“I am satisfied, in my own mind, that one able-bodied American negro of ordinary intelligence is worth at least two white emigrants. He understands the business, and he has the advantage of being acclimated. I am willing, therefore, to pay the negroes one-third higher wages than any white laborers accessible to us. You may think this extravagant; but during the unsettled state of affairs for the last two years, I have had to try both, and I base my opinion not on my prejudices, but on my experience.” The statements in the last paragraph are widely at variance with the ideas current among the late slaveholders. Scarcely any believe that the negro can be depended on for labor except in a state of slavery; and the most, therefore, throughout the whole season following the surrender, looked upon the sugar and cotton culture as ruined, unless white laborers could be brought in. The following are the exhibits of the operation of Mr. May’s plantation for the years 1863 and 1864, as taken from his books. One thousand acres only of the plantation were cultivated. One hundred and twenty hands were engaged to do it, at an average of $144 per year, with lodgings and food: 1863. Plantation supply account $20,315 00 Amount paid to field hands 18,472 25 Amount paid to physician 300 00 Amount paid to engineer 625 00 Amount paid to sugar-maker 600 00 Amount paid to carpenter 1,160 00 Amount paid to manager 1,800 00 Amount paid to sub-overseer 600 00 ——————————— Total expenses $43,872 25 Receipts from sale of 360 hogsheads sugar $51,480 00 Receipts from sale of 740 barrels molasses 17,020 00 Receipts from sale of 204 bales cotton 81,600 00 Receipts from sale of corn 2,743 00 ——————————— Total receipts $152,843 00 43,872 25 ——————————— Net revenue $108,970 75 1864