, 1862-01-31

What to Do with the Contrabands---
a Proposition to Hire them.
Since the war began there has been no end
and 10 answer to the inquiry, What to do
with tie contrabands:" The more wc ad-
vance into the cncn1y's country, and tue mort
negroes 1l;t come to our stanlard-with this
Irul.cIa, un=olvcd-thc more the trouble aris-
inH freE4 il. Various propositions have been
made in Congress Of col onizing the rcbcllious
States, and us our army goes forward, leave 4
ncw aud loyal population behind. Public
opinion and the minds Of OUT legislators have
net, however settled upon any one plan,
md in the diversity Of sentiment it has been
feared nothing would be done. But now
bona ft3e proposition has been made, by par
ties who lnlvc abundance Of capital to make
good their promises, to lease twenty thousand
acres Of land Immediately around Port Royal,
with five thousand blacks as hired laborcrs,
fur the production Of the next cotton crop;
and furthermore, the parties propose to pay
the Government an annual rental Of 800 GOO.
besides Sl1 mouth as wagcs to the blacks,
and they will give bonds in half million dol
| lars for the fulfllment of their obligations.
The bidders are Ellis, BriIton 4 Eaton, manu-
facturc1s, Of agricultural implements at Spring
| field, Vt. They argue that these lands have
brcn seized as enemy IS property ,fortheipublic
| use, and that it is the duty Of the Government
| to derive some revenue thcrefrom. Or if it
| tc held that tho Government.has possessions
| only III trust for owners who shall hereafter
prove their loyalty and title, then it is no less
| the duty Of the Government to use the estates,
| as they may be held to answer not only fot
rents actually received, but for such as might
have been received, It is an incidental rec.
| ommenda1ion that employment and wages will
| be given to 5000 blacks; that market will be
| opened for Northern implements and produc
tions worth half a million dollars; and thai
III average crop Of 1900 bales Of S>a Island
cotton will be realized for Northern manufac
ture. We suhjoin the proposition in full, and
commend it to all calculating people:
OFFICE OF THE NoyEL1r WoRks, l
| SrEISGF1ELn, Vt, January q, 1861 {
S1R-Belieying tllat it is very impolitic fo]
the Government to continue burdcning itsel
at this time with the support Of several thou
sand contIahand negroes, in comparative idle
ness, when they might be employed very prof
i:ably to themselves, as well re to the Govern
ment in cultiyating the abandoned cottor
fields near Port Royal, We wish to call youl
attention to the following estimate Of tht
profit that could be made By employing 5,0o<
Of them in this manner. Apromiscuous a gans
Of 5,too negroes, Including The old, young ant
i1sfrn', would equal in effective labor abou
:,Co0 able bodied hands, and be capable Of cul
| ti,:ti,1s, &c, Coo :crrs Of cotton, provided NJ
attention was paid 10 the cultivation Of othc
CROPS, except the vegetables required for thei
oNn nse. This land, with an average crop
*ou!d produce 800 pounds per acre, Q
6,tn0ooo OF pounds in the aggregate, Of gin
nc0 cotton, which would ut worth, under tn
most uutagoraele circumstances, in the Nc'
S,,o0oo 600 in the aggregate. To produce thi
crop the following outlay would be required
! viz.
F.- 4ne Flow Horzes at 500 each -..,... $1,000
For 1Io Iiow HARNESSES. at $40 EACH AGO
| FuT l 0 flows, at 81 each los
For 1W Sttd Planters, at 81 each ....... 70
Fo: go ucSsc Eocs, OF fuutiyatora, at IS
: | cach .. :. ..--..-.-.....-..-........ 10
Fer 20 Farm Wagons. at SO each ...... g. 81
FnE 80 Cotton Gins st $50 each 75e
For Combined LovcrPreeses, at $50
Fo: Portable s;i1ls for grindipg corr al ~
$40 each. .....:...:.............. 1.a