The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-04-07
n. Iobor sy,tem in Tho South.

FINN them, Y9suas Ns,ssS = Il q 4
We yesterday had Tue pleasure Of !
visit from Southern gelfemeb, largely
engaged ID planting In one NOf the Gulf
States. As he was extensively interested
both in cotton and sugar before the war,
his testimony regarding the present mode
OF labor in that part OF the country Is OF
great value. He says that the negroes
work admirably, md are inu progressive
condition in respect to both wealth and
intelligence. Their labor is much more
effective than It was under the system Of
slavery. No overseer was ever able 10
get out Of item 60 much good WORK 9S
they now perform OF their oTn 9ccoru'
This fact is demonstrated beyond dispute
by the enormous cotton crop Of l9st yeAl
over four millions Of bales; ana eNety-
thing looks most promising Tor great CROPS
he present season. The plan o.
venting lands 70 the negroes has
come extensively into use. IN
Wi.sissippi, especially in the rich bottom
lands along the Mississippi river, the Va.
700 and the Sunfower, the owners OF
plantations have rented them to the ne
sroes at the rate Of twelve dollars an acre
Or the ven. Lands which thirty dollars
an acre would buy bring this amount Of
rent Senator Revels has. q plantation Of
/ 100 acresin Jefferson county, Of which
500 acres are clesred; and all the cleared
portion he hiss rented at ten dollars an
acre. Cotton lands in Louisiana are
renteda st nine dollars. The negroes who
hire these lands. pay generally as much as
ten per cent OF the rent In cash inadvance,
and give good New Orleans scceptances
for tie balance, payable at the end Of the
year. These acceptaneeS are generally
furnished TO them by Jewish houses in
New Orleans, which have agents estab.
lished with small stores in every part Of
the country. These sgents know the
character and means Of all lead
ing negroes in every section, and
upon their report their principals in
New Orleans make themselves responsible
TOR the payment Of the rent In consid.
Grafton Of this, the men who hire the
plantations become bound to purchase all
their supplies AZ ne local stores Kept By
the agents of their city endoserS For
theIe supplies they pay, Of couHe, IN i'm
mense profit, generally one hundred per
cent When toe season Is over and the
crop gathered in, Il is sent to the New Or
teams horses to sell, and after The proceeds
are realized the accounts are settled. In
this way one New Orleans house had last
year consigned 70 it90, 900 bales OF cotton
The pgoperIyof colored men, for the pay
meht OF whose rent 1t had become rspon-
sibie. By this sort Of arrangement many
negroes, who before the war were slaves,
now command very extensive credit, aud
are making 8 good deal Of money. One
or two successful years will enable them
TO buy The farms they hire and to SCI o0t
in life as substAntiAlia nd-oTpecs and cap
itaiiSls.
The children oE tbe regroes are uaETeI-
sally seni 10 school and tGDEbt 10 rad
and write, their parents payi1g TIl2SlF
fox their distraction A yet, boTETsE,
the negroes lave not generally deTo:ed
much Of their earnings TO improve theiH
mode Of living. They still inhabit such
wreIched cabins as they lived in when
they were slaves, and pay as little atten'
lion TO comfort and neatness IN their
houses and dress as they did before.
What money they spend Is on jewelry and
snowy articles. The first thing negro
buys Is watch with a shining gilt chain,
and the next horse TO ride TO meeting,
As general thing heprefers poor horse
to good one, because the loss Is lesstil
the animal happens 10 die. Upon the
whole, however, there Is a steady progress
among the colGred population Of the
South. They arc working hard, saving
money, and educating their. children
Moreover, as they begin to have means q
their own and ore required to pay taxes
they become sensitive 10 the vlIllany So
the capet.bag governments, and disposed
to revolt against the corruption which lays
such extraordinary burdens upon the PEG
pie.