The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-09-27
DAILY PRESS.
Monday Morning, September 27, 1869.

PORTLAND

AAouudy morning. september 1f, IoO0'
Extract from "A New Orleans Letter.
THE STORM CROPS LABOR QUESTION:
.... CHINESE, &C., &c.
1.-THE following extracts, which we are per-
mitted to make from private letter from am
old resident of Louisiana, we deem of public
interest:
New ORLEANS, Sept IA, 1860.
&
There is every prospect of a fine business
season, and if the crop only comes in any
thing like the calculations, the South will
soon be as well off as before the war.
On the 9TH inst. we had a very severe storm
the precursor of the equinoctial-and some
very heavy rains since. This has doubtless
injured the cotton crop to some extent, but L
think the accounts are exaggerated. They
are generally SO, and do not think the pres
ent instance will prove an exception, and
while we have all been regrettipg the back
wardness of the cane, it proved very fortrt
nate thing for the whole of Louisiana. Had
iuC Csluc DcGI IidlullLy, IL NOulI udNC
been utterly destroyed--as it is, it was not in
jured. The reason of this is that as it begins
to ripen it loses its elasticity, and whea blown
down does not rise again, does not mature.
becomes sour, and is complete loss. On this
account these storms are always dreaded.
see the same storm paid you visit, as well
as New York, and it appears to have been
more destructive to human life at the North
than with us. hope that the great storm
which is predicted by Capt. Saxby, of the
Royal Navy, to occur on The 9TH proximo, will
pass over with as little damage. This predic-
ton is based on astronomical observations.
and the relative positions of the moon and
sun at the earth's equator on that day.
The sugar cane, as have already mention
ed, is very backward for the season, and this
exposes it to many chances of loss and injury.
Grinding generally commences about the 18th
of October, but it will not be ready for cutting
by that time this year. This, however, will
not make much difference if we are not
caught by a frost, and the cane escapes being
blown down. ..t...t.
.tHs.-H.. THE LABOR QUESTION.
The labor question has become one of seri-
GUS consideration, all over the South. l have
not the time to enter into it at length-but
there is not sufficient labor to attend to the
and under cultivation. So many negroes
vefocked into the towns and villages, entire
ly abandoning field labor, that even if the 9TH
ers would work they would still be short
handed. Many of those on plantations will on
ly work when they please-others stroll about
doing days work, but will not work over week
at time, while the women, who used to be the
steadiest of field hands at hoeing, &C., con-
slider it derogatory to do any kind of field
work, however light. Of fcourse there are ex-
ceptions-but there is good deal of truth in
the complaints made about the difficulty of
getting the cotton crop picked. This is work
which mere child can do, and which the
white children all throughout the country are
busy at, and yet negro women are said to pre-
fer remaining idle to engaging in it, at highly
remunerative rates. Now, it is proposed to in
troduce Chinese laborers to remedy this state
of things, and 1 have no doubt the expert
ment will be tried. But there is very de-
cide1 opposition to the plan springing up, and
notwithstanding it has been advocated by
the city papers and those greatest of all hum
bugs, Commercial Conventions" the coun-
try press of this State, almost without excep-
ton are opposed to it. The objection to the
Chinese in California and the North is, that
they work for less than the white man and
thus, coming into competition with white la
bor threaten to monopoze certain branches
of industry Now the objections urged here
are; the Chinese are heathens-that we want
a white population, which will be driven
away if John Chinaman should settle here in
large numbers-while the danger of having a
mongrel population resulting from the inter
course of negroes, Chinese, and deprayed
whites, would far more than counterbaance
any advantage gained from their labor. You
see there is great difference between North
ern and Southern opinion on the subject
and may mention here that the country
newspapers of Louisiana are controlled by
and devoted to, the interests of the planting
community, which shows that as class the
planters are not in favor of introducing Chi
nese labor.
But, on the other hand, in different por
| tions Of the State, owners of land who ha(
| not the means to cultivate it themselves
| have either leased it in small lots to negroes
or work plantation on shares. Some o
| these negroes are very Industrious, and hav,
been getting along very well, and now tina
the question of Chinese labor has been moot
ed, they are exceedingly anxious for the ar
rival of John Chinaman. No negro will
work for another negro if he can possibl,
avoid it-and they are very fond of playins
| the "boss." So ii Chinese are brought here
| the smart negroes will undoubtedly Try t
engage as many Of them as they will be able
to provide for. There is a curious problem tc
be worked out yet-and it may come sooner
than expect. When the Chinese are once
here in any number, in my opinion, the an
| tagonism will be between them and the ne
groes-and the Chinaman will be sure to gel
| the best Of it.
Politics are dead think, for some time t
come. Our courts have been kept open pret-
| ty much all summer for the purpose of ISSUING
and trying injunctions, counter-injunctions
| quo warrantos, and the Lord knows what-al
arising from the bills passed by our uirtuou
Legislature, at its session last winter 1t ha
been perfect winJfall to the lawyers, ant
promises to be for long time to come.
Cotton comes in slowly. Owing to tn
scarcity Of labor, planters store all that il
picked in the gin-houses, and only gin in we
weather when the hands cannot york in thu
field BY this means they will gather muel
more cotton than if they were to gin it a.
soon as picked. But every man in business
is making arrangements for the fall trade
Stores and offices are being fitted up in fine
style, while rents are advancing.
sfrolls About Boston.
More about the Fair-Sabbath School Insti
tute-The Big Gale-Gossip. "a. .....-
September %, 1860.
The weather continues unamiable Th,