Staunton Vindicator

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.