Year: 1867




near at hand to contract with freed
men for the ensuing year, it is vitally
important to the planter, and indeed,
to every interest of the South, that
some uniform plan be adopted to Sc
cure greater efficiency and permanency
of labor than we have experienced in
| the past two years. The present de-
preston in the price of our leading
staple, and the general distress pre-
vailing throughout the South, are dan
gerous to all speculative theories, and
force us to adopt the severe but prac-
tical lesson which misfortune never
fails to teach


The defects of our free labor system
are apparent to every intelligent plan
ter, and they can only be partially met
and removed by uniformity of action,
both as to terms of hiring and manner
of enforcement.


In the cultivation of an average
quality of lands in the South, during
the past two years, the results have
shown that the money rates which
have been paid for labor will ultimate
ly involve the planter in irretrievable
ruin; and it is to meet this point that
we wish to direct attention to the
''crop system which has been par
TALLY and successfully adopted by
some, and is now being generally dis
cussed in Southwestern Georgia as to
the plans for next years operations.
There are three modes that have been
adopted by planters in contracting
with freedmen for portion of the
crop:


1st To furnish land and stock, and
provisions for freedmen and stock,
and give one-f fourth of the crop to the
freedmen.


ID To furnish land and stock and
provisions for stock, and give one
third OF the crop to the freedmen
freedmen furnishing their own pro-
visions.


Sd. To furnish land and stock and
one-half the provisions for stock, and
give one-half of the crop to the freed
men-the freedmen furnishing their
own provisions and the other half of
the provisions for stock


In a series of years there will be
but little difference in the aggregate
paid out, under either of the above
contracts, which can be adopted ac-
cording to the condition of the plan
ter or the necessities of the freedmen
If this uniform plan of hiring should
meet general favor, the following
would be some of the advantages to
both planter and freedmen. To the
planter:


1st With a knowledge of the usual
productions of his land, he could APP
proXimate an estimate of his annual
portion of the crop, as a certain basis
Of credit, free from any incumbrance
or lien for labor


I'd The increasing benefits of To-
called labor There being no differ
ence in the terms of contracts, when
the freedmen are once established in
comfortable houses and kindly treated,
there would be no inducement to
change homes at the close of each
year.


Sd. AS a consequence of localized
labor, the Conservative sentiment of
each neighborhood would be strength
ened and stimulated to more enlarged
efforts for the moral and educational
interests of the freedmen, thereby Sc
curing a more peaceable and we'll or
dered system of labor.


To the freedmen The certainty of
receiving their wages at the end of
each year. AS the crop is gathered,
they can separate their portion and
their direction, and the proceeds ap-
piled only to the payment of their
debts. This will be appreciated by
many who have not yet received their
wages for the past two years labor
In addition to the above, the freedmen
will share relatively in the advantages
enumerated for the planter.


These points require no elaboration,
and are submitted to planters for their
practical solution. The pressure is
too great, and the future is too dark
and uncertain, for tie trial of doubt
full experiments. and nothing is more
certain than that inevitable disaster
awaits the planter + some plan be not
adopted by which freedmen shall share
the vicissitudes 1of The crops and the
fluctuations in price.


Very respectfully yours,


A PLANTER.