New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-12-04
Co. OrcI alton Among the COlOrcsi
People.

No wiser measure, in our opinion, could
be adopted by the Southern cOlOred people
than the social and industrial organizations
which is being perfected by them in South
Carolina, as we learn by the Boston Com
monmeaM. There can be no question that it
will accomplish much good among them.
Their worst enemies must agree with the
Commonwealth that the colorod people all
through the South have shown an earnest
disposition to work out their own welfare, in
spite of the almost insurmountable difficult
ties against which they have had to contend.
Among these difficulties, and greater even
than the universal prejudice, and wrong, and
injustice that has everywhere met them,
is the very general refusal of planters TO sell
them land in small lots. To meet this diff
Guilty, the colored people, apparently without
advice or assistance from any quarter, have
contrved a plan which seems to work well
so far, and is thought, even by the most
prejudced whites, to promise excellent re-
suits, though it is called by the South Caro-
lima papers a sort of Communism, though it
is in reality form Of cooperative assocIa-
ton. The general outlines of the plan are
thus described by one of their papers:
"A number Of them in some cases rs many
as fifty, form themselves into Il society, elect
their officers and adopt bylaws. They have
regular meetings, at which officers report,
and n specified amount is paid into the
treasury by each member. When sufficient
| is accumulated in the treasury, Il suitable
plantation is selected and the purchase made
usually the payments are in one. two or
three years, a good portion being paid at the
| time of the purchase. The land is equally
distributed by the officers elected for that
purpose among the members of the society,
or so much rs they may wish to cultivate
Each is free IL work as suits him, and each
can dispose of his crop as he deems proper.
The only thing required is honesty and Il
prompt payment Of all dues, which are usually
very light. Any one willtully failing to meet
his dues, or convicted of dishonesty, has all
amounts previously paid by him for the pur-
chase of the place refunded, and is required
IL move oir the plantation, all his rights and
/ claims IHS ing been forfeited. Ii, however,
any one desires to leave the society, he is
paid all amounts pail by him towards the
| purchase and for all \, rmanent improvements
| erected by him. No new member is admitted
except by the consent of the whole society.
| All sick are cared for by the society if unable
| to care for themselves, officers being elected
to look after such cases and report their
wants to the society ut its weekly meeting,
or at special meetings, if the eXiyency of the
case requires it. All disputes arising be-
tween members are brought before the
society, certain of the officers being desiy-
mated to hear and To endeavor ainicably TO
arrange all diseensions, and il is very sell
dom, ii ever, they fail. Petty litigation
that il the great bane OF the colured people in
many scclIons-is in this way avoided"
IL is said that these societies are usually
folmed among men who work for hire, and
that the sum paid by each into the common
fund is fifty cents daily. When the amount
on hand is large enough for the first pay
mcnt the plantation is bought, few members
having then any stock, their earnings being
all absoi bed in the price of their land aud
in building houses on it for themselves. But
they generally manage 10 thrive after suffer-
ing some temporary priyations aud hardships.
Some of these associations have been in eX-
istcuce three or four years, and it Is stated
that when they have paid for their land,
that the members have acquired considerable
stock aud other IIol cIty, and are generally
cNSUPN
lands in the low country east Of the Savannah
and Charleston railroad. Other colored men
In that region are thriving. Some of them
who, a few years ago had nothing, now sue
ecssfuly cultivate large cotton and rice plan
tations, and are heavy taxpayers. But it
is claimed that, as rule, the members of
these societies succeed better under the COM
bined support and stimulus Of associations |
than those who struggled on Independently /
and alone.
These accounts give an encouraging pros
pect for the future OF South Carolina, and OF
the blacks who are now Of the people Of that /
Slate. After 50 much FROM rebel and Cop
perlead sources, prejudiced TO the colored
eople Of the South, it is pleasant to hear so