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4

is dependent solely upon arbitrary power.

The stipulation that the laborer working for a part of the crop should continue to labor on the farm after the crop is housed is not unreasonable - on the contrary it is absolutely necessary if the farm is to be kept up in good producing condition and in many sections of the state white "Croppers" or laborers who are reimbursed for their labor by a part of the crop also stipulate to make rails, repair fences open ditches, cut briars &c so that the farm may be in condition for a crop the ensuing year. Nor does this class lose by such a stipulation - if they should all refuse to make such a contract and devolve upon the landowner the necessity of hiring day laborers to perform this work he would be very certain to make such a deduction of the share to be given the laborers as would reimburse all the expenses incurred in hiring such labor so that in any point of view in one form or another the Agricultural labor must "keep up" the farm or plantation either by making its repairs a part of their yearly labor or by hiring labor and deducting its value in the reduced share allowed the cropper.

I therefore desire in the name of common justice