Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-06
COMPULSORY STEALING.

H. II. CdIISI, UcSCIlDeu dS young
and very intelligent mulatto, in the
late State convention held at Atlanta
to discuss the expediency IF emigra-
ton, said: The Legislature had work
ed against the colored man heretofore,
and in consequence of his situation he
had been compelled t. steal, as his
wages were too low to admit of an
honest living. We do not come here
to say we are going to leave anyhow,
for If the people will help us we Will
stay"
Like thousands Of others, white as
well as black, Carter believes that
Legislature may easily fix the compen-
sation that a laboring man is to re-
ceive, without any regard to his ability
to do good work, his trustworthiness,
or habits of industry The Legisla-
ture can no more regulate wages than
1t can regulate capacity and honesty.
If these are very low, and pay equally
as low, in the South, does stealing to
live follow as a necessity under our
new system Of free labor? If it
does, or does not, what is the proper
remedy? The colored man says eff
the people viii help as we Will stay
But, suppose the latter "heip" them to
the common necessaries of life in ad-
vance? What security can be given that
thelabor stipulated in the contract Will
be performed faithfully at the times and
places agreed upon by the parties
Here is an obvious difficulty which no
philanthropist or law-maker has at
tempted to remove. What is the RENE
dy? To the understanding of the ne
gro, this natural evil is due to the
Legislature working against the
colored man." and therefore justifes
him in stealing for a living. Indis-
criminate pilfering is the growing
crime Of the South, and if compulsory
now, Is sure to become more so with the
increasing improvidenceof the African
race. In what way are the vices Of i'm
providence and innate laziness
to be cured? No hereditary.
constitutional disease is more
deep seated, and the more we
help the infected the more we expose
others to danger. Few industrial, DO
irical or social problems are less prom
Using than good results to be worked
out by idle, shiftless negroes. Whether
we punish or forgive them, they will
steal all the same, rather than work. |
1t Is about as much as the Southern !
whites can DO to provide for their own
wants. In view Of the numerous poor
OF this race, steadily, ishot rapidly. in
creasing In the United States, it need |
surprise no one if the Caucasian family |
should ultimately decide that they pre-
fer not to have any negroes as an ele-
ment Of population. The latter can
emigrate not only west of the Missis-
sippi, but south of the Rio Grande, to
a climate where coffee and sugar may
be r'ised at a profit. Europe and
America want a great deal of these pro-
ducts, and open a wide and fertile field
for the industrious and civilized man
Of color to establish legislatures that
will not work against hin" and where
wages will admit of an honest living"
without stealing"
There are most important physolog-
zeal, social, political and industrial
problems TO be worked out for the equal
benefit Of our common humanity. In
this advancement, all excuse for vice
and crime, war and pestIlence, had bet
ter be left behind, The negro mind is
not altogether in error, whenit believes
that legislation, both State and ma
tional, may be against the interests of