The national Republican., 1862-03-05
THE ABANDON ed COTTON LANDS Oi
SOUiH CAROLINA.

In reply to a communication upon the sub.
ject of the contrsbands at Port Royal, from Mr..
Z. L. Pierce, the following letter from the
Treasury Department has just be- n published
The whole authority Of this Department
over The subjects Of your Rel or is derived
from the fifth section Of the act 10 provide for
the collection Of duties, md for other purposes,
approved July l3, 1861, by which the President
is authorized TO permit commercial Intercourse
with any port OF the country declared to be In
II state Of insurrecton. under such rules and
regulations as may be prescribed By the Sec.
tetary Of the Treasury, who Ia himself author.
iZed to appoint the officers needed TO carry into
"As incidental TO this authority alone have
any power TO sanction any measures for the
culture Of the abandoned estates in the Port
Royal or any other district. II ia, indeed, IN
the highest degree essential TO commercial
intercourse with that portion of the country
that the abandoned estates he cultivated and
the laborers upon them employed. do not
hesitate, therefore, TO continue your agency,
with view 10 the general superintendence
and direction of such persons as may be en-.
gagged in such cultivation and employment.
1T Is understood that An association of Judi.
Cous and humane persons has been formed in
Boston, which may act In concert or be con.
.olidated With a similar association, in New
York and other cities, and that through the
agency OF these associations, or one of them.
persous may be employed to proceed, with the
sanction OF the Government TO take charge OF
the abandoned plantations under the general
plan suggested by yourself, and which Is fully
approved hy this Department.
You will herewith receive copies OF orders
addressed to the Quartermaster of New York
and the General commanding at Port RoyaI,
directing that transportation and subsiste. CO,
with all other proper facilities, be afforded to
the persons thus engaged.
You will therefore receive applications for
me employments indicated, and will select and
-
and assign each to his respective duty; 1t being
Understood that compensation for services 10 be
rendered will be mado by the association,
while subsistencc, quarters, and transportation
only will he furnished by the Government,
unless Congress shall otherwise provide. Ali
engagements made by you will, Of course, be
subject to be terminated by the NGovorpment
whenever any public sxigenoy shall require.
a. As agent OF this Department. you will also
Sive all suitable support and aid to any persons
lions for the religious instruction. ordinary edu.
cation, or general employment of tho laboring
population.
" It is my wish 10 prevent The deteriora alton
Of the estatos, 10 secure their best possible Cui.
;ivati0n under the circumstances, and the
greatest practicable beneht TO the laborers
upon them, and by those general purposes your
own action will be guided.
gence, discretion, and benevolence, the Depart.
ment confides this important mission to you
with confident expectation of be ncent results.
80. P. CHASE,
secretary of the Treasury"
We do not see that the authority Of the
Treasury Department TO prescribe rules for
commercial intercourse with the seeded States,
can authorize 1t 10 interfere with the produc.
lion OF the articles, the exchange Of which con
-titutes commerce. Upon such construction
as that the entire industry of the seeded
States may be carried on under Treasury regu-
latons, and under Treasury agents.
We adhere to the opinions expressed some
weeks ago, that the best way to manage the
dersiict cotton estates at Port Royal is to lease
hem, and that authority to do that is sufficiently
derived from the fact Of our military posses
sion. Indeed, that fact makes it our duty, ~
we'll az gives us power, TO derive an income
from these estates, for the benefit Of whom il
may concern. We have assumed trust there
by taking possession, Of which We can fairly
acquit ourselves in no other way.
Waving the question Of the authority of The
Treasury Department to intervene in the matter
at all, We have no doubt that the action de
termiDed upon by Mr.. Chase is based upon
information which be has received. But we
believe, also, that the represe nations made to
him have been interested and biased, and that
Vt ne had been on the spot himself, and seen
with his own eyes. be would have arrived at
very different conclusions.
II these cotton lands had been leased, there
would have been no Government agencies
necessary in their management and it is the
persons desirous OF that sort OF employment
who have camored down the proposition to
lease the lands
The favorite representation of these inter.
ested parties has been, that lessces of the land
would oppress the negroes. How that could
be IL not very apparent, when the labor of the
negroes would be entirely voluntary, and when
NE iessees could be controlled as 10 tho rates
>oi the wages TO he paid.
SLAVERY IN THE DlsrMCr.--Our city council.
elected last June, does not al all represent tie
opinions Of the present population Of Washing
ton in nrespectto slavery. And it only furpisbe,
an additional reason for abolishing slavery here.
If nny consida ara hla nnrtiop nf ,,ur ,o.-,