The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-11-27
: TIE IkDoa eoayasEroNs$!Tapp DAY.
The 'cohsentioh WAS oalled to order by


O committee FROM each County, to nomi-
nate suitable persons to represent the
State in the National Labor Convention,
to be held in Washington City, in De-
cember next. The committee recon-
mended the following: Joseph 81. Rainey,
j. j. Wright, W. B. Nash, Lucins Vim.
bush. colored; Simeon Corley, Thomas
j. Mackey, white. ~ %: ei..,
A member from Orangebnrg offered q
reso!ution-which was laid upon the
table, after much discussion--that the
following rates of wages be given to Ia
6orers Tor cultlvating cotton and corn:
First class, $15; second. $l2; third, 50;
per month; aud the laborers shall repeiye
i'll addition to the above: 8 lbs. bacon,
per week, peck corn. quart molasses.
pint snlt, for his board; and if working /.
for share of the crop. they shall receive
one-half Of all the provision crop, aud
onethird of the cotton raised upon tho
farm. The planters to furnish all the
farming utensils and sufficient horse
power to carry on the farm.
The Committee appointed to memo
rialize tho General Assembly, through
their Chairman. Il. J. Maekey, submitted
the following:
The laborers of tho State of South
Carolinn, in Convention assembled, beg
leuve to memorialize your honorable
body, to furnish an appropriate nnd ef-
fectual remedy for some of tho griev-
anecs which the agricultural luborer now
suffers Mt the hands of the large majority
of his employers. We believe that there
IS no natural aniagonism between the
interests OF the planter and those of the
laborer; but, on tho contrary, that fair
dealing and q rigid performance OF duty
on the part of each, will secure the pros
perity of both. We are aware that many
OF the wrongs to which laborers nre sub
Jected are beyond tho reach of legisla-
ton, but must find their redress in tho
organized efforts of the laborers them
selves, acting unitedly within the lines of
tho law, with q wise regard to the equita-
bic claims Of capital and the innlienable
rights of labor. Yet your honorable body
are restricted by constitutional limita-
tlons from fixing the rate of wages, it is
within the scope OF your authority to
insure more fully thun at present their
speedy and certain collec ion; and, also,
by suitable laws, to confer upon the
lnborcr greater power OF self-protec-
ton than hc no. possesses, &c.
| l. That the claim Of the agricultural
laborer. for wages due, shall operate as a
preferred lien upon the land that he
works, and that the planter or owner of
said land that he works, shall not sell or
alienata the same, until sue, claim is 80
tsfcd.
2. That the Governor shall appoint
discreet and proper person, in each
County, who shall DO designated as
commissioner of Contracts" such per-
son shall be charged with the duty of
examining and attesting all contracts be-
tween the planter aud the lahorer, and
shall act as advisory counsel of the la
borer upon all questions that may arise
under his contract. He shall make o
Quarterly report to the Bureau of Agri-
cultural Statistics, setting forth the num-
ber of laborers in his County; how en-
ployed; the rate of wages paid, and the
names Of planters and laborers who may
have violated their contracts; all of
which shall be laid before the General
Assembly, at tho commencement of each
session thereof, and shall be published
for general information.
3. That suits, of all classes of luborers
or employees, for wages due them, shall
have precedence on the calendars Of the
courts, over all other civil suits, ard shall
be heard at the first term of the court,
after the declaration of the plaintiff in
the same shall have been filed.
1. That the Governor shall be author
lied to appoint in each County an Of
ticer, whose duty it shall be to make up
the list of jurors and superintend the
drawing of the same, in order that the
laboring classes may have a fair repre-
sentation on the juries-a privilege which
is practically denied them in the rural
districts, under the operation of the pre-
sent system.
S. That when lands are sold under ex-
ecution, the Sheriff shall divide them as
nearly as practicable into tracts not ex-
ceeding fifty acres each, in order that
the small capitalists may be enabled to
purchase We believe that this measure
will greatly facilitate the acquisition of
land by the landless, and that it CON be
rendered legally practicable, by provid-
ing that the decree of sale in each case
shall declare that only 30 much of tho
debtors land, or the sub divisions there
of, shall be sold as may be necessary to
satisfy the Judgment.
6. That all due bills given by planters
to laborers shall specify in terms the