New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-14
fra= Our sscail conssponieat.


poRT ROYAL, FEB. 3, 1862.
II a recent letter mentioned tho arrival Of Mr.
Edward L. Pierce, appointed by the Secretary Of Tie
Tr,afury "a sprcal Government agent, with duties
relating both % negroes and cotton. lie has sluce
been actively engaged In collecting information by
help Of which an intelligent opinion might be formed
"a 10 the present condition Of the omauciraed slaves
rcmginng on tie plantations and tie system that
ought TO be adopted Tor the government or superin-
tend, nee Of the neero,s and tie Management of tie
c.,atcs. H. the course Of Two weeks he has visited
seventeen plantations on s.. Heens and Ladies lei
and.. ing thorough investigation Of each, and
taking full notes Il the results Of lie inquiries. An
Official report will be presented TO the Department
stating these rctulis and the conclusions based on
,hen Meantime, Il am permitted 70 u,e information
derived from conversations with Dir. Pierce, which
GLADLY avail mysef Of. Ar use it herein in connec-
too with evidence from dferen, sources, sm
wholly responsible for the contents Of this letter.
On all he plantations virlted, the negroes gave
ready and accurate information concerning the num-
Der Of bands employed, tho method Of cultivation,
produeliyencs, Of The crate, and treatment Of the
slaves. A mas Of statistics was obtained, valuable
to the Government in deciding questions Of future
policy.
Bot the present condition Of the negroes, their i'm.
mediate prospects aud necessiiies, such rs to
quire special attention. TIE careful and fall in.
quiriss Of Mr.. Pierce confirm previous statements
concerning the capacity and willingness Of the negro
10 work when freed from the tyranny which has ex.
acted his services without compensation; his de,ire
for freedom; bis conviction that no change eau be
for the wore, and his loyal devotion to the power
TINT delivers him. There are very few instances Of
a,achmen, TO their former mast.rs, and those only
in tho case Of favored house servants. The quantity
Of food allowed was the on all ptutations-a
neck Of corn in a week aud other regular supply.
Ii mea, or anything else were given, il was &C.
c.sionaly, aud at long intervals. IL is needless 70
iepeat hat the quantity ia insufficient for the wants
Of lnborer whose full strength is constantly taskod.
The eHccssive over-ofs which wsars out the life Of
the slave with oxirayagant Iepdty appears T. have
been more common ON rice than cotton plantations,
tough from sunrise 70 nnt-t in The Summer WAS
the rule Of 'be latter. /, depends tt MORE perhaps,
on the character Of owners and oyerseers. know
one negro in camp carpenter by trade, who was set
20 picking eo,ton-a buiness he did not understand
oil Who in three days, received 100 as'es b cause
be could not gather the quantity required. During
and after this torture he was kept I'll work.
More important, however, than details Of pisnta-
ton life ore the facts concerning their last three
months history, and the influence upon them of The
,udlen chnnge Of their condition, from the wont
form Of Slavery to qualified freedom. TIE PERIOD
bias been one of transition and anomaly. Tie com
tc,e abandonment OF these Islands IS without par
nlIel In military annals. Overwhelming and uEchal-
ienged evidence from NIL establishes the fact
II tie forts made by the fugitive mater to carry OIL
tho slaves by force, and failing in that TO destroy
Them BY wholesale murder. That NO greater number
haye a,,uay been shot IL partly because OF their
ingenuity in eluding pursuit, partly because the
Rehel, were too much frightened 10 continue Their
,a,r,. for great length OF Iime. Tho islands which
o,.,e tus dese.ted bave been only IN part occupied
TO our tfoops. a large territory has been lot IN the
exe,iye control OF the negroes, or subject only to
,Le partial or occasional aud temporary occupation Of
naval or military forces. Over this surface so!di.ga
o1 sailor. Lave been permitted 10 wander fr every
,n,pose which interest curiosity, or esa erediisbl,
natives could suggest, sometimes 10 regular lAn'e'
or forage more often in very irregular bands Tie!
.ye vi,it.d plantations uld have been r1nght IntS
contact with the negroes. The influence Of such as
s.caliOn upon the latter canuot have oeen beneficial
Armies are MT the nurseries OF morals, nor is TN
,verape of seuse, drcretion and virtue 0gher among
common soldiers than among the same class 0
,eo,Ic engaged in civil pursuits Ia il not 10 be ~
deroovL that abuses have been approved eXp'ess
permitted BY tho odicera commudlngon sea or shore