The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-11

SCHEME OF CO-OPERAIlON hIId IdE fAEtO-
MEN.
The Washington correspondent of the Balti-
moro Sun writes under date of the 9th Instant
In view of the present unsettled condition ol
affairs in the cotton States, owing to the scar
city of provisions, the high price OF living and
the derAnged condition Of labor, number oi
prominent men in Mississippi, Arkansas and
Louisiana have taken the matter in hand and
devised plan which is said to meet with gene
raj approval by their people, aud is sanctioned
by General Hancock. and also by General Ord,
just prior to the latter's removal. 1t is propos-
ed to organize n kind of joint stock concern in
each county or parish, with an executive COM
mitteo for each to manage tho affairs. -Four
elements will constitute the capital-land,
farming implements, provisions and labor, the
planters to contribute Hs their share the land
and farming implements, and the negroes, as
theirs, labor, and arrangements to be made
for obtaining the provisions.
The negroes, as contributing one-fourth of
the capital, are to be entitled tU one-fourth OF
the profits, if any, and are not to be called
upon to sustain any proportion OF losses,
should such occur. An effort is to be made to
OF the Freedmen's Bureau, to allow the rations
issued from the bureau Tor the States named
to be placed under the control of tho different
executive committees. An order was recently
issued by General Ord directing the arrest as
vagrants, subject to the military authority, of
all negroes WHO refuse to 60 to work after the
first OF this year, and it will be sought to make
this provision apply to all the States named
above. In furtherance. Of this object, Hon.
Robert ]. Walker, Governor Sharkey, of Mis-
si>sippi, and Mr.. Austin, called at the Execu-
tive Mansion last night and had an interview
with tho President, when the whole subject
was thoroughly explained. 1t is probable,
however, that the President will take no action
in the matter, as it is rather regarded as COM
ing within the purview of Congress and the
Freedmen Bureau.
TO the same effect the correspondent Of the
Boston Post says:
An effort, which promises to be successful
is now being made to restore in some measure
the shattered system of Southern labor, and TO
combine it's various elements so as to save tho
country from the destruction with which j: il
threatened A delegation of influential and in
and have submitted q scheme to President
Johnson. The plan proposed is satisfactory to
General Howard, and he asks its approval 30
far as to secure the cordial cooperation OF the
government. 1t is understood that Generals
Hancock and Ord bo,h endorse the idea, and
have so stated officially to General Howard.
The scheme proposed to be adopted is In
substance as follows 1t is assumed that there
are four elements, nearly equal, which must
be properly combined to secure success in
planting, viz: land, stock and agricultural i'm
plements, provisions and labor. In each coun-
ty is to be appointed an executive committee,
through which all requisite preparations for
the cultivation of the soil of that county will
be obtained, and for the payment of which the
crops will be pledged. The planters are all to
unite in the arrangements, and their lands are
subjected to the rules laid down by the COM
mittee. They are to furnish all the necessary
stock and farming implements and secure the
necessary provisions for all who choose to take
part as laborers in the system. The plan
brings in every negro who is willing to work
for his living, and those who are not will
be turned over to the military authori-
ties as vagrants and compelled to labor
on somo of the public works in order to
prevent their pluudering those who are en-
to support themselves: After pay
ing the expenses OF the crop, if y surplus
remains, it is to be divided as before indicated,
the laborer receiving one-fourth part; but If
there be an actual loss the planter Is to be the
sufferer alone. Here we have exhibited cnn,I
binativu Of labvr unu capltal, VIII the Sreal
responsible for any losses which may occur.
To secure the success OF this system, the mer-
chants of New Orleans lend their credit to tho
executive committees Of the several counties,
who, by this means, can negotiate with
Western houses for all the provisions
needed for the first year. What is now
desired is the hearty cooperation OF the
Freedmen's Bureau. Its agents must not
be allowed to step in and defeat tho pur-
poses of tho plan by interfering with its opera
ton. Whenever o negro who has joine the
association becomes lazy and refuses to work,
he is to be reported to the executive commit
tee, aud if they find in him no prospect Of o re-
form, he goes 10 the military commander and
ceases to be drone in the community of work
ers. II is further proposed that Gen. Howard
shall distribute through these several execu-
tive county committees, whatever lie may have
to bes,ow upon the negroes in the way OF cloth
ing and rations. These contributions might
thus be made an incentive to industry instead
of being as now, o reward for idleness. Such
is the outline of the plan now submitted 10 the
President, and which it is believed may prove
the salvation Of the South, if carried out in the
spirit of its inception.