The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-05
CHI A r T. E S TON.
SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE s, 1869
Tho Labor Question.

The most important and at the same
time the most difficult question, with which
the South has to deal is that Of labor; for
upon the number of immigrants which We
can obtain depends the rapidity with which
we may increase our productive capacity
and develope the resources which have
hitherto been comparatively neglected. Had
we as many able bodied agricultural la
borers at this moment as we had ten years
ago, we should still require o large addi-
tion to their number. The Southern Stat es
have never been worked to their full capac.
ity, and on account of the sparseness Of the
population many lucrative branches Of in
dustry have, of necessity, been passed by.
But we have not nearly the producing
power which we had before the war. Sick
ness and disease have told with fatal effect
upon the freedmen. The cities have drawn
the hands from the fields. The women, for
the most part, refuse to make their hands
familiar with the plough handle or hoe. The
boys who, under other circumstances, would
be learning the method Of working cotton
and corn, now amuse themselves with spell
ing books and competitive examinations
Over the whole colored race in the South is
thrown the dark pail Of political agitation
They have been taught that labor is un-
worthy Of the free person Of color. They
have been told that political meetings are
Of more consequence than. monthly wages,
and voting than meat and bread. They
have been used as mere machines to SOW
and harvest political crops; and if they are
now working with more. steadiness than in
the three previous years, it is because they
have been made the tools of the politician
and the slaves Of the needy adventurer.
Taking all things into consideration, we
see no reason to change our opinion that
the available working force of the South
is one-third less than it was in 1860, when
it was not nearly sufficient to answer all
our purposes. The question then is, how
are we to obtain the laborers that We go
urgently reduires - f
1t may be taken for granted THAT FOR many
years to come there will be no very consid-
cradle European immigration to. the South
Immigration societies will be formed, as in
our own State, and will bring n immigrants;
but it will be long before they come in suf-
dcient strength to fill up the deficiency In
our lab oring population. The whole con-
tinent Of Europe is prejudioed against the
South, and the feeling is encouraged and
strengthened by the agents Of the Northern
and Western States. The tide sets in a
westerly and not in southerly direction
If we look to European immigration alone,
this generation may pass away before the
South has obtained the Irish and tho Eng
lish and the Germans, whom we 80 highly
value, and find it SO difficult to obtain.
Moreover, Virginia and the grain growing
States will have the first choice Of immi-
grants coming South. They are not likely
to come as far South as tho cotton, sugar
and rice producing States. The doors Of
Europe, then, being closed against US, it is
natural that We should look to Asia, the
advanced guard Of whose countless millions
has already secured footing in the States
Of the Pacific slope In this connection,
the following extract from an address Of
Major F. II. Hanks, agent Of the Chinese
Immigration Company Of St. Louis, will be
found interesting. Major Hanks is now in
Alabama, making contracts with the plan.
ters for o supply Of Chinese laborsrs. he
says:
''The solution OF the labor question is most
readily and successfully found in the vast and
overaowinP population Of China, the cheapness
OF cooiie iator. the peculiar adap. edness OF
that race to the climate Of the South, and to
the production Of Southern staples, and in the
cheap and convenient transportation afforded
by the Pacific Railroad. This road is now COM
pleted from the Mississippi River to San Fran
cisco. and this company is now ready to cor
respond with Southern planters in reference to
furnishing Chinese laborers for their planta-
tions.
There are in California between two and
three hundred thousand Chinamsn at the nrea-
ent time, and many more are constantly erriy-
ing from across the Pacific. We. wish to be-
gin the transportation Of them to st. Louis az
soon as practicable and TO have large sup
ply OF them on hand in time for the crops of
next year.
In answer to the principal inquiry in regard
to the introduction Of Chinese labor in the
south, eve mean cost) We can only say at
present that we estimate the expense Of trans.
portation to Selma at about fifty dollars Der
head; the cost Of his labor at from four to five
dollars per month and fed. In recommends.
ton OF the coolie as o laborer, it may, in con-
clusion, be said that it is easy to make him q
permanent fixture when he once becomes loca-
ted, as ne can be contracted with without an7
difficulty for series Of years together, as he
is noted for his faithful and religious adher-
eDce to his contracts"
The Chinamsn are undoubtedly patient,
frugal and industrious. Their wonderful
imitativeness enables them to adapt them