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

they consult the welfare of the tenants
by thus encouraging the land owners to
furnish them with permanent homes
Those who would wish to reap the most
satisfactory results from the operations
of the system under discussion, must not
expect to do so the first or even the sec
ond year. Five years ago we undertook
to settle number of colored tenants on
unimproved land. They began by in
curing heavy debts for stock provisions,
etc. Some of them paid as low as one
bale of cotton the, first year. Most OF
them now pay easily 1000 to 1000
pounds each, and are unencumbered with
debts while the lands and premises 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 cause, but the enforce
ment of rules as to rotation of crops, fer
tilizing, etc., and a general attention and
supervision on the part of the landlord,
will obviate this objection with tenant
laborin like manner as it will with all
other kinds of labor.
The greatest difficulties in the way of
establishing this system are found in these
two considerations-frst, the poverty of
our labor; and second, its want of intel
ligence and education. In regard to the
latter objection, we must endeavor to
supply the deficiency by advice, as well
as by example; and as to the former, we
must lend helping hand to the indus
trious and deserving. The indirect ad-
vantages of this system to the landlords
are numerous. In the first place, it set
ties labor, makes it contented and satis-
fed. Whether the tenant be white or
colored, he becomes a 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 so with regard to the
negro tenant. 1t affords the strongest in.
Auence to prevent strikes or demands for
higher wages. Another result is that we
thereby obtain command of labor; every
tenant has more or less labor to spare;
the young, active and most efficient
members Of the family-these we can
hire for wages, by the month, day, etc.,
and thus save both time and trouble in
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.
ing 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 se-
curity for advances made to him we re-
cognize as a 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 MS
tenants, and adhere to the same business
principles that actuates the merchant in
making advances to his customers, this
difficulty can be obviated. Secure the
confidence of the tenant, and you can
handle his entire crop, gin his cotton,
ETC., and pay yourself for all advances
made; and this, we claim is the practi.
cal working.
Such a 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 as a
race is destined to live in our State; nor
are we willing to admit, like some, that
the ultimate good of our people will be
subserved 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 time. 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 have, we
would have no assurance of getting in an
adequate and equally as efficient supply
in return. The native whites of our
State can be more proftably encouraged
and employed, both for themselves as
we'll as land owners as tenants, agents, or
partners. The immigrants we most want
are such.as 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 hot suns of
the South; that which is familiar with
our language and customs that which
is accustomed to the productions of our
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 his
hopes and aspirations like other races Of
people. If in far less degree than the
white race, still he entertains the desire
to better his condition. five 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 afording a per-
manent home, and when the Rrejudices
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 even
more importance as political measure,
than as a means of winning the negro
vote to the cause of good government
The white vote of South Carolina is still
more important. If we wish to retain
this, if we wish to keep white labor
friendly to capital, we must offer induce
ments and encouragements to the native
whites. Many of this class are living
amongst us, working on shares of the
crop, without permanent homes, often:
times discouraged, discontented ano
threatening to emigrate, and seek thell