The weekly sun., 1862-03-01
Tho Nesroe. and Cotton at Port Royal.
HTBREsrIso REroRr FROM TnE ooyERs.
MINT AGENT.

MENT AGENT.
Mr.. Edward l.. Pierce, tho Government
Agent having charge Of the negroes and cot =.
ton at Port Royal has presented TO Secretary
Chase volum'nous report of his operators al
the South, In which we find much interesting
information bearing upon tho question as to
what should be done with the contrablnds 2"
Upon the "a islands, large aqd small, now in
our possession in the vicinity of Port Royal,
are some 200 plantations open TO cultivation
five Of the Islands being without plantation, and
two others not yet explored. On another
isl6nd, that OF North Eiisto, which is
still visited by the rebels, some 23CO
negoAs have settled under the protection
OF our war vessels, and to this colony
large additions are expected TO DO m ads a, toe
negroes acquire confidence in US. As IL Is we
now have on ourhands in Gen. Sherman sdepart-
ment, iIom 10, 900 10 II, 900 ne groes for whose
present and future state we have 10 provids,
and the number is rapidly increasing. ladeod,
according to the most reasonable ostim ites il
would only require small advances by our
troops, not involving general eDgagsm snt or
even loss Of life, TO double the number which
would be brought within our lines
by this estimate IL would appear thl' we
have wi hin our roach from ten to twelve mil.
Ions OF dollars in this portable property of the
South, as one result Of our victory at Port Roy
land and cotton which II has put in our posses
sion. OF this last article, Mr.. Pierce informs
us, the agents Of tho Treasury ID apartment ex-
pect TO gather some 2, 100000 pounds Enr cd,
the present year, nearly all Of which had been
picked and stored before the arrival OF our
forces. Considerable quautities h ave not been
picked at all, but the crop for this season was
unusually god.
or the negroes most have been found remain
Ing upon the plantations 10 which they belong
the largest number on any being 26U and the
average 81. In most cases, the negro drivers
have remain cd with the field hands under their
charge, exercising their authority, as we'll as
they could, without the support Of the whites
still holding the keys Of the granary dealing
out the rations Of food. and with the same ssnse
OF resPonsi6 llty as before Mr.. Pierce advises
that these divers be continued in authority, AZ
the p9st position OF the driver and his yluabls
knowledge, both Of the plant atoms and the la
boTers, when properly advised and controlled,
may be made available in SO curing tho sod &C.
tiveness Of the plantations aud the good OF the
labOres. The drivers have, in all cases, been
found ve'y ready to answer questions and seem
desirous that the work Of the season should COM
msnce.
Some Of the negroes, we are told are really
degrading, but others are "as fair specimens of
human nature as We can expect 10 tiGd." OF
the adults, about one-hsli, at least, are mem.
bers OF churches; generally Baptist. Beside a.
tendance at the churches on Sunday evening"
prayer meetings are held once OF twice a week
on the plantations. At one Of these meetings
Mr.. Pierce addressed the negroes, telling them
that he had been sent TO see what was bast 10
do for them, Mr.. Lincolu, the President or
great man at Washington, who had the whole
matter in change that the great trouble shout
doing any thing for them was thai their masters
hal made many people believe that they were
lazy ard would not work unless whipped 10 1t
that Alr. Lincoln bad sent him down here to see
II II was 80 that where he came from Ell were
free, both white and black that W. did not soil
children or separate man and wife, but all had
TO work that II they were TO 90 free, they
would have to work and would be shut up or
deprived Of privileges II they did not teat this
was a critical hour with them, AMI il they did
| not bohavo well new and respect agents
and appear willing TO work, Mr.. Lincoln
would give up trying TO do any thing tor them.
At this ard other meetings much good advice
| was also given them the women b.ing especi.
| ally urged to keep away from ths bad white
men, Who would ruin them. At a meeting at
Hilton Head, Mr.. Pierce says:
"A good looking man, who had escaped from
the soutl ern part Of Birnwel district, rose and
id, with much feeling, that he and many
Others should do all they could by good conduct
| to prove what their masters said against hem
| to be false, and to make Mr.. Lincoln think bet
ter things Of them. After the meeting closed
he detired TO know II Mr.. Lincoln was coming
down here 10 sec them, and he wanted mo to
eive MIR. Lncoll his compliments, with his
name, assuring the President he would do ell
be could for him. Tho measAge was little
amusing, but 1t testified 10 the earnestnees OF
the simple hearted man. Tho name OF Mr.. Ln-
coin was used In addressing them, as more
likely 70 impress them than the abstract idea
] d GVvornmont.'