The New York herald., 1877-02-05

independence. yagrancy. under the administration OF
Governor Walker, was made punishable by
iMrRIsoSMESr rnE
To show how the law could be used iorce negroes
into hire almost Identical with slavery give the en
SUNG contract:-
and INTO hi, a9sa day
june witnesssth that Edward Vs. stevens Of the hrst
..h each Sshsr ,ollYT. hs, said steven. sssss;
70 s one ne Isy % Sa M % aa 70 s ~ a fGs n
him unit, the 25th day Of December is: and the said H.
and sV 70 n a
~ stevens and the board he is to receive
M ss 10 @ M and % s,s a tor usr S9 "
The .ad clay leave % hs place Of 'd preye
ss' hi" Witness S"ssI rI9Exs a
HENRY CLAY.
Tho contracts for tho culture OF the crop tor share
IN are not moro liberal The ncurs the risk
OF failure o! the growth through drought blight.
In OF them he binds himself by express stipua-
tons 10 obey tho patron all things orlainng 70 his
labor implicitly and tactly. u must be remembered
that these contracts were formed during the existence
Of the Frecdtnan's Bureau. | have been unable 10
obtain any OF more recent date, but am assured and
believe that they are more severe than any which have
heretofore seen the public light law OF Florida
commands that all labor contracts shall be filed in tho
Offices OF the county justices; but It is known
to be unconstitutional aud has for long
time bcon disobcycd. Consequently those documents
which might entor- what have said are not acces-
slule. WluOut danger OIL odium the planters
act condiuons hard those Of seridom, and,
whether It be true or no.. am assured that such
often the case IL would be interesting 10 those who
are ut present pondcring over the phase or the
ycrsal problem OF political economy presented IN tho
South for The system OF labor which is growing here
to be iuily examined and clucIiatcd by phiiosophc
carly enter into this study might bc tar better
pared tor approaching issues than they now can be.
Such practical political invest gation Is much too
In this country anu tho crndiiy OF our pubic policy,
whether the Executive the Legislature be re-
sponsioIc, Is the general Result la inture hope to
write more fully on this subject
THg vAGRASr LAW.
have referred 70 the vagrant laws enacted In some
OF the southern States Immediately alter the socaIled
reconstruction Ia Florida tho s,aiutc book OF 1868
son, having no visible means Of support ana not en-
ploycd ~ some labor, or leading an immoral idle or
profeate liie shall be deemed vagrant ana may be
arrested and bound good future industry Tor one
year, or may be held committed Tor trial, ana if
convicted snail be punished by to labor TO
Imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or by
whipping OF not exceeding thirty-nine STRIPES or by
being put IN the piiory at tho discretion OF the jury
Ana # to labor tho sheriff OF tho county or
other officer OF tho shall hire person for
the torn of his sentcnce the proceeds to be paid into
the county treasury" Migrants not known to be
pcaceable, who bear arms, may bc disarmcd. Tho
complaint Of only person IS necessary TO effect
this 'ln case no person viii hire a vagrant he may
be employed at any sort OF labor the County Commits
sioners tho Probate Judge may direct and may DO
secured while at such labor by q ball and cham. ("
Minor vasrnnts may bc bound as apprentices not
longer than until eighteen years and twenty years
oil age
a little reflection will show how completely snch
law would place oven the most thrifty freedmen Ia the
grip Of thor former owners. The definition o vagrant
Is loose enough 10 admit OF Its application almost
often enmity might suggest The example OF very
mid sort OF contract, which last gave Indicates
plainly enough how the negroes might be bound TO u
spcces OF degrading servtude after they had
within the grasp O the law.
THE DEMocKAric SPIRIT.
The democrats have long protcssed shame for enact
mens Ci THIS KIND, which are found In the records 0
Their legislation just ailer The end OF military rule
They certainly very loath that any OF the o.
posite party should know the full measure Of their
purposes In these acts and their lawyers have taken
pains TO destroy az many copies Of the obnoxious laws
as they could get IN their possession. But strange to
say and contrary TO the hope or earnest reconclia
ton, which cvcrY true cllzcn OF North or South
must have, the parIsans breathe threats Of
restoring the whipping post, the pory and tho cham
which provides that negroes falling fulfil thcir
tracts for labor shall be tried and punished for va
rancy. Most OF the contracts under the Froedman's
Bureau provide that The negro shall work diligently
and the nxng OF the standard OF diligence remains
with the employer. II the latter at any time deems
that the former tails in that requisite bo can by the
simplest Interpretation oil the law, cause hun 10 bc
punished Ia the most revolving manurr.
The eXCon ledcrates since their OF tho State
OF Florida have hincd at repetition OF this species
OF legislation, and nave given digest OF its principal
features that the country may know what anticipate
II their menaccs slncerc.
THE PROBLEM OF LABOR.
must admit that have literally reflected the view6
OF radicals In this letter. but have permitted tho
democrats tar representation OF ideas. One party
In my opinion, is not more dangerous TO peace and
order than the other But the responsibility of setting
the match to the mine must fall to the whites They
alone, just now. the motive for terrible
risk. The planters ENJOY The cheapest service be
Obtained in tho United States Emigration from tho
population OF Europe the orh receives no cncour
agemrnt from them, unless t brings with II capital
sufficient TO enhance the value OF the torrory. and
thus to render their position
and secure. Besides thcy look with aversion upon
white labor, because It's introduction would tend by
example TO increase the ncgro's estimate OF his own
worth But the primary and chel reason why they de-
no poor cmigrants, however thrifty is that tho no.
a
tho South Tho malaria OF the lowlands IL innocuons
10 him; he cndurcs the heat OF tho summer With
out suffering and even loves It's ardent in tho
field he Is IA more rapid worker than tho white man.
Such valuable member OF society the pantc. cannot
well spare and he desires to control him completely
II remsns TO DO sccn whether no will succeed; but
without help from Northern republicans, IT
seems probable that the negro must succumb.
should have been moro gradual He should not Tor
long tune have been permitted to have claim upon
pubic Office. HIS premature trial IN positions o re-
sponsibity has had sinister effect upon his political
prospects Tho people nt largo have become disgustcd
with his ignorance and lack OF character and ihis dis
gusi has CAUSED an indifference 10 his welfare which
affords 10 The unrcpentant Confcdcrates tho opportu
nifty which they much dcsrc of resumng their strict
domination. They watch every Crisis in the affairs Of
parties with this hope prcomincnt IL is identical with
their political ambition.
POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY.
But, u mistake not thcy will iail IN ihis pursuit
unless they proceed with more discrimination than they
now employ. The negroes, while they are at FIRST
easily imposed on, deeply resent deceit, and have
learned to be vgiiant over their privileges II tho
means employed to oppress them direct they will
rctaliatc with blood and flame The result wiil bc
equally DISASTROUS TO both sides and advantageous to
neither, unless TO that which shall the
OF the iedcra! govcrnment-an interference which
would In no event be desired by the whites. II the
federal government should chance 10 DO sufficiently
engaged TO strengthen us position against insurgents
against It's central power there would DO in this por
tOn OF Tho South utter anarchy; the struggle would
be equal that would not before there had
been terrible destruction OF life and property
LIFE ON THE PLAINS.