ALABAMA. 



The legislation of tho State relative to freed- 

 mcii has steadily improved since the close of 

 the war. When the Legislature assembled in 

 November, 1865, there was developed a strong 

 party in favor of securing the unpaid labor of 

 hhivery, but without admitting the obligations 

 of maintenance which that system imposed. 

 The measures taken for this object failed 

 through the vigilance of tho Freedmen's Bu- 

 reau, and the cooperation of the Governor with 

 his veto. But at the close of the session, in tho 

 spring of 1866, a vagrant law was in force, 

 which provided chain-gangs and the county 

 jail for whoever should loiter at work, or desert 

 a labor-contract. At the same time the stay 

 law was so framed as to postpone for a long 

 period the collection of wages. At the subse- 



quent session in November, 1866, the Govern- 

 or in his message called attention to the sub- 

 ject, saying: 



In reference to contracts with freedmen, there 

 have been some exceptional instances of bad faitb, 

 which are strongly suggestive of the necessity of 

 legal remedy. These exceptions are where employ- 

 ers of freedmen have, by captious unreasonableness, 

 sought and even created pretexts for finding fault with 

 their employes, and discharging them without pay, 

 alleging a violation of contract on the part of the 

 freedmen. The only remedy left the freedman is a 

 suit for his wages, and this is so tardy as to be 

 scarcely worth pursuing. For such injustice as this, 

 a remedy should be provided. It could be found 

 in a law which would authorize a summary and an 

 effective mode of enforcing payment for labor of 

 the character under consideration. I respectfully 

 invite your attention to this subject 



