The Portland daily press., 1874-11-23
A Significant Proposition.

mind OF the average Democrats politician OF
the southern states where he is now supe-
iior, is, what shall be done with the ne
CROP Blind and obstinate as the Southern
leader is, the experiences of the past ten
years have proved to him that he cannot do
Without the labor of the negro. He has
tried to achieve independence but every effort
has deepened the humiliatirg conviction that
the colorcd laborer is of more importance to
him than he to the negro. The poor white is
only sure to steal and vote the Democratic
ticket. The experiment with the ''heathen
Chinee" as substitute for the hated colored
freeman was such failure that it was not
attempted but few times. The emigrant
from northern Europe canrot withstand the
climate and the conditions of plantation
labor. The colored man, then, is the only
resource. On him depends the prosperity of
the South. We CT the North may not have
come to this conclusion, blu. we have the au-
thority Of the most intelligent correspondents
who have of late Travelled through that coun-
try that the sensible plantation owners apd
Democrats OF the South have, even if they
do not proclaim it abroad, and even if their
crazy newspaper editors proclaim the con-
trary.
In view Of this fact, the Democratic lead
ers are considering by what device they may
be able to retain the labor of the negro
and yet get rid of him as voter, or, in other
words, how can the colored man be reduced
to condition of serfdom again. Texas is a
Democratic state with large majority, and
the leaders of that party having nothing in
theirway have evidently set themselves about
the solution of the dilemma; and we may
add that if it works well in that state it will
be introduced in every Southern state where
the Democratic party can secure majority.
A bill, which has already passed the Texas
House OF Representatives, provides that
when any person is convicted of any offence,
he may be employed to labor upon any public
work during the whole term for which he is
sentenced, or he may be hired out to the
highest bidder, either by private or public
contract. Under the second section the local
justices may similarly hire out any person,
upder sentence for the non-payment of fine,
out, and where there is no call for public
work, any person who will pay the fine may
have the laborer for the same length of time.
The third section, which is still more ingen-
ious-we suppose it will not do to call it an
''outrage"-proyides that "all persons con-
fined in Jail upon charge of having commit
ted misdemeanor or petty offence may be
employed in like manner from the time of
Imprisonment until the time of trial, and if,
upon trial, such person shall be acquitted, he
shall be paid not less than twenty-five cents
nor more than 81 per day, as the presiding
justice may contract; provided that before
trial and conviction, no person shall be held
to labor without his consent" By the fourth
section sheriffs are required to capture and re-
turn escaped convicts, land all labor performed
prior to escape is forfeited and the convict is
obliged to begin de nouo and work out the
full term of his sentence.
This bill, It's evident, is not the work of
some hair Drained politician, impelled by
hatred of the colored man, but the result Of
deliberate and careful study, since it is SO
framed that it will not conflict with the con-
stitutional amendments prohibiting distinc-
tons of race or color, although its intent is
perfectly clear. No Texas justice would dare
hire out white man to servile labor Even
If the white man was so rash as to be Re-
publcan,we beg pardon, but we think the ag-
gressive Democracy of that section would
rather shoot him, or show their attention by
coat of tar and feathers. The Southern
gen sleman fully believes that the negro was
designed to do his work, and as the constitu-
ton of the country stands in the way of his
decidedly carrying his conviction into effect,
he proposes to do it otherwise. The ordinary
justice of the peace, when this bill becomes
law, can fix the term of service to suit him
self or the man who desires to buy his labor.
He can be put 10 work before trial and sem
fenced to work after trial. If he isn't much
guilty the trial can be deferred any length of
time, during which the negro can be kept at
work for the man who bids for his labor. If
the convict endeayors to escape and is retak-
en- by the sheriff, he has to enter the condi-
ton of bondage for full term again. On
the whole the slavery of the Texas Democ-
Idcy VIII NC du Improvement upon the slavery
that the rebellion abolished, since it will have
none of its risks and all of its advantages.
This scheme, readers, which we have men
TONED, is not the story of partisan but
measure which is already half law in the
Democratic state of Texas, and which has for
its purpose the practical disfranchisement
and enslavement of the colored men of that
state. This is the first indication of the
fruits We may expect from the Democratic
victory of November Sd. sa s1l
oric Nf a.