The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-30
General Scott and the Freedmen.

It is very much to be feared that General
Scorr has taken too much for granted in COM
ing to the conclusion, as expressed IN his
official report published in the NEWS of Satur-
dsy, that 'the question of free labor Is no
longer problema,ical," and that all that is
necessary, on the part of the planters in this
State, 'to make the freedpeople as good If not
u better class of agricultural laborers than can
be introduced into this section, is to show by
their treatment of them that they intend to
pursue a fair and high-mirded course In all
their dealings"
There is no doubt that the negro can work,
and that he knows how to work to advantage.
The large crops raised by slave labor proved
this fact; and, if the same crops cannot be
raised under the free labor system, it must be
because free labor in the South is uncertain,
and costly, and therefore unremuneralive In
those countries in which only free labor exists
there is a mutual dependence on the part OF
both master and person employed. The mas
ter, by his capital, commands labor, while the
supply is such that the negligence or dishon-
| esty of the person employed can be punished
by summary dismissal; so that the fear OF los
ing his employment is, in most cases, a sufficient
reason to deter the laborer from doing his
work in q ~slovenly or useless manner. On the
other hand, the laborer is protected against
any oppression by the existence of equal laws,
and, as the rate of wages is regulated by sup
ply and demand, he can always avoid imposi-
ton or trickery. But with the free negro it is
wholly different. He was suddenly emancipa-
ted, and as suddenly received the right to
labor for his own benefit. Subsequently he
received political privileges equal to those Of
the white race. He was dependent still Cd the
white man who had the capital; and he TSSS
have worked faithfully and well hs&<he not
been taught assiduOusly that the white races
of the South were his enemies, and that he
~'uld be supported -sny difference that
laigSt aS@isss6 between himself and them. But
If a just and impartial civil government is
once restored, and the military authorities are
TeSITalueQ 1TOm OIL NESO
the negro can be made to work, and will work,
so as to benefit both himself and his employer.
General SCOTT says that in this State there
were a large number of planters "whotook every
opportunity to defraud the laborer and dis
charge him without fair remuneration" and
hat sinjustice was shown by planters in set
cement under the contracts of last season"
These expressions must have been well weighed
and considered by General SCoTT, and they
must have been founded upon information that
he has received. No cases of the kind have,
how ever, come to our knowledge, nor are any
referred to in any of the District papers. Yet
as there are good and bad in all communities,
there must be good and bad in Carolina; and
it is not unreasonable to assume that there
are men in this State who would endeavor by
sharp-dealing to recover the losses to which
war and force had exposed them.
But, while making this admission, we do not
hesitate to say most emphatically that any man
who treats the negro in any other than a just
and honorable manner will be condemned at
the bar of public opinion; and we assert
without fear of contradiction, that the feeling
of the vast majority of people in this State is
wholly opposed to any policy or action that
would deprive the negro of one iOta of the
reward to which by his work he is entitled.
The cases referred to by General SCOTT are
The exceptions and not the rule, and it is due
to ourselves and to him that, in this matter,
there should not exist even an apparent mis-
representation. Unless the negroes have con-
fdence in their employers, negro labor will be
valueless, and that the negroes may have this
confidence is proved by the conduct of nine
out Of every ten men who have made any en-
| gagements with them.