The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1870-03-11
FREEDMAN's LABOR.

partmcnt Of Agriculture, Washington
FRnEpMAN's LABOR.
The general tenor Of reports indicates
gradual Improvement in the quail
ily of frcedmcns labor. The Wild
noiions that freedom islsynonymoas with
idleness and that a fee farm well stock
ed is an Incidents of suffrage are gener-
ally discarded By the coiored man. The
Trial of independent farming without
capital or foresight has SO often resulted
in total failure and comparative destltu-
tion end suffering, that only a very few,
whose energy has purchased success, OF
those who prefer semi-starvation to reg
uar work, still continue to cultivate land
ON their own account. Freedmen arc
more inclined than former Y to enter I'M
to contracts for their labor. The CO.
partnership system still prevails very
generally working on shares" as it is
commonly called. Its pernicious sys-
ten, is becoming unpopular, las we pre-
dicsed a year or two ago, J and should DO
exchanged for fair wages as soon as the
change can be made. Our correspon-
dent at Tallahassee, Florida, says:--
Most of the planters of this county
keep up the ruinous plan of hiring labor
crs for a portinn of the crop, giving gen
ally one fourth and board, or one-third
without board Among the objections
to this system are the following:
|. 1t is not voluntary association
from similarity of aims and interests,
but an unwilling concession to he freed
man desire to became proprietor, OF
an inability TO make prompl payment Of
wages in cash.
=. Its complicated copartnorship,
opening the door 10 fraud on one side,
and uniaithfulness and deserlion On :he
other.
3. 1t is not equitable between the
freedmen, as it renders impossible a
proper discrimination between the in
dustriaus and tho Idle, the de&tcFous
and the incapable.
4. 1t leaves uncontrolled and almost I'M
directed those who have never been sub
icct to self management or selt-restraint.
5. 1t almost invariably inspires OK
aggerated expectations, leads to improv-
ident drafts upon an uncertain future
income, and ends in disappointment and
diScouragrmcnt.
6. 1t dcbars the proprietor from cx-
ercising a control over the plantation.
and its operations essential to present
success, and the permanent improve
mcnt Of the cstatc.
The whole history of cotton prodnc
ton in Tie past fpur years attests the i'm
partauce of these and other objections to
the shaic system. 1t is satisfactory
neither 10 employer or employed. The
best labor contractis the Aimpiest-stip
ulatcd wages for faithful service, which
5hoald be paid promptly as agreed Ia
cash, with an equitable portion reoerV-
cd to the end Of the year, both to secure
he planter against having his cotton LEFT
and TO give the freedmen a
surplus for accumulation, or the supply
Of other lhau daily wants.
Tie present contracts arc various
On rich land the prevailing agreement
makes labor alone equivalent to one
fourth of the crop; labor aud rations
and forage for horses or mules, one-half
Of the crop The laboror finding him
self" and getting one-third of the crop,
also has a cabin to live in, and some.
times frcwood, garden, and pasture for
IA cow On poor land third is some
times given for labor alone. Occasion
ally The bare laud is rented for a third Of
he crop. Perhaps the plan adoptd il
lie largest number Of cases is the ffFr..
1ishing Of plantation, fixtures, stock,S
and f,rage for two-ihirls OF the crop, la
Dor obtaining one-third, subject to
charges for provisions advanced for ra-
ions.
Extra labor is obtained for cotton
picking, and paid at the rate of fifty 10
twenty-five cents per hundred pounds
If seed cotton in the Atlantic States,
md at soventy-iiyc cents to ono dollar
per hundred in tie more western States,
where labor is scarcer and the yield
more abundant.