The New York herald., 1867-09-11
THE SOUTH.
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Reports Of the Special Correspond
ents of the Herald.
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THE LABOR QUESTION In VIRGINIA.
e~~~o~~N~~>o-~>-><S-~~e
Affairs i'm South Carolina and
Alabama.
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rHE LABOR QUESTION In VIRGINIA.
SCENES In SAN ANTONIO. TEXAS.
IR G MA.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE W ne ntnaLU
yhe Labor Element Of Virsiuin-vuiue Of the
Nearo-The Importance Of Retnfning Him
In the -Disproporti"n OF Laborers to
the Extent Of Soii-The White Cavaliers mt
the Piow-A Love Of Labor Beins Gradually
RicaMosp, Va, Sept Z. 1867
Among other interesting subjects outside of politics. OF
which, indeed, there has beon more Of patient wachful
ness than any attempt active participation in by the
people Of this State the question OF agricultural labor
crosses considerable attention from the farmers and
planters In Virginia The sudden revuison from forced
that Of voluntary and unfettered labor
well calculated to bewilder the two whom'it
affected aud ia fact, when little reflection 10 bestowed
upon the Of the chance abrupt and unprovded
fos a. 1t was seems astounding how we'll
and peaceaby the result was accomplished Tho negro
has done better than his best we'll wshers might have
anticipated and his former white master has treated him
with much consideration a. proper TO expect
But Is negro labor the only kind Virginia hope
90 secure and II that be a1rnatvoy settled to what
extent do find this labor diGused and how long
Hkey to ass These questions and others that suggest
themselves In the connection given consdera-
ton TO by many thinking OF the State. Il may 10
safely assumed that for years 10 come, Virginia will
have TO depend upon the negro to perform field labor
European emigration cannot be diverted this way from
che we'll channels that direct 1t TO the West and
H for other reason, the ono simple facs lie
enough, that the negroes numerous hcre that
white cannot be induced to come among
thsm Farmers are conscious Of this and
however much the project b, fostesd OF importing
foreigners mere sborers, those OF any experience
know well that tho negro is, aud must remain, the
chief resource unless the theory be realized that be
bound in the lapse OF time to disappear from the arena
Of SOCIAL industry and trouble the oratory OF ambitious
politicians no more.
man makes most valuable field hand; he has an apti-
tuds for everything per ming to agricultural operations
and being dorile rarabe and Afectonate, Is mansgcd
easily bs triiing OF kindness Farmers and plant
srs appreciate The worth of tho negro aud with them
TO retain In our midst tins valuable element Of aborY"
BY Cancellation and berality and by making II an OBJ
sect to educate aud elevate tho negroes draw them
nearer on friendly level, and by moulding them into
an intelligent and devoted peasantry the whites will do
more towards neutrallzing the noxirus influence OF
radical dsna ngues, whose only skill seems 70
eist In disseminating incendary teachipgs- To show
tho great disiroportion OF aborers to the ex-
tent OF soil In Virginia, and the loss that would
result from any further minuon OF tho number few
statistics viii suffice The Of improved land In the
State 900 600 acres and Of unmproyed IL $50 O0O
The number OF aborers between twelve aud sixty
years OF Is los 900, which leaves spportonneni
aborer every ninety acres OF improy or 20
every one hundred and yseven OF both i'm mproyed
and un improved land fbis clearly shows that Virginia
needs more hands TO till her soil and III sNord
spare single one o. what she has Bet that many
have lett snd are still leaving. for more remuneratve
xag's in OHIO and Pennsylvania, there Is no doubt
agricultural operations while under the altered sia,s
OF thpgs the labor Of the freedman must be
paid for. and white men will certainly stay away
from where no money Is in circ s,ion In coun-
ties farmers find 1t more convenient not economical
20 give the share In the crops but this plan is
objected TO by many. who IL lls their heads with
fancifui ideas OF exravagant profits that real
ized and when those undue disappont-
cd the negro 10 demorszed for work. However where
there Is money some such this has 10 DO
Adop'ed and is doubtful II be the most sasfac
tory under the Circumstances Many Of the
planters have brought tho matter OF employing labor
. methotica business system- Board and LODGING are
furnished on the plantation TO he hands and Certain
stated times they receive their wagas from which the
cost Of subsistence regularly deducted Tho larye
planters SEQ the necessity OF not alone dealing
Justly and libcraiy with the negro, but also Of
cation; ami l doubt not the theory will hold
good. as we'll with she black with the whiie mau
that education will make him more efficient reila
bic member OF society AS labor has become COM
mon lot o. all SINCE slavery has dsr pearei, and the
great ~ this State have al last received reog
nition from lis people, the Young OF Virginia whose
lives beors tue spent in aad idlcness are
applying themselves 10 the task cf repairing their
wasted estates aud Developing the riches or tho soil
Many gallant cavalier with hands unused toll
now be se-n at tho plow handle the hoe and
ample thus SET n being extensively initiated. Virpuans
are fast becoming . practical peopie Politics are left
aside for the discussion OF mining agriculture and
the classic lore Of colleges discarded for the science
OF husbanfry In this way IL 10 thoaEht tho youth Of
Che state will work out tie material destiny OF Virginia
and place her foremost among the prosperous pro-
gfessivs states Of tho Union.