The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-12-22

The complaint il almost universal that
the freedmen to whom liberal accommo-
dations haze been afforded the present
season by the local merchants, win, In a
majority of cases, fall short of paying
their accounts, in consequence of the de-
cline IN cotton. As the securities consist
only in the crops which were produced
the present season, and do not extend to
the future, they may be considered value
less.
This unexpected crash ia due TO the
fact that credits in the early part of the
year. were extended on the basis Of last
years prices for the staple, which. if 70
allied, would have carried both parties
safely through, and, in some instances,
left over a margin Of handsome profit.
The only consolation which the unfortu-
nate tradesman can have, is the fact that
in consideration of the risk, a large per
cent. was charged on his sales, so as to
cover, to some extent, losses which might
occur. They have been heavier, howev-
err, than was dreamed of. No one was
fully prepared for the storm.
Except in few counties, owing to the
favorable season for the maturing of the
crop, the yield has been fully as large
probably larger than last year; but the
opportunity for gathering has been shame
fully abused, and now, when the winter
winds and rains are upon us, large fields
remain white with the staple which the
teeming soil produced, in spite of wretch
ed culture, and which is wasting, and
will be left to rot where it has grown. In
few days the annually recurring change
of homes will commence among the freed
men, who, little disturbed to-day about
the morrow, will drown the disappoint-
ments and privations Of the present in the
hopes of the future. Meantime, mer-
chants and employers will be left with
out any recourse whatever, and nothing
the gamer, but largely the loser, in ev-
erything, but lessons, which should be
turned to wise account.
The effect will be to make both these
parties more careful in the future. The
merchant who transacts his business sole
ly with the employee, without reference
to the planter, interferes with the control
which the latter should be able to exer-
else over the cultivation of his crop, and,
which is essential to success. He re-
quires the whole working time of his en-
ployees, which it is impossible to COM
man1, if the latter is furnished with his
supplies from outside parties, who have
no concern with the management of the
crops. But as protection, planters, in
making their contracts, should take care
to guard against the abuses to which we
have referred. A greater degree Of eau
ton will be beneficial to all parties. The
freedmen viii be benefited, because, I'M
trained in business, and not feeling a
sense of responsibility, if untrammeled
by the other interested parties, are prone
to plunge in debt beyond their abilities,
and thus to keep themselves impoverish-
ed and surely no argument is needed to
prove that the abandonment of the reck-
less system which has crept into the oP-
erations of the past year, will benefit
both of the other parties. As a means Of
effecting this reform" the Legislature,
Immediately on its assembling, ought to
repeal the Lein Law