Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-27
Frona Cairo.


Special to the Chicago Times
CAIRO, April l6-The steamer Lady Frank
lin has arrived from Memphis, with three hun
dred and eighty-seven bales Of cotton, but II
later news.
Below will be found Gen Thomas plan foI
employing negroes on abandoned plantations
He says he wishes It had been done month
earlier, when the success would have been com
plete; but even yet much msy be done:
lst. The Government of the Unitsd States,
in order to secure the safety Of commerce and
navigation on the Mississippi river, have deter
mined to locate on aud near its beach loyal
population, who will protect, instesd OF drestoy,
IS is now done, the freedom of commercial inter
course on this great inland sea. That this policy
may the moro speedily receive It's initiation,
George B. Field, Captain A. L. Strickle, and
Rev. l. s. Liverm0re, are hereby appointed
commissioners, whose daty il shall be TO super
intend the letting Of plantations to persons OF
proper character and qualifications, and to see
that the mutual obligation between the negroes
and their employers or superintendents shall be
| faithfully peTformedi 70 attend in sOm9 measure
10 their moral and intellectual wants. and gem
orally 70 carry out the policy of the Government
regarding the negroes that are to be put to ag
ricultural pursuits.
2d. It being deemed the best policy, SIS far as
possible, to make the employment and subsist-
encs of negroes matter 10 be left TO private en-
serprise plantations will be plEcsd in possession
of such persons as the commissioners shall
deem of good character and peeuniary RESPONSE
biiity, and in lieu Of rent tex viii be collect
ed upon the products Of the land, payable to
such agents as the Treasury Department shall
designate, care being taken to secure, IS far ss
possible, the Just rights of employer and en-
ploysd. In all cases the negroes will be fur
nished with enough clothing for comfort, in sd-
vance OF their earnings, in consequence of their
present extreme destitution, aud in no case will
negroes be subjected to eorporssl punishment
by the lash or other cruel and unusual modes
3d. Upon entering into the occupancy of
plantations, inspectors will visit each plantation
and take an inventory Of sll property upon the
estate. Crops ye. ungstheTed will be turned
over to be gathered by the lessee, upon such
terms as shall secure to the government its fair
share; while all movable property, stock,
grain, etc, will be taken possession of by the
government, or sold to the lessee, if he so de-
sires, at their approved value, payable ont of
the proceeds Of the plantation in the fall; the
appraisers to be appointed by the commissioners,
unless otherwise designated by the Government
4th After the lessee shall have taken rosses-
sion of the plantation, as many negroes Of aver
age quality as be may desire shall be turned
over to him, npou th5 order Of the commission
ers-the lessee entering into bonds to employ
them unsil the 1st of February, 1854, and TO
feed, coths, and treat humsnely all the negroes
thus turned over; the clothing to be deducted
from th 'ir wages, aud to be furnished ct cost.
5th If it shall be found impTacticsble, in |
Of the lateness Of the season, to |
End persons Of sufficient character and respon- |
sibility to give employment to all the negroes |
coming within the lines of the army, the COM
nissiOneTs may appoint superintendents, under |
whose supervision the soil msy be cultivated |
for the exclusive benefit of the Governmsnt or
nay have the piaGtaiOn worked upon such
erms as, in their Judgment, shall be best
adapted to the welfare of tho negr0es-tsking
ARE that, in all plans sdoPted, the negroes shall
% self-sustaining, and not become a charge
lPon the Government
6th. The wages TO be paid for labor shall be
g follows For sble bodied men over fftesn
years Of age, seven dollars per month for able
bodied women over fifteen years of age, FIVE
iollacs per month; for children between the
.gss of twelve aud fifteen, half price. Children
lnder u years of age shall not be used as fed
lsDds, and families must be kept together when
hey so desire. The tax on the products Of tie
in lieu Of rent, shah be at the rate
# two dollars per bale Of four hundred pounds
# cotton, and five cents per bushel on corn and
potatoes.
7lh. While military protection viii not be
70. HA-Su Aui suO sasIe'y VI Y6iSVlis ci 4gsu III
the soil, yet all troops viii b9 re.
uirad to give protection where it can be done
Tithout injury to the service, and it is conf
emily believed that the military organization
f tho negroes will afford all the protection
eeesssry.
S.h. Commanders Of tho army viii render the
such military assistance as may
Q necessary, without injury to the service for
le execution of their dnties. Tto commissions
rs viii report their proceedings to the Secre-
NY of War every two weeks.
Givan under my hand, ct MilHkea's Bend,
-, April 18Th, 1868, By authority from the
ecr tary Of War.
(Signed) I THONAS. Ad'E Gsn'l.