Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-12-15
THE LABOR QUESTION IN THE OH

DOMNkHOhs
The Lynehburg Advertiser has the fol
lowing, ia a leading editorial upon thi
condition of labor:
The great problem with the farmer O
7 Virginia now is, how TO improve thel
large estates, at the same time drawing
an ineOms from them IL they rent Oul
theirllGnds @ negroes, or TO such tenant
/ as they usually find willing TO rent, the
Z damage TO their estate from careless and
unskillful cultivation generally exceeds
4 the rent. If they attemptat 10 cultivate
all their lands themselves, even If they
could get an abundance oflGbOr, they can
not get the capital to carry on so large a
business proporly. The advocates oflaFge
farms state, very correctly, that English
experience has demonstrated that large
farms are more profitable than small
ones but they forget that, according TO
English experience, a very large capital
is necessary TO carry on a large farm.
Nor can we procure a sufficient num-
bers small tenants from abroad, who
viii be able 30 carry on farming on their
own account without assistance. Most
of those immigrants who have money to
carry on business by themselves will be
tempted by the low price Of land to biLy
a small home instead df renting.
There is, however, one plan, aud bat
one, by which the farmers OF Virginia
can successfully manage so as to secure
the great ends which they have in view,
of deriving a reasonable income from
their large estates and at the same time
improving the land without risk and
without the expenditure of much meney,
and without continuing their dependence
on idle and worthless freedmen who are
more intent on getting possession OF the
land by political leagues than CultivstiDg
it for honest wages. That plau is the
adoption of the "Cotter SYSTEM Of
England and Scotland. The coiter syf-
tenn, which Cams into use in Great
Britain when white slavery was ab0!-
isbsd there long ago, has Dseu the very
life OF British agriculture ever since, aud |
its introduction into Virginia under sim .
liar circumstances wOuid be attended l
with ike beneficial results. Indeed, our I
are so favorable to its in /
at this time, from our LuTqe I
surplus Of III c1ltiUIted get jHtriRSjcally .
DGi;LabiG SGHd, that we would have a
great advantage over the British farmer, /
aud we might reasonably eXpsct /
Inc system to be even more success.
'ul here than it has been in England /
and Scotland The Cotter system takes
Us name from its distinguishing
ieature, the settlement Of the farm Ia
DOrers in cottages, each family living in
heir own cottage, and supporting them.
lelves by the cultivation of little ground
to the cottage, and by labOii ing /
ln the estate on which they live. OF for
he neighboTiug farmers, as we'll as by I
ierviee as dOmestics when occasion Of
ers. In England and Scotland they
low pay rent for their little cabin and
latch Of ground, to which there is usu-
.lly annexed the common right to fuel /
md the privilege Of grazing COW or
wO on the common pasture of the estate,
hOugh in former times it was most COM
non for them 20 pay only a nominal
ent. The advantages Of this system are
many aud gTest. In moral point Of
rev, the home influences ars Of iuesti-
naOle value to the lHbOring class, when
hey live thus Independently in families,
mi the family ties Keeping The lRbOrers in
ne locality, the neighbOring farmers
Iave 3 sure supply Of skilled labor when
hey want it. AgaiE, this system en-
bies the lEborer aud his family to de1
i've the greater part of their support
rom what costs the landlord compare
lively nothing, and he is thus enabled to
york when the farmer needs his ser
ices, at such wages that he can make q
profit from his business. This
3 most important consideration. IL is
lain that the lu6Orer and tbs fdDlUy
INST be supported tte JCh0le gear, aud
Mess a support IS given them la this
'ay, they must get II out Of their wages
r steal It.
We are assured by the officers Of the
'irginia Immigration Society that the I
ociety is prepared TO furnish thousands
families OF English and Scotch cotters
} the farmers OF Virginia ii they will
i've them each a cabin and ten acres nf ?
nd with fuel, rent free for five yesrs,
nd seventy i've cents day wages, the !
b0reT finding himselL) and the labOrer
~ bind himself to work for his land
ri l0leneUeT lgGRted. Or II the farmers
refer it, the cotters will gladly cultivate
much of their land As they can prop
ly cultivate and manure, on the same
rms they make with the freedmen,
ther for part Of the crop or paying
mt and hiring the teams and plOws OF
rmeTs. With the same opportunities 4
lat the freedmen have had for the last
rec years, these thrifty c0tters would !
on be able TO take long leases on parts
the farms, paying hauusuLne rents and
approving the land at the same time. Z
'e trust that our farmers will speedily {
all themselves of the opportunity now
torded them 10 reOrgaHize their system
farming on a sound and economical
sis, and that before the next season n
ens they will have supplied them :
Ives with this English and Scotch :,
COR,