The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-16
Society and Industry.


touched upon the matter of the change in
the social relations in this State (as in the
South generally which rendered inevitable
change in industry and domestic econo-
my-a change which is in progress, but has
been thus far very gradual. :,
Under the institution of slavery we had
here strong resemblance to the patri-
archal system. The landowners ruled
their slaves, and provided for their support
and comfort just as the patriarch his house
hold. The slaves here, as the followers OF
the patriarch, had nothing to do with ac-
counts and provisioning. They were taken
care of by their owners, and took no part
in the responsible matters OF regulating
industry, husbandry, its results ana pro-
tecting the laborers from want ana oiscon-
tent.
But the abolition of slavery gave to the
negro slave the personal independence
which is entirely incompatible, theoreti-
cally aud practically, with this system Of
dependence on the one hand and the su-
perinlending administration and care of the
laborer on the other. The genius Of the
country inspires all with the sense of per
sonal independence, and now that slavery
is abolished and the former slaves are free,
the continuation of the old system Is i'm
possible.
The attempt by the farmers las we showed
Saturday, to continue the old system OF
cultivation-the expansive system-by
maintaining negro families in cottages
upon their farms, and experimenting their
now paid industry in the old way, has sig
nally failed. Because it is not consistent
with the individual independence and indi-
vidual responsibility which entire freedom
establishes. The family must take care OF
itself. It's obligation to do SO accompanies
its freedom to do so. This obligation
cannot be removed, and the farmer who
undertakes to remove ii by taking upon his
shoulders the burthen of negro families
under the expectation that he will be COM
pensated by the results of their industry,
will be disappointed. With the new dis
pensation there must be that individual re.
sponsi bility which requires every man to
take care of himself and every family TO do
the same. The Government to give protec.
ton and security to all.
Unfortunately the late slave, from having
had his wants provided for, and his comfort
secured without effort or study on his part.
is poorly fit ed for the responsible duty OF
taking care of himself, which is imposed
upon him by his liberty. Nor is his labor
so productive as it was when under the
authority of master. This alone would
defeat any attempt to continue the old syS-
tenn Of culture.
Again, the expansive system of tillage
has so diminished the fertility of much of
the lands, that the product upon it will not
pay the cost of working it with paid labor.
Under slavery it hardly paid; but the ar
rearages Of the farmer were then met by the
increase Of the slave property. There is
no such recourse now. Therefore, upon
such lands the more laborers there are en-
ployed the greater the loss, especially when
we consider the labor we now haye-so
much less efficient than when it was slave.
If this be so--and we suppose it will
hardly be denied-then tillage will not pay
unless under that sort Of system which i'm
"ONCS luc ldAu, VIZ tHc VI liiS
use Of manures, more careful culture, the
judicious and systematic succession OF
crops. the proper care of crops, stock, and
ute psils, and the promotion of order and
economy in all departments Of the home
stead.
However small farm may be, these rules
apply as well as upon large farms.
Clearly they are Indispensable now upon
lands that require renovation. The wider
the culture of those lands, unless the
farmer has means to improve them by the
free Use Of fertilizers, the greater the loss.
But we speak now of farmers who have
passed through a bloody revolution, lost
their slaves, and find themselves possessed
Of dilapldated and exhausted farms. Their
only hone is in retreating to the best part
of their grounds, and taking refuge in the
sound policy we have described. Nothing
else can save them. L / them sell their
surplus land for what it will bring in the
Market. e., if they owe any money and
can thus pay it. If they owe money and
their lands won't pay them out, they had
better 60 into liquidation than to stand as
they are, with the cancer of interest day
and night eating up their bodies-we might
almost say their souls; for man who is
plunging deeper and deeper into debt is con-
stantly assailed by reflections that are not
at all consistent With peace, and are very
apt to engender things that are not healthy
f)r any mans mind.
Then 1t would be well for society to afford
every facility for the rapid contamination
OF the social revolution which cannot be
aVerted-nay, which now is Indispensable
to the restoration of contentment and thrift
IN the land. Every tub must stand upon its
own bottom. Every man must take care OF
himself. Every tiller of the soil must now
improve his land, and live wisely and eco
nomically. There is no way now outside Of
well-regulated and sagacious industry to
increase wealth and establish pecuniary in
dependence. Concentrate industry-wisely
employ it-institute rigid economy-permit
no idle hands to linger about the field
away with the drones-a and few years will
show us blooming and happy land