The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-03-01
Agricultural Labor Contracts.


Hon. Z. o. Reynolds.
Recognizing in you an earnest and pre-
gressiye law-maker, |, now an old citizen
whose whole life has been devoted to agri-
culture, beg leave to call your attention to
a great wrong, injurious to tie class 10
which belong, and destructive to the in
terests Of every other class in the State and
unless remedy is speedily furnished by
wise and practical legislation, the career of
our beloved State, with all her natural adj
/ yantages of soil, climate and production,
will become regressite instead of pr0gressiue
] | allude To the wilful violation of labor con-
tracts. nov so general and common among
US. Our great trouble now is an industrial
one. made 50 by the character of our popula-
ton the climatic fact--the nature of our pro-
auctions and the inertness of the ordina-
~ labor motives, necessity OF fear of cGnt.
and the personal ambition to better our
condition. Tnis industrial trouble involves
the question of production, lot only sufi-
citnt for the comfortable subsistence of all.
but also for the better being or progress of
all in fact, it becomes the great economic
problem, now forcing its way to the front
and demands the earnest consideration of
law makers. The object of all law, is to
regulate, direct and control existing facts
and conditions for the geneSal welfare. In
its essence, law is nothing more than the !
principles OF common sense aud Justice, ap- /
piled To the relations of men in society; be- /
coming rule of conduct, expressing right /
and REFRESHING wrong aud anything is /
wrong which is opposed to the general
common sense view of justice, between
man and his fellows; but all wrong
if possible should be prevented; andi
therefore, for every wrong there should
be remedy. This the State alone can
furnish by practical legislation. Now all, i
even the most ignorant, admit that the will
fol violation of an agricultural labor CON
tract is . great Wr0ag, because it is U0lua-
tarfty made in pursuance of duty to ores
self, ones family and the State; and its
becomes aa injury to innocent
third parties, who necessarily acquire an in ,
terest in its faithful performance. As soon 4
rs the contract is made the employer pays /
an essential part of the benefit a
DF consideration, and has to wait aud take |
The risk Gi IN ultimate uncertain result for =
MS part of the benefit or consideration, viz: =
furnishes the employment, food and habita- .
ion, aud has to wait until the crop is made p
md marketed; ana upon the faith of the b
contract lie makes new and addition 4
Il outlays and enters into new and 7
additional obligations with others, who n
hereby BECOME innocent third parties in g
crested in the original contract. Now n
lw not only regulates the EGiqti9ns Of men "
III L.:
rganize and regulate the political, judicial. y
military and sanitary systems for essential Il Il
nd pr0gressiUe purposes then will you tell W
he aeby the State should not organic vi
nd reguiate by law the economic et
r Industrial systeE-so absolutely OF
ecessary to profitable production b. wIich Y
e secure the substance of all--the first =
reat emf Gf all government, and the nee p
assary means OF progress and the highest an
or in other woFds. why should in
lie State regulate political, judicial, mill tn
Try, sanitary aud commercial relations. le
nd omit the most important Of all, viz: agri- 2,
llturai relations, or those necessarily ex- ~
ting between employee and employers hi
the agricultural class? Will some as
It ,Iease,tel us why Commerce demands di
every civilized government in the world, ju
law enforcing RSilor's contract, and it is GO
aHteti, OtlcI wise the com ts4S|fldI eAcDdnge
products could not be carried GU; lroduc. 90
N is more important than transportation to
production first, transportation and COM oti
cree afterwards. What now is most need
is progressive legislation in the interest OF an
upon the prosperity of which st va,
peads the welfare of all classes in society al
In my county We nov are not making
the labor employed, more than third of
crop of corn and cotton; repairs and reno Al
tion of the soil is neglected; the value and
oductive capacity of the land is decreas- J
2 every year. All this can be changed ele
d in less than two years, our produc- sal
ms and the value of real estate 81
uSled, by the passage of law lr i
lilly enforcing the performance of labor an,
legations or contracts; unless this is done Sta
obligations based upon then, can EFo
! be complied with. No other legislation pro
d bring any positive or lasting relief tor
low me, thsnagh you, to appeal to the ,ot
sdom of the Legislature for a remedy PM PM
inst great tcrong so damaging TO agsi. Fer
tare- of
Enclosed. send you a copy of my argu- pro
MT advocating the proposed measure Y
ping you will excuse His for troubling saie
i remain very respectfully, yours, ETC., irs
w. T. MAgRuDFR D.