The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-29
THE LABOR CONTENTION.
Adoption or til. Platform.

AS already stated in onr special dispai chcs,
the Labor Convention rcasscmLlcd in Columbia
OH Friday.
member from OrangcburE offered rcsolu.
tion--whlch was laid upon the table, after much
''lscussion--that to- following rates OF wages Ec
given To aiorcrs for cu!tivatinS cotton and corn :
First class, sl5; second, SIC; third, 80 per month
ana the laolcrS shall receive i'm addition to the
above pou.:is bacon per week, peck corn, quart
molasscs pint salt, for his board: and IL for
share Of the crop, they shall receive one.lialf Of
all the provision crop, and onc-thrd OF the cotton
raised upon the farm. Tho planters to furnish all
the farming utensils and sufficient horse power to
carry on the farm.
The committee appointed to mcmOrialize the
General Assembly submitted the following:
TO the Honorable The Senate ana House oC Repre-
schidtiucS 0J ne state oJ .Srith Carolina:
INC ianOrers Oh INC state OF South Carolina, IN
your honorable body to furnish All appropriate
and cirectunl remedy for some OF the grievances
which tile agricultural lab0rer now suffers ut the
hands of the large majority OF Ills employers.
We believe that there Il no natural antagonism
the laborer; but On the contrary, that fair deang
and rigid performance Of duty on the part or
each, win secure tho prosperity OF both.
iaborers are subjected are beyond remedy by
Legislative cnactmcnts, but must find their re-
dress In the organized efforts OF the laborers them
selves, acting unitetly within the lines OF tic law
with wise regard to the equitable claims OF cap
tai, and tho inaiicnable rights OF labor.
Yct while your honorable body arc restricted
by constitutional limitations from fixing the rate
OF wages, 1t Ia within the scope OF your authority
10 insure more fully than ut present. their speedy
und certain collection, and also by suitable laws
| TO confer upon the lahorcr greater power OF
| self.protectiOn than lie now possesses.
We, therefore, pray that your honorable body
will provide by statute
l: That the claim of the agricultural laborer for
wages due shall operate rs b preferred lien upon
| the land that lie works. and that the planter or
owner OF said land slian not sell or ALLEVIATE the
snme until such claim is satisfied.
2. That the Governor shall appoint discreet and
proper person In each county who shail be dcsig-
sons shall be charged with the duty of examining
and attestng all contracts between the planter
and aborcr, and shall act as advisory counsel OF
the nborer upon oil questions TINT may arise un-
der his contract lie shall make quarterly re-
port to the Bureau OF Agricultural Statistics set-
how employed, ,anu the rntc or wages paid, and the
names OF planters and laborcrs who may have yio.
fore the General Assembly, at the com men comcnt
OF each session thereof aud shall bc published for
general Information.
| 8. That the suits of all classes or labOrcrs and
employees for wages due them shall have prece-
dencc on the caicndras Of the courts, over all
other civil suits, and shall he heard at tie first
term OF tho court after the declaration OF the
plaintiff In the same shall have been filed.
=. Ihnt the Governor shall be authorized TO ap-
point, In each county, MI officer Whose duty IL
shall be to mike up the list OF jurors, and super
intend the drawing OF the same, in order that the
is. practically denied them in the rnrai dis.
trlcts under the operation OF the present system
| g. That when lands are sold under execution
the sheriff shall divide them nearly as practica
bic, into tracts not exceeding ffty ncrc5 cac In
order that The small capitalists may be enable 10
purchase.
| We believe that this measure viii greatly faci
tate tho acquisition or land by the iandless and
that IL can he rendered legally practicable by pro-
vlding that the decree OF sale, In each case, shn
declare that only 30 much OF the debtors land, or
the subdivisions thereof, shall be sold rs may be
necessary to satisfy the judgment.
| o. That all due bills given by planters to 10.
borcrB shall specify In terms the special consiera
ton Tor which the same shall have been given,
| and shall bc transferable ut the option OF the
| holder, and shnll operate as lien upon the cror
OF payment for agricultural labor.
| .. TINT nine hours shall bc O lawful days work
Tor all mechanics md lnborcrs engaged In manu-
faotures or In any business requiring skilled labor
| y. Abolish all taxes on sales or cotton and rice
BY either Statc or municipal authorities.
| Your memorinllsts arc satisfied that the enact.
ment OF the laws herein prayed for will be OF vast
| benefit to the agricultural laborers and will
| greatly tend to advance the industrial recon.
struction OF the entire State.
| And your memorlalsts will ever pray, &c.
| By order OF the convention.
| IT, MAcKBY,l
w. d. NASH, Non'''ee on heihoTi3.
Is. q. YoCuM,
unanimously adopted by the State Labor Con.
vention, at Columbia, 8. e., this 2eth day OF No.
| velnber, A. u. 1862