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0425

26   LABOR IN THE SOUTH.

means of support, and they cannot stoop to ask alms of those for whom the dear ones died.  In these desolate homes are gathered sons - twenty, eighteen, sixteen, fourteen, twelve and ten years of age - ready to put their hands to the plough, the axe or the hoe.  It is expected that many in our land who will not work, think they will live by robbing and stealing from planters.  You need to have all portions of your estate as well guarded as possible against such depredations.  Why not, then, divide your lands into farms of suitable size for several families, whom  you may obtain to reside upon and cultivate them?  Erect on them houses, neat, cheap and most comfortable, such as what are called "cat-and-clay" houses, at first built by the Spanish and French settlers in all parts of Louisiana.  They are very cool in summer and warm in winter.  Add to them the few out buildings required by each family, and divide among they your live stock and farming utensils.  See that each family is supplied with food sufficient for them.  That the arrangement may secure as much of essential permanency as possible, make contracts with the sons until each is of age.  Let the older ones be engaged to work as men usually do, the entire day.  Those boys under sixteen years of age, divide into two bands - let one of these bands work five hours in the morning and be in school in the afternoon, and the other, who has been in school in the morning, take their places in the evening.  Let your contracts be so made, that when exigencies arise, at any season of the year, you may concentrate the labor on any portion of the estate requiring it.  Engage to pay "just and equal" wages to those who may cultivate your lands, according to several abilities of those employed.  Let half of these wages be paid at suitable intervals, that the wants, besides necessary food, 

27  LABOR IN THE SOUTH.

may be supplied.  The other half retained, giving your obligation for it, amply secured, at the end of each year bearing interest.  Let these obligations be paid when each son becomes of age, if he shall have complied with the terms of his contract.  If there is doubt whether he has, let the question be submitted to the decision of disinterested persons, or the proper legal authorities.  Each farm should be kept as independent of the other as can be consistently with the unity of the whole estate.  If you think you would be embarrassed in the direction of such a different system of labor, then employ an agent for the estate some gentlemanly, judicious and skillful man, who has been used to give such direction.  Through him you may have your lands cultivated as you desire, and such stock raised as you wish to produce.  Retain in your own hands the decision of all questions arising between the agent and the farmer, and let such agents have only the office of directors and instructors in the agricultural work, that there may be no intrusion into the sacred privacy of the several families.  The daughters of such households will find useful employment in the several domestic duties.  It would be easy for them to add to their comfort and revenue by spinning, sewing and weaving.  With the use of modern improvements in mechanism, these branches of industry would yield a most liberal compensation for the labor.  After long and most patient deliberation, I can see no insurmountable difficulty in putting such a system as I have sketched into operation, to a large extent, by the end of the present year.  I know there are many and great difficulties in the way; but I earnestly believe that this system can be put into full and complete operation as easily as any other.  I know there are many poor all over the country who deem it a degradation to work.  For such