Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-01-09
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GENERAL feel II incumbent upon
M me as Assistant Commissioner Bureau
81 of Refugees, Freedmen, aud Abandon
+ ed Lands for this State to represent
a to you the present condition Of the
N freedmen aud planters, and their pros
81 poets for the future,
At the close of the war cotton, here
NJ tolore the great staple Of the South,
f commanded what was regarded an
enormous price, say from forty 20
n sixty cents per pound, the result Of
Il which was TO cause large amount Of
capital from the North TO be invested
n in the production of cotton Labor,
n of course, commanded a price com
paratively beyond what had hitherto
been known in the planting and farm
n ing districts, ranging from Sl5 to $40
per month, with rations, for first class
field hands The short crop of 1866
dispelled the illusion entertained by
B many capitalists of rapidly accumula-
ting a fortune, and in many cases
utterly ruined planters and adventur-
ers, who had invested their all in a
single crop. Yet there was a suffi-
cient number who regarded their
losses as the result of an exceptional
season, added TO the number of land
holders who determined to risk the
result of another years planting to
maintain the high rate of wages of
the previous year, and the contracts,
Y where wages were Reconsideration,
ranged from SIS to $40 per month /;
and where the land was titled on
shares the planters agreed to furnish
h the land, animals, utensils, and, in
many cases, forage, the freedmen fur
nishing the labor. la most of these
cases, the laborer having no subsist-
ence and no credit, the planters agreed
TO become responsible for the supplies
n necessary for the laborer and his fam
ily, the amount 10 be deducted from
the share of the laborer when the
crops were gathered.
In consequence Of the dry weather
and worms the crop Of 1867 has not
exceeded half of what was regarded
as an average crop, and that has not
commanded but one half of the price
Of the previous year, thus reducing
the proceeds to one-fourth of what
was anticipated by the planter and
freedman as the proceeds of the years
labor. The result is the financial ruin
Of the planter and capitalist, and dis
content of the laborer.
In cases where laborers worked for
stated wages there is but little com
plaint or discomfort on the part OF tie
freedmen, remuneration having gen
orally been received by the laborer
either in money or supplies, or if not
paid the claim can be easily establish
ed or adjudicated, and if the planter
has the means the claim can bo col
lected. Where the laborer has work
ed for share of the crop, endless liti-
CATION has been the consequence. The
laborer, being without means, has
generally been furnished the necessary
supplies by the planter, or on his secu-
rity. On gathering the crop il has
in a maj ority of cases been ascertained
that tho share of the aborer does not
pay his Indebtedness for supplies ad-
vanced, and instead of receiving a
dividend he is in debt. This causes
great discomfort and a conviction,
perhaps well founded in some instan-
ccs, OF dishonesty and false accounts
on the part of planters, but this can
not generally be the case Instances
have occurred where the planters have
entirely abandoned the crop TO the
laborers, losing their time, the use of
their animals and implements, and the
supplies advanced. Cases have been
brought to my attention of planting
where not only the entire crop has
been turned over to the laborers to
satisfy their claims, but also tho mules
and implements used in its production.
The result of this condition of affairs
is the almost universal determination
Of planters TO abandon the culture of
cotton, and even if they wished TO
prosecute il another year, il would, |
apprehend, be impossible for them to
procure further advance of the neces-
sary supplies from any merchant, so
prevalent is the conviction that cotton
cannot be produced at the present
prices
The next year the land in cultiva-
tion will be almost entirely devoted to
corn, which requires but about one
fifth of the labor demanded by cotton.
therefore four.ffths Of the laborers
required last year will be thrown out
OF employment, and of course there
Will be a corresponding decrease Of
Wages. This the freedmen do not
*nprcciate, considering it the result of
H<pmbination to defraud them of what
tht7 consider just wages. The conse.
1ttncc is they almost universally de-
Nl'ne entering into contracts for the
jear 1865 on the terms offered by
NIanters
tbe crop of 1867 having been gath
t{od, the freedmen are now idle and
NIthout, in a great majority of in
stances, the means of support. The
result is great complaints from every
Section OF the State of depredations
being committed on live stock, hogs, |
sheep, and cattle. This is now the
condition of affairs in the State of
Mississippi.
Planters are without means, having
little left them except their lands
Capitalists beyond the limits of the
State refuse to mako advances from
the unsettled condition of affairs. Tie
freedmen being TO great extent dis
contented refuse to enter into con
tracts for the coming year The