Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-06-16
Free labor.

l'"iliSadl . sIVld ol icS"hoI' "o'io' ""o
placed in the way ofthe adjustment Of
society in the South to its new condi-
tions, the operation Of natural laws
has in a measure succeeded iii produc
ing order out Of chaos even amid tur-
MOL and political interference. The
observations Of Mr.. Charles Nordhoil
in Louisiana, where the disastrous re-
suits of Federal ursurpation and mill
tary rule have been most apparent, 90
to show that the freedmen have grad
ually adapted themselves totNe chang
ell circumstances, that the v ties have
full recognized the requires. 4nts OF the
situation, and that free labor is at least
q potential success, " hat might
have been the case, had the State been
left to free work out its own prosper
ity, is plainly indicated by this ac-
count Of what has been done under
such difficulties The main industry
of the State is the production Of SUI
gar and although the high rate Of
taxation and the insecurity Of public
trusts under the ant-Kelloeg Gov
ernmont has brought many plantations
into the market for sale at less than
the cost Of the machinery alone, so
tar as the working force is concerned
the planters invariably ex\ rcss salts
faction with the negro as laborer
Wages are established OIL uniform
basis, laborers on sugar plantations re
cciying from thirteen to fifteen dol
lars Il month, with the use Of n cottage
and garden patch, and subsistence in
the shape Of one ration Of pork and
corn meal daily. The laborer cult
Yates his corn patch Oh Saturday after
Moons with the planters teams; keeps
chickens and pigs, and often has a
COW and q horse, and even an old
carriage in which he rides out with
his family on Sunday. The oXpcli-
mcnt of cultivatng on shares has also
been tested with success, the freedmen
showing an ability to conduct such Ia
Dor with profit.
The management Of cotton planta-
tons is generally on the plan Of shares
coI6red men paying an annual rent Of
from six to ten dollars, or eighty
pounds Of cotton, per acre for rich bot
tom lands OF, in other eases, the
planter furnishing all the requirements
and taking half the crop. They work
in squads, undertaking about fifteen
acres OF cotton and ten OF corn to the
hand, and average about $3.50 profit,
in addition to the subsistence Of their
families, at the end OF the year, The
women work in the fields at regular
wages during the picking season.
While the freedmen me thus taking
their natural position IS the great Ia
boring power in the cultivation Of the
soil, they are also undertaking me,
chanical trades in the towns, and in
railroad construction and repairs they
are recommended, by supcrintend-
ent employing large force, as "the
very best of laborcrs, always willing,
Jealous and faithful" The adjust
ment Of the relations Of employer and
employed seems to have come about
naturally and cquiiably unler the in
tiuente Of the common necessities OF
planters and laborers and it only re-
msins for the negro to acquire stake
in the land itself to give him the POI
siton Of a substantial! citizen. The
chief obstacle, according to Mr. Nori
hoff"s observation, is found in the
carclessncss and improvidonco Of the
freedmen themselves and this is Il
fault which can hardly be corrected in
the present generation. 1t is encour-
aged by the whole course OF Federal
interference in the State, which tend-
to inculcate ideas OF dependence and
irreSponsibiity. Millions Of fertile
acres are open to Their occupancy at
an almost nominal price and with
their experience in selt-support as tle
laborers it could not be long, after
demoralizing political influences
should be withdrawn, that the freed
men of Louisiana should establish
themselves as owners as well as cult
yators Boston Post,