The Southern herald., 1890-08-08
Letter from Col. GalIent.
AR1EL, Miss

NNuttAtA@ tta h1AA Ase@e@ ssAENs ~teAAAN
% i. There vas much interest
taken Ia the first one, which was,
/ think in 1882, because the people
were divided into two parties, the
Whig and Democratic. Of course
there was some difference Of opinion
between the parties as to some OF
the provisions that should be put
in the new constitution, but the
main contest was as to which party
should have the control Of the con-
vention. But there was not that
solicitude and anxiety felt about
tho result Of the action Of that
convention as exists at the present
time. Men of the greatest talents
all over the State are graphing
with the race problem, and no
two of them agree as to the best
plan Of settling the difficulty. While
so many are taxing the utmost
powers of their minds to devise a
plan to secure the permanent as
tendency Of the white race in the
State government, and still do
Justice to all its citizens, a consider
able number Of men are sending to
North Carolina and other states for
more black laborers, thus increas.
ing the difficulty Of settling this
problem, which they are probably
anxious to see accomplished. Now,
to say the least Of it, this strikes
me as very inconsistent conduct.
They would probably deprecate
another carpet bag government,
and look upon it as great calami-
ty to the State, and yet they are
doing the very thing to bring about
this state Of affairs. / have had
my mind turned to this subject by
the communications in your paper
in relation to getting more laborers
in this county. Now, if the object
is to get white men as laborers and
settlers, heartily approve Of it,
but am opposed to bringing any
more negroes in the State. Some
may think that it win do no harm
TO bring them into counties that
have decided white majority. II
might not, in electing county
officers, but in electing State officers
their votes count as many as those
ofthe same number Of whites. That
there is a scarcity Of labor in this
county there can be no doubt. There
has been an emigration Of black
laborers for several years from the
hill counties Of this State to the
rich lands Of the Mississippi Delta,
aud in all probability it will con.
tinue, as the land in these counties
becomes more and more worn out
by the ruinous cultivation of the
black renters. If more black labor
ers should be brought into this
county, it would be only tempo
rary relief, for they would soon
follow the footsteps of their pre-
decessors. Then think our farmers
may as well face at once the fact
that this scarcity of labor will con.
tinue for an indefinite period of
time, and set their minds to work
to devise some remedy for it. The
bringing of white laborers and
settlers in the county is the only
feasible remedy that occurs to me.
To do this, will require consider
able time and persistent efforts
But what are they to do in the
meantime? Turn over new leaf
in farming operations. Reduce the
quantity of land in cultivation to
such an area that they will be sure
of cultiyating we'll. Use all the
home made fertilizers that can be
got on the place, and supplement
this with the commercial article.
One acre will thus make more than
two not fertilized. | know some
persons who think they will make
two bales to the acre op land that
would not mako 500 pounds seed
cotton q ine acre unless fertilized.
convert, as far as possible, the less
fertile land into pastures, and raise
more stock of all kinds. There is
no animal more profitable than the
sheep, if we'll attended to. It
affords q most excellent article Of
food, and its wool is as much Of a
cash article as cotton, and always
will be. If laborers come in, utilize
them, if immigrants wish to buy
land, sell what You can spare, and
the remainder will appreciate in
value, and be worth as much or
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