Year: 1866




another crop. A good farmer is all the time
preparing for the. next crop, but we use the
expression in its restricted sense Heretofore |
many Of our farmers have relied upon slave
labor, but that has ceased. The dependence
hereafter must be on white muscle and on
such labor as the freed blacks may perform. |
In regard to the latter we are not as despon-
dent as some, or perhaps as sanguinc as |
Others. We believe that the freed people |
will, as general rule, work tolerably well |
in some instances they will work very well
but there is no ground for hoping that their
labor will be in any respect as profitable as
heretofore The African race is not self
reliant or an enterprizing race. 1t has the
physical strength, and it has the intelligence
to execute work, but it is not successful
in planning, and it is greatly wanting in
forecast Without some fixed law1)inding
the freed people to work, and also binding
the employer to pay, we fear that neither
race will prosper together. We would sug-
gest no law which would not be general in
its character, for the negro is now free, and
white person is as much bound to labor as
black one but the law of contracts must
be materially altered to suit our new condi-
ton. 1t should be much more stringent, and
should be just to the employer and the en-
ployed. We want no idlers among u.s. A
person who has no means of subsistence and
who will not work of his own accord, should
be made to work The law will not protect
the industrious and tue worthy, unless this
is done


We learn that large quantities ofcom are
being distilled into whiskey by both white
persons and negroes. The latter, in many
localities are furnishing corn to white men
for this business, and in not a few instances
it is stated the corn thus furnished is stolen.
We do not know what will arrest this evil.


But if what appears now to be surplus IF
corn should be distilled into whiskey, and
drank at home, for none Of it, we take it,
will be exported; and if large share of the
| labor of the State should be directed to cot



| ton, tobacco, and turpentine, tits more than
| probable that next year will be as scarce
| one as this in the articles Of meat and bread
stuffs. 1t is true, by pursuing this course,
our farmers will have more ready money but
what will that avail them if they should have
| to pay it out for those necessaries which they
might have raised on their own farms2-
Again our people are greatly deficient in
cattle, horses and mules: 1t is of the first inn
portance that such stock should be improved
where it is already owned. and that those
who have but little or none should procure
stock and improve it. 1t is idle tosay a farm
isa good one, and that the owner is success
full in his business when his cattle, horses or
mules are of Indifferent breed and poor


We doubt the propriety, therefore, of Civ
ing extraordinary attention during the ensu-
ing year to cotton, tobacco, and turpentine.
This may be safely done in 1867, but our
people as general thing are too poor to do
it now. Specie, with empty cribs and barns,
and with poor stock and the land compara-
lively unimproved, will not remain long with
its posscssor 1t will have to be paid out for
necessaries, and if sent abroad out ofthe State
for meat, OR -four, or clothing, the State will,
OF course. lose every dollar of it.


| We feel sure of one thing, however, and
that is, although our white laboring popula-
tion has diminished, and though there is a
sad deficiency in agriculturalimplements and
horses, oxen, anl mules, yet the white men
of the State who are engaged in farming will
make more during the ensuing year, if the
seasons are propitious, than they have ma lie
during any former year. They will work
with will, and "their name is legion
Many OF them, to our knowledge, who owned
slaves, are glad that they have been relieved
of the trouble, anxiety, and expense which
their slaves occasioned them; and though
the loss of the value of those formerly their
slaves is seriously felt by them, yet they re-
gard this is as temporary, and expect to
prosper more in the future than ever. They
can hire the freedman, pay him his wages,
realize the profits from his labor, and that
ends the connection between the former
owner and the former slave. There is more
clear money to be realized from the blacks
under the present system, than there was
when slavery existed. We speak simply Of
results, with no purpose to underrate or pre-
judice the colored people.


If the next crop should be good one, il
will go far to encourage our people and ia
stimulate industry and improvement
Surely, surely there is wide field for the
farmer, and great want Of the latter But LEI


US not despond. Ten years hence we shall be


a new people.