The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-06-17
For tie Anderson Intelliqeneer.

Mr.. EDITOR: Tour correspondent "M has
touched chord that should vibrate to the heart OF
every person employing laborcrs on the farm or
elsewhere, South of Mason & Dixon's line. But
MS we are not expected to provide for the political
and domestic welfare of friends and fellow suffer-
ers abroad, we shall con6ne our remarks to the
District alone.
We admit .'pressing"-:oa, an irreprsssi6'e enc
tsssi.v'-for the adoption of some means by Which
farmers may command a reliable system OF
labor No argument is needed to convice those
who have tried cropping freedmen for the last
three years. of The utter ineficiency anu suicidal
policy of that plan. If any were necessary, it
might be found on the plantations pretended to
be cultivated by The "socalled' best hands in the
country. In the rotten fences and dlapidated
farm-houscs-in the neglected bitches and rich
spots of ground and fence corners overrun with
briars-horses abused--defcctive cultivation-late
rising and slow commencing work-keeping guns
and hunting squirrels when the plow ought to
run-in being insoent and unamiable in their IN
tercourse with employers-n refusing to DO any
thing outside Of the growing crop, and many olh-
er like things which the experience of the farmer
will readily supply. Farmers cannot afford to
employ one set of hands to cultivate the soi' ard
another to repair the premises al the usual rent
rates of this country. Three years is about as
long as small farmer can afford to experiment III
this department. Hence, some of the more pru-
dent farmers are already dropping the experiment
in disgust-impatient, provoked and discouraged
II r,,,;1o oEa Thoco fr
ures are Tie legitimate effect of employing unrei-
able labor To make farming pleasant and prof.
table. We must have reform in this respect. Our
system Of labor must be reconstructed, not by
military force, but by moral suasion, and the COM
bined, reciprocating wisdom of employers, sup
ported by the better classes Of laborers The
native freedman is better adapted in all respects,
except voltion TO perform the labor of our coun-
try than any we can procure. He must work and
live among US, for he can't get away, and we
have no desire to CO. Hence we are called upon
by pressing duty TO ourselves, to the freedman
and to society, to bring our minds together and
devise some plan for the management of labor in
the District. By organizing Farmers Associa-
tion, and adopting rules and regulations, and adj
herring to them scrupulousy, ''ercry farmer 'eM
protect erery other armer, and ty cceyy other farmer
be protected" This is one of the things every
farmer feels that he needs in these times of uncer-
tainty But this is not the only good to be antic-
ipated from such an organization. 1t must have
powerful influence in harm nonizing ciriliSng and
moralizing the freedman. If the plan Of requi-
ring certificate of industry and moral character
should be adopted the moral, industrious freed
man suffers nothing, while the opposite class are
forced by example and necessity to mend their
ways in order TO secure employment. This would
be the commencement of making labor more relia-
Jle, and Of course more remunerntive Employ
ers can we'll afford to pay higher wages for relia-
BILE labor, and freedmen will make better crops for
themselves and employers always having in view
the certificate which must accompany the next mp
plication for place. This will produce harmony
and cooperative interest in the welfare of each
other, and make farming most delightful and
self-sustain;ng business, even in this prosecuted
land of ours.
But we have already written mere Than many
farmers will have time or inclination to read
In conclusion, allow me to insist on your imRedi-
ale and thoughtful attention to this subject. Let
US have mass meeting and serious talk together
about the matter, and if we fail TO devise means
to regain our lost fortunes, we may lay the foun-
daiion of important results to posterity, and in
sure to ourselves more plentiful harvests in the
future
respectfully suggest that this Mass .Eteiing Of
Far,aers take place at Anderson Court House on
the 18th of July next, and That an" hold himself
in position to disgorge his lucubraions on the
subject then and there. And to the end that this
matter may be brought to the serious notice of
farmers everywhere, let primary meetings be held
in every ncghborhood for delbcration and dis
cussion, so that when We come together it may be
for edifcaion and hearty cooperation in the
great desideratum Of the times. n.