The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-03
Circular Letter from General Scott.

7 THE FAILURE OF TIE oRoPs-THE NATURE o.
ooNrRAors-TERMs AND CONDITIONS
: OF PROFITS N THE PRESENT YEAR. ,5,
The following circular has been issued by
General Scott. It will be found to contain his
views as to the causes Of the disastrous failure
of the crops during the past year, as well as
his recommendations in relation to contracts
with freedmen for the coming season:
- HEADQUARTERS ASSISTANT COMMISSIONERS,
BUREAU REFUGEES, FREEDMEN AND ABAN-
DoNED LANDS, !
DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
CHARLESTON, s. c., January 1, 1853. J
Circular Leuer.l s.Ia.c.
AS the representative of-the government in
behalf OF the interests Of the freedpeople !
deem it not inappropriate for me at the COM
mencenlent Of another planting season to make
years labors, and offer few suggestions as to
the nature Of contracts for the coming year.
It is with feeings'of regret that review the
disastrous failure Of the rice and long staple
cotton, crops in the vicinity Of the coast. Up
to the first of last July the prospect Of q re-
munerative return for the labor and capital in
vested was fattering, but owing to unavoidable
and unforeseen causes, beyond the control OF
human power, the end Of the year finds both
the planter and laborer, upon the coast coun-
try, in an embarrassed and suffering condition.
should not be justified. in dwelling further
! upon this topic so well understood by all par
ties interested; suffice il for me to say that the
general failure Of the rice and long staple cot
ton crops cannot be attributed to want Of care
and expense on the part OF the planter, or lack
of labor and attention from the freed people.
In some districts in the central and upper
portions Of the State, very fair crops Of short
staple cotton and corn have been harvested,
cotton market, the finds that the pro-
ceeds Of the sale oI that staple will not reim-
burse him for the cost OF production.
The general testimony from these sections is
that the freedpeople have worked faithfully
and well, some say 'never BETTER" this may be
partially accounted for BY the fact that the
| small planters or farmers OF the interior are
accustomed to labor themselves, and by giving
their entire personal attention to their plant
ing interests, they have thereby encouraged
the freedpeople te emulate the example thus
set them. 1 have, however, been informed
that owing to the scarcity of provisions at the
commencement OF the past planting season,
many freed people were compelled to enter into
contracts which were either not liberal in their
nature, or did not provide sufficiently remune-
rative wages, consequently they find them
| selves at the end of the year penuiless, or in
debt, and feel dissatisfied and aggrieved; with
out confidence in their employers and indispo-
sed to contract for another year. No st ate in
the Union is more blest with q diversity Of
climate and natural production than South
Carolina; the staple crops OF the more tenn
perate regions which are there found 30 profit
able to the farmer, are equally adapted TO this
latitude, and the same industry and care ex-
erted here will be attended by equal success.
No valid reason exists to prevent this State
from being entirely self supporting; more inn
portance should be attached to tho general
| farming interests Of the country, at least two
thirds Of the tillable land should be devoted to
the production Of provision crops, the cultiya-
ton of cotton should, in my opinion, be made
secondary to that OF cereals, as an increased
production Of the latter would place all classes
| Of community beyond the reach OF that pres
| sing want which now threatens starvation, un.
less again relieved by the donations Of the
It csfs must Jo apparent to every prac:
teal man that freo oelanad 1aha. DC
success in this State unless liberal and fair
contracts are entered into and observed; the
freedpeople cannot much longer be hood
learning the worth Of money, and all persons
who have in any manner overreached them
may depend upon it that eventually they will
find that they cannot procure labor to till their
plantations; while planters who have, by 9 just
and generous course Of treatment, obtained
the confidence Of their hborers, have thus
secured themselves sufficient means to carry
out their plans for the coming year..
It may not be improper for me in this connect
ion to counsel the freedpeople to avoid contract
ing, the coming year with those planters who
have persistently wronged and defrsuded them;
taking care and seeking proper advice that they
| NAV not confound dishonest men with those
hiph-minded planters who, owing to the unfa~
| forable season, have been unable to meet their
enpa papements. but in whose integrity all can
| implicitly rely.
AS to the terms OF contracts for the coming
year, 7 am obliged to express my unqualified
approval Of the system OF paying wages in
money, for such periods as may be agreed up,
pon, giving preference to payments at the end
Of the year as the plan best calculated to in
sure the laborer a portion Of his pay at the
termination or his contract, and it also gives
the planter opportunity to at once discharge
an idle or disafected employee upon payment
Of wages due to date Of discharge. 1t will also
tend to produce more uniform rate OF wages
tnroughout the country, and thus avoid the
the breach of contracts frequently made on va
rious pretexts for the purpose Of hiring to an
other planter, who may temporarily give an IN
creased stipend.
would not be understood as advising
any combination on the part Of the planters
to reduce or keep down wages, neither would
| 7 countenance q Like combination by freedpeo-
Die to secure wages that planters cannot afford
To psy: but it wouli be for the interest OF all
parties to fix upon some approximate amount
| within the power o. the planters to pay, with
reasonable profits to themselves, and not De-
meath the limits OF sufficient support for q
free laboring man and his family. II is not
within my province to fix this desirable rate,
but ! may express the opinion that the contracts
made during the past year upon the sea islands
and upon the coast. were more Liberal in their
general character, and amount Of wages paid,
than those Of the upper country.
Whenever from lack OF means the contract
system based upon shares of the crop, has to
be adopted, the apport:onment Of the gross
proceeds should be made as follows: To the
land one-third; to the laborer one-thlrd; the
capital consisting Of work animals and their
feed, implements and fertilizers, one-third; the
interest of the laborer to terminate upon the
completion Of the gathering and marketing Of
the crop.
It is more than probable that the majority Of
planters will be obliged from want of funds to
adopt the latter system, or some other ap.
preaching it in Its nature, but differing in its
details but no contract less remunerative
than the oce-third suggested for the laborer,
should in my opinion be rendered or received
It is furthermore desirable that planters
make arrangement with physicians to attend
the sick upon the plantations at reasonable
rate per visit or family; clause to the effect
that the laborer should pay pro-rata for such
medical service, might be inserted in contracts.
cannot too strongly recommend briefness
ond o;nnnlicifv op form in all contracts without