The New York herald., 1876-09-08


being performed at their proper times and in proper
manners and this Is found necessary. II is done with
the free OF the colorcd people. The planter in
most Instances also keeps store on his place, where
tho colored tenants arc allowed TO have running ac
count IN advance Tor their necessary supplies He
thus takes certain amount CT risk, and II the crop 10
failure he expects to oso because he docs not expect
his tenants TO pay out OF the following crop in TACT if
he did his people would probably leave him on the fa
ure Of the crop.
In this arrangement which is cxccllen, and suited to
both parties, the negro tenant or renter as he is
called wil. good year. aud above his s
expenses at tho close Of the season, cotton 10 the value
from 500 $780, and in some cases even as nigh as
1850 or S4OQ This is actual surplus from the year s
labor With that he can do what he pleases
In the rice and sugar country they spend their
pretty much in the same way, and there is no doubt
that when some years ago wages were very high the
amount Of money they saved vas In their then condi
ton and habits dctrimcnt to thcm because II pro-
duccd an unstcadincss In their habits.
Itis remarkable that almost universally tho rcia-
ons between the planter and his renters or hired en-
ployes are kindly and agreeable. Tho colored man
c deposits hts spare cash with him. ana in TACT deals
with him his friend. up TO the point where politics
come n and there he shoots over 10 the other sidc
without moments hesitation
Finally II IL my conviction that the Southern
negroes the whole the best body Of pcasantry,
looking at them from the planters and employers
view. in the world They are cheerful, sunicentiy in.
dusreus, easily led, as rule sober con'ented and
with sufficient skill 10 make their labor profitable 10
themselves and to those who employ them.
The substitution OF free for labor has produced
many important changes In the southern states. In
The hrst place has caused astonishing growth of
towns and villages and increase In their number Tho
nrero who grows cotton or sugar has good deal OF
money spend hence country stores have increased
in number and vast amount OF money
which under the old system was spent In
the large cities In the North is now
circulated IN the towns and villages Moreover,
formerly man VINO had saved $1,000 bought slave
with the money. He now buys house or a town lot
White mechanics thus hnd tar more employment In tho
South than ihcy ever did under the old system, and
society gradually taking on tho shape which has In
tho North
1t ought DO noticed that the only turmoil or ,rou.
bic In the South is political How little really effects
industry from the crops actually produced and
sold and will add that the southern States arc,
In my Judgment, more prosperous at this time Than
the Northern There arc fewer persons the re uncm-
pIoyed the earnings Of the labornf classes
larger the surplus produced in those states and
above what ccossariy expended by the population
In living has been greater for several years than
In an equally numerous Northern population,
and II the dscontcnt and restlcssncss which
prevail there, and which arise almost entirely
irom prcventable political causes. producing
misruc, waste and cxtravagnnce In government anc
encouraging rather than discouraging awlcssncss-
these could be ended the States Which l saw would