New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-26
THE CHINESE LABORERs
A RIPPLE ON THE SURFACE
THE CABBAGE REVOLT

A species of s'civil dudgeon," or interna
disturbance, took place among the Chimes
sojourners at the Millaudon plantation
commencing on Saturday, and ter1ninatin.
on Sunday night.
The whole thing would not equal an orli
nary grog shop row; and, divested of al
immensity of Chinese gesticulatiOn and fan
farOnade, appears to have been very small
potatoes-or rather, small cabbages, for il
was in great degree about that desirable
''fr,lit" that the trouble began.
John Chinaman's ardent desire to get the
| best in bargain, has already been noticed
and this disposition to mend his grip is un
doubtedly at the bottom Of the whole affair
| The Cinnamon, who are at work on the
| MillaudOn plantation, were brought from
| San Francisco to New Orleans (under con.
| tract) by Mr.. +. w. Gardner. But it an
merchant, Cum-Wing 1--WE don't know
whether to style him Mister or Esquire)
acted as broker in the business, he contract
| ing with the Cinnamon, while Mr. Gardner
contracted with him.
The contract made is very specific: Chi
namen are to work month of twenty-six
| days for fourteen dollars in gold, and daily
| ratiOns of two pounds of fresh meat, two
pounds OF rice, and one-third Of an ounce of
|
| Chinese, commuted for twenty cents in
| gold. The contract also provides that they
| shall not work less than five and a half days
| days per week. which would be twenty-five
| days per month; it being obvious that if
| they contracted to do twenty-six days work
| for fourteen dollars, less number of days
| would call for a less sum of money.
There appears to be little doubt that the
Chinese have been influenced by some of
ha,, uhn
dents here, and who visited the plantation
at different times, and that these influences
led to the misunderstanding and to the de-
mands made by them subsequently, to the
making of their contract. They appeared to
think that in this land flowing with milk and
honey, they could get almost anything they
chose to ask. So, at the end of the first
weeks work neighborly gardener
brought to the plantation bill for cab
bages, melons, etc, which the gardener
stated had been bought by the Chinese head
man for the use of his coIlntrymen. As the
men received their fall wages and the full
rations agreed upon, the proprietor, Mr..
Merrill, very naturally refused to do more
than he had contracted to do. The pro-
priety of this refusal is evident from
the circumstance that the Chinese made
a subsequent demand of a lot of ground
(ten acres) whereOn to grow cabbages and
other vegetables to sell for, their
own benefit; whatever vegetables
and fruit they consumed, how
ever, to be paid for by the plantation.
When firmly expostulated and reasoned
with. they seemed disposed to recede from
the demands they had made beyond what
the contract called for. But the working
for only five days and half seemed to be
the one item that troubled them,
and it appeared to be impos-
sible for them to understand this in
proper light. They somehow entertained
the five days and half 1.-THE amount of time
they worked), the Chinese contractor, Cum
Wing, got pay for the half day necessary to
complete the six days, and put it in his own
pocket. Hence there existed among them
feeling of distrust and dislike toward Cum
Wing.
1t is proper to say that at no stage of the
disturbance did the Cinnamon entertain the
least feeling of dislike nor want of conf
dence in Mr. Merrill. On the contrary
they admitted that he was a good and up
right gentleman, who was desirous to do
everything in his power to make them COM
Portable, and to comply with his agreement
Their sole ill-will was against their own
countryman. the Chinese contractor. who.
they supposed, had represented the con-
tract to be different from what it really
was. And now comes the denouement.
On Sunday evening Cum-Wing visited
the plantation, and was invited to dinner.
While sitting at table number of the Chi
nese We're seen approaching the house.
Three or four of their representative men
came forward, and requested Cum-Wing to
go with them to their quarters. CumWing
declined to do this, whereupOn the Chinese
rushing upon him. forcibly seized him and
carried him to their quarters. No violence
seems to have been thought of against, or
trouble with the white folks. They
had been led, they thought. by Cum Wing
to expect more than they were getting.
They seemed to think that by getting hold
of the person of the Chinese contractor
they could force him to accede to the terms
they proposed for themselves; and then
that he, by turning screw or pulling
string. or in some other way, could cause
Mr.. Merrill TO accede to these terms, what
ever they might lie. Several circumstances
lead to the conclusion that they contem-
plated no violence, even to the lin their opin-
ion) .janus-taced contractor. However, the
police were sent for, and twenty-five men
of the force headed by two sergeants, ar
rived at the place. They at once released
Cum-Wing. and arrested fourteen Of the
Chinese who had been most prominent in
terocious gesticulating and posturing
when Cum-Wing was seized on. The par
ties arrested were locked up in what is
known on the plantation as the " servants
ROOM" 1t was only when demonstration
was afterwards made to rescue the prisoners
that slight degree of antagonism took
place between the Chinese and the police.
The Chinese soon became convinced that
the policemen had the strongest medicine
and quietly subuIitted
Yesterday morning at ten o'clock the
prisoners were released, upon a promise
made by the others that there should be no
more trouble, for they seemed now to ln-
derstand the true state of the case and the
unreasonableness of the demands they had
been making.
Mr.. Merrill then offered to make new
contract, but after consultation among them
selves the Chinese concluded that the orig
inal contract would sufficiently answer the
purpose and perfectly secure their rights.
They agreed to go to work tall handsl at
once, but on account of the rainy day the
la Dor was postponed, and they will go to
work this morning.
It is only right to these strangers to say
for them, that they treated every one on
the plantation with the utmost courtesy;
the only exception being in regard to Cum
Wing. They carry no arms. and are by no
means either ferocious or bloodthirsty AS
they said through their interpreter, they
did not come here to fight; they contended
only for the right as they understood it.
After all, the whole affair was no more than
what happens every day in the year, be-
tween parties, each taking a view OF his
own right different from that taken by the
other contestant.
Mr.. Kingsley, the superintendent of the
MlIaudon plantation, as well as Mr.
Franklin and other gentlemen interested
III the affair, speak with high praise
OF the conduct of the police, who came when
called on, headed by Sergeant Wynne and
Sergeant Josephs. The officers and men
behaved with coolness, discretion and for