The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-01-06
Rural HOmeSfeaGS.
WILL. H. THOMAS.

TO the Editors Of the N'e,rs d: C1a,
rier.
GENTLEMEs--I desire to call the
attention of the landholders to this
important subject, the main context
Of which was treated in a series of
letters in March and May, 1871, cap
toned 'Homes for Freedmen" solici-
ting Northern capitalists to invest in
securing then. Could it then have
been accomplished, it would have been
we'll for the interest Of people and
State generally; but, since it was
not, it is now of important political
significance, as we'll as the pecuniary
benefit mutually resulting to the labor
ss, iandholder and State, by perma-
zently uniting the whole people, black
and white, inseparably in one common
prosperity.
What the common laboring classes
now most desire are homes of their
OVID, possessed in fee simple. These
thew must have to develop agricul-
ture as it should be, sad enhance the
value of its products.
Estimating the population Of, freed
men in the State at four hundred
thousand, the allowance Of five persons
to family will give sixty thousand
families. The necessary quantity Of
land as a permanent homestead on
. sais general system should not be less
than thirty nor more than fifty acres
10 make it a certainty Of success. This
to q rural population, in climate like
ours, is ample, as means of susie
nance, for all the necessary family
comforts, to ''make their bread sure"
Allowing forty acres as the average
to each family. Gas some would take
more and some less, it would amount
to three million. two hundred thous-
and acres, at once finding a ready
market, and disposed of in ample Sc
curity, as no claim can lie in judg-
meut, against homestead, except the
original purchase claim. What is
here asked for freedmen or black agri-
cultural laborer is also asked for the
white Of the same class, on the basis
Of calculation for the black population.
What the freedman wants is land
of his own with reasonable time to
pay for it. And it is the interest Of
the landholder to dispose of a portion
Of his domain to the best advantage in
the political economy Of the State
He has been impoverished by the late
civil war, having little else left than
t hose surplus lands and his object
should be to make them as available
as possible.
1t is obvious that disposing of these
honcsteads to the rural population
would ensure lasting benefit BY secu-
ring fixed industrious laboriug ele-
nent, with ample surplus labor for all
the demands Of the planters who en-
ploy, with advanced wages to the en-
ployee and valuation Of the land, as
both land and the wages Of labor would
enhance in value just in proportion to
the general permanent Improvement
Of these numerous neighboripg little
homestead farms.
And what division Of taxes would
be here brought about by this general
division of land. Put the first years
tax upon each farm at simply one dot
lar and it makes i levy Of eighty
thousand dollars; at two dollars, it
amounts to one hundred and sixty
thousand dollars; at three dollars, to
two hundred and forty thousand dol
lars; at four dollars, to three hundred
and twenty Thousand dollars; and at
five dollars per farm, at which rate 1t
is reasonable to suppose IN tEa rapid
progress Of improvements at no dis
1ant day they would be taxed, and We
have the immense SUN Of four hun
dred thousand dollars Of u tax levy
less 10 be paid by the original holders
Of the same lands. This shows the
great advantage and economy in the
division of the land, especially as il
South Carolina, where the laborer and
purchaser reside on the spot.
When the expenses Of government
a,s known to the people to be propro-
tionately borne by them generally,
they will be sufficiently interested to
hold to strict account those whom
they pu: /. Jfice. Let the homeless
then have homes, become possessors
M the land. fyee-holders in reality,
and they at once become interested in
al the affairs of State, and will hold
70 strict account reckless and incom-
pc,cut mcu who dare abuse the power
with which they have been entrusted.
70 secaGc that friendship and mu-
trai protection, so desirable between
!!aek, and white, without which free
dom would be curse and republican
liberty mockery aud imposition to
beth, the freedmen and agricultural
lalsrer must have fixed and establish
sd iaterests in the soil and State.
From this Fundamental basis of do
mcstic happiacss permanent peace and
friendly confidence will at once eusue
as an inscparabie link il our domestic
relations to each other.
Capital aud labor as means Of
wealth mnst go together, and neither
will 60 nor remain where there is no
employment. Consequently capital is
fearful to invest in enterprises Ill our
State, as there is no certainty of the
security of labor. Because, without
permanent homes, labor is continually
changing place in search of permanent
employment.
Besides, the more intelligent the labor
er, the more productive the labor. The
sommon people and laborer, then must
he educated. But it will be difficult, if
not impossible, to establish facilities
for education until they become settled
and fixed in neighborhoods. TO cx-
pect Of the rural people as Of other
citizens the same developments IL
moral, Intellectual, religious and po-
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