap m ISI. \