The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-29
1aborers in Couneil-Moderate Dema nds

Gals advocate the cause VI tuc uIoh ny
sons OF toll would be amazingly refreshing
if it only were sincere. And if there was in
the record of South Carolina Radicalism one
redeeming fact showing that the ruling con-
cloye is indeed the disinterested friend OF
laborer and artisan, we could give to the
Radical leaders, for their support OF the
workingman, o need Of praise which no
other deed of theirs entities them to claim.
But they are no more unselfish now than
when they speculate in bonds and stocks,
growing sleek and rich while the poor man
starves. And this the laborers already be-
gin to see. They gradually learn that the
Radical politicians mouth and rant so
fiercely, only because, without the steady
support of the laboring men, South Caro-
lima Radicalism must soon go down to de-
struction. In Columbia, especially, have
the laborers proved their appreciation OF
the situation, and wise determination to
avoid being made the tools of any political
party. The Labor Convention, which be-
can in noise and confusion, has adopted &
policy as temperate as it is reasonable, and
the agricultural laborers stand before the
people in an attitude which cannot provoke
hostility and should command support.
There is still too much Of the political ele-
ment in the composition Of the convention.
This, perhaps, could not be avoided. And
whether it could or not, the standard by
which we Judge the body is the character
and extent of its demands, not the temper
or race of its members.
AS is well known, an attempt was made
by handful Of Radical demagogues-news-
paper men and politicians-to induce the
Labor Convention to insist upon higher
wages for the laborers, to regulate the price
at which land should be leased, and, gene
rally, to take position directly and wilfully
hostile to the whole employing class. This
was the object of the persons who caused
the convention to assemble, and when it
began its deliberations these demagogues
urged that the platform be-" Higher Wages,
cor Strikes and Revolution" Fortunately,
more moderate counsels prevailed, and the
report or platform adopted by the conven-
ton is one to which no liberal-minded man
will cautiously object. The sum and sub
stance OF the platform is that memorial shall
be presented to the Legislature praying that
claims for wages be q preferred lien on land,
and that suits for their recovery shall have
precedence on the calendar over all other
civil suits; that commissioner be appoint
ed in each county to examine and attest
contracts; that nine hours be days work
where skilled labor is required; that lands
sold under execution be divided into small
tracts, and that all taxes on rice and cotton
be abolished.
The object sought to be attained by the
appointment Of the commissioners Of con-
tracts, is the protection of the laborer
against fraud, and the commissioners will,
in some degree, represent both the employer
and the persons employed. We believe that
in this State cases Of fraud upon the laborer
BY the landowner are few and far between.
The freedmen, nearly without exception, are
treated well, and are paid as much as the
planters can afford. But the impression has
gone abroad that the laborers are oppressed
and badly used, and we are willing and glad
that they should have an official safeguard
against even the suspicion of wrong. We
know that we express the sentiments Of the
white people when we say that it is the uni
versal desire to give to the freedmen the
fullest measure of justice. Wehave one and
the same law for white man and negro. The
white man who would cheat an ignorant
freedman is simply beneath contempt. We
concur, then, in the recommendation that
commissioners OF labor be appointed, and the
expense, although considerable, will matter
but little if honest and respectable officers
are chosen. Upon the character OF the COM
missioners will mainly depend the amount
Of good that is done.
No opposition will be shown to the pro-
posal to make wages preferred lien on the
land, nor to the suggestion that lands sold
under execution be cut up into fifty acre
tracts. Nine-tenths Of the negroes will,
at present, do better as laborers than %
landowners, but if they wish to buy land
and work it themselves We should, and will,
give them favorable opportunity OF max
ing start in the world. Taxes on cotton
and rice should undoubtedly be abolished.
These imposts injure our commerce and
depress our trade Let them be swept
away by the Legislature if the municipali-
ties decline to act.
For the appointment of an officer to su-
perintend the drawing of jurors, so that the
laborers may be fairly represented, we see
no necessity. The present jury law re-
ouires that the number Of white and color
ed jurors be in the same ratio as the number
OF white and colored voters. This should
be protection enough. And, beyond this,
there is the question whether the Legisla-
ture can properly or rightfully set up in
authority over the laws which it has made
an officer who could pack juries at his
pleasure, and make of the laws OF the State
a delusion and snare. The limitation OF
the hours of work II ay cause some incOn-
yonianca hut this matter at all events will