The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-09-27

1 IT,.
they consult the welfare of the tenants
6y thus encouraging the land owners 10
furnish them with permanent homes.
Those who would wish 10 reap the moat
satisfactory results from the Operations
OF the system under discussion. must mot
expect to do so the first or even the sec.
Qua year. Five years ago We undertook
TO settle number of colored tenants nm
unimproved land. They began by in
curing heavy debts for stock provisions
etc. Some of them paid as low as one
pale OF cotton the first year. Most of
them now. pay easily 1000 to 1000
pounds each, aud are unencumbered with
debts; while the lands and premiees have
greatly improved in value, and the ten
ants are comfortable and contented. We
are aware that the experience Of MANY
leads to the conclusion that tenanted
lands deteriorate, from want of proper
management. So will all lands deterior
ate from the same capce, but the enforce
ment OF rules as to rotation of crops, fer
tiilzlng, ETC., and general attention and
supervision on the part of the landlord
will obviate this objection with tenant
laborln like manner as it will with all
other kinds of labor.
The greatest difficulties in the way of
establishing thissystem are found in these
Two conslderetiona-6rst, the poverty of
our labor; and second, its want of intel
iigence and education. In regard to the
latter objection: we must endeayor to
supply the deficiency by advice, as we'll
as by example and as to the former, we
must lend a helping hand to the indus
trions and deserving. The indirect ad-
vahtageS Ut this system to the landlords
are numerous. In the first place, it SET
Ties labor, makes it contented and salts.
hed. Whether the tenant be white or
coiored, he becomes fixture under this
system. He rarely evinces any desire to
change. His interest is more closely
bound and united to that of the land
owner, and when properly treated, be-
comes an element of strength to the land
owner In the control of the rest of his
LABOR. My own experience teaches that
this is peculiarly 80 with regard to the
negro tenant. It affords the strongest in
tiuence to prevent strikes or demands for
| higher wages. Aao:::e. .esmlt ia that we
thereby obtain command of labor; eyery
tenant has more or less laboE to spare;
the young, active aud most efficient
members of the family-these we can
hire for wages, by the month, day, etc.,
and thus save both time and trouble i'm
searching the country around when we
are pressed for hands. Moreover, it
creates in the landlord business centre.
and thus opens lines of profitable trade.
We make each land owner in good stand
iEg q medium between capital and labor,
which affords not only great advantages
to the tenant. in giving to him directly
the amount of credit he deserves; but
! also insures to the land owner an easier
and more active credit with capital. The
| difficulty the tenant meets in giving So
curity for advances made to him we re-
cognlze as q means of preventing that
use of money, which otherwise he might
have. But if the planter would exercise
a shrewd Judgment in the selection of his
tenants, and adhere'to the same business
principles that actuates the merchant in
making advances to his customers, thic
difficulty can be obviated. Secure the
confidence of the tenant, and you can
handle his entire crop, gin his cotton,
made; and this, we claim is the practi-
cal working.
Such q system, moreover, engrafted
upon the soil of the State, affords the
strongest means of preventing emigra-
tion. This subject Of emigration is now
growing into one Of great Importance
We are not prepared to advance def
| mite opinion as to how the negro es q
race is destined TO live in our State; noF
are we willing to admit, like some, that
| the ultimate good of our people will be
subseryed by his exodus. We hold that
the State wants labor, and we believe the
! agricultural interests of the State will
| suffer by any diminution of labor at any
time, but especially at this ticle. For
| eigners are not accustomed to our climate
or familiar with either our language, pro-
ductions or customs, and if we should rid
ourselves of the labor we now rave, we
would have no assurance Of getting in az
adequate and equally as efficient supply
in return. The native whites of our
State can be more profitably encouraged
and employed, both for themselves ss
we'll as land owners as tenants, agents, or
partners. the immigrants we most want
are such ss can bring capital to our State
to purchase our lands. The kind of labor
we need is that which is cheapest that
which can be easiest and best controlled /;
that which can endure the not sums of
! the South; that which is familiar with
our language aud customs that which
is accustomed to the productions of QUE
climate. These conditions we find in the
negro, who is here present with US not
only willing to work, but begging for
labor, and we believe the race ought to
be encouraged to remain.
The system proposed also has politi-
cal significance. The negro has hie
hopes and aspirations like other races OF
people. If in far less degree than the
white race, still ne entertains ihs desire
to better his condition. If we undertake
any policy which consistently oppresses,
or make him too observient and hope.
less, he will either cmigrate or else rebel
at the ballot-box. Let him see pros
pect of improvement, make him con,
tented by kind treatment, identify his in.
terests with our own by affording per.
manent home, and when the preiudices
of the past have been forgotten, as they
will be, the negro tenant will be the
strongest ally of the land owner.
And we claim for this system ever
more importance as political measure
than as means Of winning the negro
vote to the cause of good government
The white vote of South Carolina is still
more imnnrtant- If we wish to retair
this, if we wish to keep white labor
friendly TO capital, we must offe. induce
ments and encouragenents to the native
whites. Many of this class are living
among. ..:.- wcrL:15 en- shares of thu
crop, without permanent homes, often
times discouraged, discontented ant
threatening TO emigrate, and seek thei
fortunes in other States. Let the lane
/ n