The national Republican., 1862-03-08
COrTON CULTIVATION TnH Hnw
YORK DAuKBROs

YORK BAHKDRs.
Ths bill 70 provide for W. cultivation Of tAs
Gotten lands on Tie southevu coast, reportsd by
senator fosrss, sad the .provisioss Of vaich
We have already published, was pssed yer
lay a the seusss BY vote q two soone. Ths1
world moves
Mr.. FosrEs presented the following petition
| In aid of the bill, from eminent New York bank
era and merchante:
10 IL. Hon. The Senate and House of Represent.
atiues Of The United States in Cbngress a.
The undersigned, citizens Of New York, re-
specially represent'te your honorable body.
| that they view with deep concern certain factsj
set forth IN recent report TO the Secretary OF
the Treasury Is the result Of On oIlcial Inquiry
concerning the condition Of property held BY
the military and naval forces If the Uplted
States on the coast Of South Carolina, and from
which Il appears- .tr..
First That notwithstanding the destruction
Of large quantity Of cotton By the rebels and
notwithstanding the irregular, Imperfect and
necessarily improvident mauner IN which tho
remainder has been secured, II is estimated that
very large sum Of money will be received into
the Treasury Of the United States % The pro
cecds Of the-sale Of the cotton already gathered
gathered IRON the plantations now within the
military lines.
Sscoad. That the slaves by whose labor this
cotton was produced still remain, with imma.
tsrial exceptions, upon their respective plan
tatious. ...-. o.,
Third. That while large quantities Of corr.
| also the product Of the labor OF those slaves,
have been taken from the plantations for the
use of the army, the supply of iood for the
| slaves themselves le already In many cases
stinted end precarious, and is likely 10 become
| more 90. .s.a
Fourth. That the supply Of clothing which
has customarily been procured for the slaves
by their owners, aud paid for out Of the pro.
ceeds Of the cotton crop ID to the present time
withheld from them. ..... Il.
Fifth. That The chief military authority and
representative Of the Government ut Port Royal
has solicited charity 10 provide for the wants
thus originating.
Sixth. That there appears to be no reason to
doub. that the labor Of these destitute persous
would. under proper direction, again produce
crops Vf cottou and coro, the proceeds Of which
would f9 more than sufice to reimburse the
Government fur Abe necessary exponse Of pro.
vidng In liberal manner for all theIr imme-
diats wante.
SeveotA. That the season during which the
ground should be prepared for the planting OF
cotton Is already nearly passed.
Eighth. That little or no work hss, ss yet,
been done in preparation for such crop, but
that larger part Of the laboriug population Is
living In idleness. .,7
Ninth. That the idleness is mol attribptable
to any injisposition to work on tho part oi thee
people, nor 10 my difficulty growing out1of the
military occupation, which II is practicable to
remove at Insignificant cost.
Tenth. That the direct loss by delaying for
few weeks the removal Of these difficulties can
not reasonably be estimsted at lees than a
million Of dollars, while II may not improbably
amount to u much larger sum.
In view Of these several facts, the under
signed respectfully submit to your honorable
body that the OCCASION for The passage Of an act
of Congress. directing and providing ways and
means for the efficient employ ment Of this
laboring population 10 one OF exlreme urgency,
and ie recommended alike by considerations Of
economy, humanity, justice, and the national
honor. - ~ -,
The undersigned ara not uuawars that einos
the date Of the report In question, measures
have been taken 10 give agricultural occupa'
tion TO come oi thoss for whom their charity Is
solicited by the Government; but while they
regard this as an acknowledgment Of the pro
priety aud necessity Of action on the part OF
the Cover nment to remove the dlscouragemsDts
| 10 labor which at present exist, they consider
that the measures referred to are wholly mad
equate to the emergency; and that the result.
without the passage OF such an act OF Con
gress as has been suggested, will be q disss
trous failure 10 NEE! the obligations assumed.
For the immediate passage Of such an act,
therefore, the undersigned most respectfully
make this their petition.
signed by C. Il. Marshall. =. Perit, W. 7.
Havemsy6r, A. A. Low, Morris Ketchum, Sbep,
herd KBaap; Pbelps, Dodge Il Co. Gcorge,W.
Lane; ". Ropes a Co. ~