New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-14
NEGRO LABOR IN THE SOUTH.
WHAT A GRANDSON OF JOHN c. CALHOUN KNOWS


Johp C. Calhoun. a grandson of the South Caro-
lima statesman and a successful planter Of Arkan-
sas gave the Blair Committee yesterday some IN
formation on the condition of the working classes
in the south. Mr.. Calhoun il stOuiiy built, with
brown eyes, ruddy complexion aud dark mus
tache:
section ~ asked Senator Blair.
The laborers in the Mississippi Valley are agri-
cultural" replied Mr.. Calhoun Few whites are
employed, and those soon become land-Owners OF
tenants Your question therefore reduces itself TO
w hat is the cOnditionlof the negroes should
say good, as compared with a few years ago, and
improving. Considering their condition after
emancipation and the evil influences t. which they
have been subjected even the small adv ancement
they have made seems surprising"
Under What systems are the laporeiS in your
section emplOyedT
There are three methods: We hire f9r wages,
for part OF the crop, or we rent. When aired by
the month. pay unskIed field hands from $40
to $40 per mouth ana board when hired by he
day, for unskilled laborers, from 10 cents To 81
teamsters. 81 day and board; artisans from ~ TO
So doubt If there is greater lIbcrallty 81 own 10
laborers in any portion OF the world than Is shown
10 Southern woTkmen under our system, The pro-
prietOr furnishes the land and hOusss-lncludIng
dwelling, stables and out-houses-pays the taxes,
makes all necessary improvements, keeps up repairs
and Insurance. gives free of cost garden spot fuel,
pasturage for the stock owned by the labOrcr and
allows the use OF his teams for hauling fuel and
family supplies, provides mules or horses, wagons,
gears implements, feed for teams. the necessary
machinery for ginning, and in short, bears every
expense for making the crop and preparing 1t Tor
ceeds with the laborers. In addition TO all this the
proprietor frequently mortgages his real estate TO
obtain means TO advance TO the laborers. Under
this SYSTEM thrifty industrious abOrers ought
10 become land owners. But owing to Incidence,
the negroes, except where they very judIciousy
managed and encouraged fail to take advantage OF
the opportunities offered them to raise the
ries of life They IDLE away all the time not actual
ly necessary TO grow and gather their aud cot
ton and improyidenty spend what balance may
remain after paying fol the advances made 10
them"
"How can the interest of~the laborers of your
section be best subservedf" inquired Senator Call
by the establishment, by the States, ofudustrial
schools" replied MIR. Calhoun; by the total elimi-
nation from Federal politics OF the so-called negro
question, and leaving its solution TO time,
and finally, by a reduction of taxation. IL
IS a noteworthy fact that the Improvement OF my
section has kept pace with the cessation of the
agitation of race issues For many years the ne
groes regarded themselves the wards of the Fed
eral Government and it well for them TO
understand that they have nothing more TO expect
from the Government than tine white man, and that,
like him, their future depends upon their own
energy, industry and economy. This can work no
hardship. The constant demand for their labor
affords them the amplest protection. Nothing
probably would contribute SO Immediately to their
prosperity as the reduction of the tariff. They
the producers of protected articles. The oner-
GUS burdens of the tariff naturally fall heaviest upon
those who are large consumers OF protected articles
which form the basis OF our export trade"