Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-01-28
sHORT.TIME LABOUE-CONTRACTs.

We make the following extracts from
that very practical and sensible journal
the New Orleans Bulletin, and commend
them to the especial attention Of our
friends, the planters. We should be glad
to hear the views of practical men, ex'
perienced in planting, on the spsject,
Let them give us those views, whether
they are in the habit Of writing for the
press or not. Put them down in any
language or style, so that they are
practical and brief; --.-. .
We endeavored short time since to
demonstrate that the disappointment OF
our planters has been occasioued Dy an
iDjudicious application OF the customs OF
slave labor TO the employment OF Tree
labor, Suecinouy stated the planter
has laid IN his iaoor and provisions for
the year at prices predicated upon the
staple prices at the date of his contract.
He has thereby made himself liable for
engagements which are to be fulfilled by
the sale Of his crop at the reduced prices
Of the present season. With the pros.
peetive decline in the price OF
cotton the planter can expect bat a repe-
tition of the same .loss, il he makes
annual contracts as heretofore, We have
been particularly anxious TO impress the
explanation of the general loss sustained
by our planters, because we do not be-
lieye that the labor OF the freedmen hes
been so demoFaliSed as the fact of general
loss would indicate. We know Of many
plantations on which the labor results
have been satisfactory. But the loss has
been universal. Therefore we seek the
solution in the imprudence Of binding
the planter to guarantee that the price OF
cotton next year will be as high as it is
this wear. 1t also binds him to insure
against floods, drouth, worms and frost.
For if any of these contingencies occur,
the planter may .iose-the laborer en-
ployed and found by the year cannot
lose. And this is exactly what the
planter engages to do when be makss
contracts for provisions ard labor for a
year in advance. The experience the
planter has this year prompted him to
avoid This guarantee BE is cautious
about binding himself for a rate of wages
which the hired labor may not pay. We
are glad TO see this subject attracting the
attention of the press.
The planter can make the same profit
on his land and team at a low price as at
a high price, provided he can purchase
his labor at proPortionate rates. a
Southern planter should do SIS q Penn
sylvania iron-master sometimes does.
When prices pay he purchases labor I;
when they do not he closes his furnace.
The planter seems under an impression
that he is obliged to plant for full crop
every year Therefore he must lay in
his labor by the year. Under this sys-
tenn the more he undertakes to produce
the more he may lose, AS soon as he
recognizes bis true relation to the lsborer
as q producer, the planter will make
himself as independent of this loss as
pOssible. He will take no risk. Better
the small crop, which subsists his family,
than larger one which leaves him in
debt to his factor, and impels the labOrer
TO seize the standing corn or unpicked
cotton for wages in arrear. There is no
more reason why the planter should
charge himself with the provision
supply of his lGborers, than that
any contractor on a railroad should
do go The planter need not keep so
much stock to be killed out or fed OF
provisions at high prioe. He need grow
no more vegetables or fruits than is nee
asslry for the use of his family. II is
very doubtful whether the planter can
afford to feed his laborers at all. If he
bu-s the provisions for them he can
make no profit with the trouble, while
every pound OF provisions produced on
his plantation has diverted labor from
the production Of more profitable staple.
The free laborer can always buy pro
visions with his wages, as Is done else
where.
The tendency, in our opinion, is, there
fore. not to the cessation of cotton cul-
ture, but to certain inevitable changes in
the mode Of labor contracts and cOmpen-
sation. The planter will move his cabins
outside of his plantation. His residence
and family premises will still be in the
center. He will 10 longer cultivate
larger crops of corn and vegetables thsn
will supply bis own family, unless in
such eases as it may. be deemed profit
able to cultivate those crops for market.
The freedman will make his contract for
rent, fuel and 8 garden. The planter
will make a short time contract for
Iabor-to plant to plow, to gather.
We do not counsel Injustice or oppres.
sion to the freedman. The labor marke;
will always find planters who be knows
| in whom he can confde. Bat he mus
now know that no planter can afford tC
/ give more for the freedman's labor than
| the result of the labor justifes. So thai
/ at last the planter and freedman viii
amicably agree that the planter Shall pay
| over to the freedman just as much as tbs
/ freedmRn's labor, combined with th'
| planters care and capital, viii warrant
! This will be the ultimate basis Of adjust
ment, for without this basis the plantel
viii not bind himself for the pay anC
F. keep of u lab0rer and his family for thj
chance that they will make full crops o.