The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-10-20

Il Tshr scheme OF the Hkmdfcml Pol
\ fffcfsams 90 Compel 1zae Sacri-
iceofProperfy- for fheir
OWN Benefit.
We regret to receive reports OF demon
allied labor. The Central Star states
that the freedmen have held meetings in|
Holmes county, and mutually agreed to
discontinue working in the employment
! Of the white people. 1t has not been
long since we were informed OF large
meeting of blacks in the Southwestern
portion of Rankin county, called to agree
upon some plan of a similar kind. And
n from other portions of the State, reports
+ of the same nature have reached u.s.
There is no doubt that some general
movement of the sort is in progress, and
i while it will not be successful as whole,
we apprehend it will result injurious
|Iy to the already crippled agricultural
Interests of the State.
Our exchanges have stated that in
some localities, freedmen have declined
to gather the cotton crops they have pro
duced, under the Encouragement occa-
stoned By the low prices and the heavy
debts which they have been permitted to
.create in the stores on the basis of last
years prices. In this event, merchants
Twill learn lesson which will be useful to
themselves as well as to planters and
freedmen.
The movement to discontinue the cul-
ztivation of the lands of the white proprie-
tors, or to take employment from them,
can be traced no cause So properly as the
Hteachings of white and colored political
headers of the freedmen who are filling
the offices under the present usurping
state government. They have quintup-
pied the tax on all property in the State
with belief that large quantities of lanc
Twill be sold for taxes in consequence Of
the inability of the owners to pay them
Labor is scarce, and profits small at best
and the schemers have shrewdly calcu
lated the quantities that will be throw
upon the market and sold at a sacrifc'
: in the scarcity of money and the absenc'
of purchasers. A strike among the freed
men who in some parts of the State com
prise the largest part of the workin:
force, it is believed will accelerate the de
sired catastrophe. Planters cannot pa,
levied on their lands and other property
if they have not the labor by which t
bring them into use. The sale of tn
lands by the collector will follow; ant
who so able to purchase them as the mel
who have passed the law and the hord
of ofice-holders who are swarminl
Through the country and their cocoon
spirators In this wholesale work of confs
cation and plumber?
With the means which they are ex
tracing, by oppressive laws, from tn
earnings of the people, they expect to bt
ICAoDACO " OOI0An tOccCSSAOA VI lilClA &c
tates. And the freedmen are used as tn
convenient instruments for the accom-
Enlistment of the wicked scheme.
IL To what extent it will be attempted
remains to be seen. In the Southeastern
and Northwestern counties where tn
white element predominates, nothing cal
be effected but starvation to the poo
blacks themselves, beyond the pressue o
the exorbitant taxes which will necessari
Fly operate directly or indirectly upon all
i But it will be different in other localitie
/ where lands are valued high and the de
/ pendence for their cultivation has beel
chiefly upon freedmen. Planters cal
i avert the threatened evil only by the ex
ercise of the greatest prudence and firm
ness. In the terms on which they hav
heretofore employed they have been NOR
liberal and made larger concessions thai
any other proprietors have even befor
done. They have furnished land, teams
houses to to live in, agricultural imple
ments, and provender for the teams, an
ALLOWED the laborers one-half of the crop
they produce. In many instances the
Hhave even sold their teams, rented thei
lands for portion of the crop, and en-
tirely relinquished the control of thei
business-a most unwise, disorganizing
and damaging policy. In the way 0
liberal terms of employment, they can d
no more than they have done. They ca
make nothing by further concessions ex
cept to humiliate themselves and still
further to disorganize labor; and con
cession even will not ward off the threat
ened mischief, for the objects of its author
is to bring their lands to the block unde
the hammer of the tax collector The
can only stand firm. Do the best the
are able. Compromise with their credi
tors. Unincumber their business. Ri,
themselves Of outside pressure; practic
economy tighten their crafts and trin
their sales for the coming storm. IF the
can weather it the coming year and ''tid
over" to another season, relief will com
in the expulsion of the authors of tn
threatened mischief from power and tn
adoption of just laws by legislator
fresh from the people.
1t is stated that the President has abou
iecided TO make clean sweep of the FEEDER
II rsffica- holders in
an active part in the Schurz movement
EThis Is demanded by the regular Rannh lica,