The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-02-19
Agricultural Reconstruction,

there to be gobbled up; while the political plan is
crammed down our threats, with the aid Of the brute
force of the negro. Both alike dangerous to
The agricultural scheme we have referred to is the
order published by the Bureau, proposing to furnish
supplies to the planter for the freedmen he has in his
employ and take lien On the crop, and in case of a
failure to make crop, to take another lien on his
plantation stock and implements The planter has
to take all the chances of failure of the CROP the
worthessness of the labor, and worse than ALL if he
makes anything, he has to consignit to carpet bag
commission merchant. No matter, if he only owes
fifteen hundred dollars for supplies, and his cotton
crop is worth Ave thousand dollars, the whole Of it
must be consigned to the "carpet bag" man. If this
is not enough to open the eyes of Planters then they
are very obtuse Verify, it the last feather that
broke the camel's back
A city contemporary states that the whole sum app
cable to the agricultural reconstruction of this State
only s35000G and yet with this comparatively insig
nifcant sum- doed out to the planter to feed the freed
men, the Bureau expects to control large portion of
the cotton and sugar crops. We do not believe the
plan was naugurated for the purpose Of beneftting
the planter, but rather to entange him in an alliance
WHICH ne VIII Ii very 10 eXuiCatc
himself The New Orleans Bulletin learns that a re-
sponsibe planter applied to the Bureau in that city to
know whether, if he should come forward before his
crop of cotton sent to market, and pay off the
Government account for advancing, the Bureau would
allow him TO consign his crop to his own commission
merchant. The Bureau would not consent to any such
disposition of the crop, but insisted that it all had to
90 through the carpet bag" What better evidence
does the planter want than this, that the scheme
not concocted for his aid It lisa of one-sded at
fair, the Bureau being fully guaranteed, while the
planter consgning his crop to the carpet bag" has
assurance that he wev receive his share. Once
for all, we say, don't have anything to do with this
Bureau agricultural reconstruction but depend upon
your own resources.
In speaking of the late Bureau order, the New Or
eans Christian Advocate questions the policy of the
planter accepting its terms. 1t says, it reyives the
last effort Of the Egyptians in the days of Pharaoh,
when they parted with their lands their farming utcn-
sis and their cattle to the agent of the government.
And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pha-
raoh for the Egyptians sold every man his field. be-
cause the famine prevailed over them; SO the land
became Pharaos.' We do hope that no stress and no
apparent advance in cotton will lead people risk
anything farther They cannot afford to 90 upon I'M
cerainties no, not another day. If they base cacu
latons upon Government aid upon obtaining advances,
upon the labor Of the freedman, upon improved
market, they run great hazard Of losing their last
cent. They can cultivate forty field and raise
food for family they have few COWS and pigs
and work, with their sons, fields already cleared
I,o I
ton; and it is just that which they should do. BY
this they will outride this Storm and keep pos
session of lands that have an intrinsic value in the
markets Of the world not to be destroyed ty the mad
legislation of Congress. When the mills of New Eng
land are stopped and the rocky sides Of the Connect
cot refuse to supply her unemployed operatives with
food, these fertile detas made richer by every spring
flood, vii! be sought for as the only mine of
haustless wealth Our people must not seek relief
rom their present troubles great they are, by the
wholesale sacrifice of the grandest inheritance Of soil
and climate that can fall to the lot Of man.
ITO go back to the selfsupportirg and lproducng
policy of the period is the true policy of the South
Use nothing that you do not raise make, that
you neighbor does not dress in home made cotton
and woolens; tan your own leather, make your own
shoes raise you: own horses and mules, and especial
= your own cows.
"Uness this idea that we must live by cotton or die
IAN be gotten rid Of planters will indeed perish
gricuturally and financially. Leave cotton to the
Government and the negroes. The negroes belong to
he Government-as it is now run'-aud the Govern
nent alone afford to feed them and work them
let Messrs Sumner, Butler and Banks lay out huge
arms and put all the negroes upon them to raise cot
on and vote. No safely venture to work
egro or cotton field, these days, who expects or
wishes to live without stealing. To this has at last
ONE. The ownership Of the negro has passed out of
he hands Of individuals into that Of the general gov
rnment: he must be fed and controlled by the hand
hat feeds him, or he will starve himself and every
ody else. And we suppose, from its limited amount,
hat this Bureau appropriation is really intended as
ntering wedge to the experiment of Bureau farms,
ct farms for working holding, feeding and voting
he enfranchised freedman until after the election of
r. Stanton to the Presidency. If the Radical party
hooses to advance money for the benefit Of the negro
be it. The negro will eat all up that is advanced;
lat is quite certain. But object to the Southern
lantcrs being mixed up with the arrangements for so
lrely he is the Government and the negro togeth
r will consume him.
J,-,n - CT