Summary: Describes in great detail a contract system for black farm laborers in South Carolina. Claims it works really well and implies
that Virginia should try it out.
Full Text of Article:
Among the various styles of contracts with the freedmen none seem to work better than the following, which has been largely
adopted in South Carolina: The farmer furnishes plow animals and farm implements, and keeps all under his own care and control.
He gives to each laborer a house and as much land as he can cultivate on his own account, and firewood--all free. The employee
works for the planter the first half of the week, and works for himself the balance of the time. The laborer meets his own
expenses, and while working his own crop has the free use of the plow animals and all the required plantation tools. The
laborers have no claim on the planter's crop, but have absolute control of their own. By this arrangement the negroes obtain
house, land, firewood, and the use for three days of every week of all the plantation animals and tools for three days' labor
every week in cultivating the employer's crop. And the employer has all the expense of feeding the stock and keeping up the
establishment. Those who have tried this plan says it works to the satisfaction of both parties, and gives to the laborer
who behaves himself a permanent home and an interest in the place he cultivates, and avoids the dissatisfaction often attending
a division of the crop.