The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-16
THE LABOR QUESTION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.

The question of labor among farmers has as
sumed a serious nature. Taere never was time
when the energy, patience and tact Of the South
ern platter have been put to such severe tests
He Is surrounded by concatenation OF circum-
stances sufficient TO nI9r the hopes Of a more
sanguine people.
Since the close OF the var to the present he has
managed, by hook or crook, to command more or
less labor. the system deteriorating, though,
each year, and the supply decreasing, until nnaly
1t has become almost entirely unavailable The
course which contributed most to render the lrst
part OF this assertion true, has been the existence
in our midst OF Radical demagogues, who make
Political capital out or the negroes on every ques-
tion which relates to them and ehe native whites.
That which has lent most to render the second
true has been the lHjudcious policy OF the land
owners In renting their lands to the only laborer5
whom, under existing circumstances, they could
possibly expect to obtain.
These causes, together wth:the effect OF The re-
cent Labor Convention, which were represented
from nearly every portion OF the State, have re-
duced the5)rospects for farm. lRborers the coming
year to still smaller proportions.
Farmers everywhere favor The introduction OF
the Chinese. No matter what may be their status
whether they be l2w-abiding or not or have any
sense Of moral responsibility, the cry ls-lct them
come. An old gentleman the other day made the
profusive wish that they might land here in less
than twenty-four hours thicker than hail stones
ever fell He afterwards qualided IL by adding, ''if
we ceulG feed them"
That the South does need more labor to de-
velop her resources and make her more prosper
Gus Is palpable fact. The party In power In
this State Is opposed to any movement which has
for its object andncrease OF labor We, therefore.
cannot expect any aid from the State In getting
Immigrants here. But Mr.. Editor, caEnot TIKI
Ngws as the representative paper OF tine State,
suggest some plan by which this resEt may be
accomplished the opposition OF Scott and his
sable subjects to the contrary Notwithstanding
Let the landowners and all others VINO may
favor the PROJECT, form immigration societies In
every county OF the State, and every person on
becoming member contribute an admission lee.
After the societies have been thoroughly organ
lied, and the membership increased TO Its maxi.
num- let each member pay Into the treasury o!
his society certain percentage OF the state tax,
to be spplled'te delrayng the expenses OF immi-
gratiOn-the. rate OF percentage, OF course 10 De
| left 10 q vote OF each society.
| In this way each member would pay proper
tionaity and!by fixing the rate sufficiently high q
munitcent sum could be realined. Let every man
who becomesa member do 30 with the deterli.
nation to vote for as high rate OF percentage on
| his State taXas his means Will permit Thcn lei
| him make his arrangements accordingly TO meet
the payment. II he is farmer, let him plant To
make bale or two more OF cotton; II merchant,
let him reduce his expenses OF living. Let every
one make temporary sacri1ceS Tor the bencntS he
will ultimately receive
After each organization has paid It's assessed
amount, let the whole he turned over to an honest
and reliable agent elected by The different .s0sle
ties, whose duty it shall be to apply the funds
thus placed In his hands to defraylng tile cX-
penses for transportation OF Immigrants. On
their arrival, let each county receive pro rata
number according to the sums raised. to be dis.
| tributed TO the highest bidder Tor the price Of
labor aruong the members OF the society. In this
way general diffusion OF immigrants would be
made throughout the State They would become
satisfied by the presence OF numbers, and al the
same time receive the highest prices their labor
would command Competition woald drive the
onH lr ha n
the supply Of labor would equal the demand.
or course all cannot, at first, expect to obtain
immigrants. But the introduction OF other labor
create a competition that will place the negro
within command Of those who may fail to get i'm
migrants.
offer these suggestions with a hope that the
subject under consideration may be aYtated, and
the plan proposed improved upon to successful
termination. More labor Is what we need, anu
until We get 1t our progress as agriculturists and
manufacturers will be comparatively slow.
Fork OF Edsto, December, 1869. PAYsAN.