The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-12-25
The Labor System of the South.

We find in an exchange the follow
ing on the condition of labor at he
south: This is a subject of vital i'm
portahee 10 the farmer, and one that
by far transcends al others. Much
advice has been given, (gratis Of
cotirsel, by n generous public, by those
who reap, and By seme who, nelthhcc:r
SOW nor reap very much, to those who
toll, pointing out so plainly that none
should fail to see their error, and to
apply s6iiffe Of the many remedies SO
kindly furnished, and 81, Convenient
The farmer is told not to do that which
he cannes avoid; and to do that which,
under the circumstances. is an utter
impossibilty. 1t is strange indeed,
that the farmers of the south have re-
ceived so much abuse, and having SO
much to contend with, have SO tamely
submitted. Stranger still, that those
who have told the farmer that which
they already knew, (their evils, have
furnished such miserable remedies,
that the willing and anxious farmers
are unable to apply a single one. All
have discovered the tide Of error, but
few have pointed to the fountain head.
Let us 20 to the foundation stone, and
find out the eattss Of all the trouble.
Correct it, and in but few short years
the sun will shine upon the fairest land
and happiest pe6ple God eyer created.
Endowed with sunny skies arid the
most genial cline of the world, the
southern people have many advant-
ages, and one great misf0rtunej which
corrected, will put themEon tine road to
success. l speak of the most misera-
bic, untrusty, and dishonest class of
laborers that ever cursed any country.
In the old countries, where they make
and enforce stricter laws, and where
they have reliable tenants, the land
holder is lord. In the Eden of
America, the landowner, once lord,
is now almost slave. Why this diff
ference? Because once the farmer con-
trolled labor. now labor controls him.
The planters are too lenient, promise
too much, and require too little of
their laborers, to make farming pay
cotton at the present prices. The de-
mands of the negro is yearly increas-
ing. Already he is demanding half
of the crop and expect the farmer to
furnish the land, stock and farming
utensils, as well as to furnish him his
yearly supplies. In return for all of
this, he is not willing to do anything
more than he can possibly avoid, I'M
less it be to pillage and steal, and COM
NIT Expectations startling and appall-
ing in their character. Next year
should not be surprised if they did not,
in addition to the above named things,
demand two-thirds of the crop, and in
many instances have it promised to
them.
The policy of the landholders, yield
ing to the demands of those against
whom they could shut and bar the
doors of a livelihood, is suicidal
one, and one the farmers will have to
quit, else they have not reached the
climax of their poverty and misery.
1t seems to me it is high time for a re-
formation to begin. Begin it must,
sooner or later, and the sooner the bet
ter.
The farmer is told to live at home !;
to raise his corn and meat, and to plant
but little cotton. All of which he
would be happy to do and the very
thing many farmers have been trying
to do for several years. past, and
that is impossible to be &C
complished with the present system of
labor The negro is becoming more
and more averse to labor. He refuses |
to split rails and now it is almost a
great curiosity to see a good rail fence.
He is religious creature, but places
strange constructions upon the teach
ings of the scripture. He is a close
observer of the commandments, rem
dered with the omission of the word |
not, "Thou shalt steal" He has deter
mined the pale face shall not raise a |
hog, and even the chicken-roost does
not escape him if the honest watch |
dog is caught asleep or off his guard.
He makes Il contract and violates it
with impunity, and he gets in debt and
absconds to keep from paying it. The
labor of the south is a curse "worse
than the frogs and lice of Egypt"
The proper energy and zeal is not
used to detect the many incendiaries
who maliciously set fire to the gin
houses and other buildings throughout
the length and breadth of the south.
l have a remedy, farmer, for your ills.
Correct your labor and it will be an
easy matter to correct the many abuses
you have so long suffered from. How
is this to be done? / answer, by unity
of action. Cease to rent to those who
have not the brains to plan, or energy
to make crop for themselves. Cease
to promise wages you are unable TO
,,ou tborohxy 1apoora1i1;nr 1o hor and |