New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-04


Con. Banks ropublished tho Presidents Proc
laolation, he has issued another, more pre-.
ri,ely defining the relations between the Gov
eminent aud the Planters Of Louisiana We
regarded his first order as inischeyous in tenn
per and tendency, as opposed to the spirit
which animated the Proclamation of Freedom.
and as practically annulling it within the limits
of the Department Of Tho Gulf The deIalIs
OF the present scheme are conceived with tho
same complete disregard for the welfare OF the
negroes and the authority Of the President,
and they improve upon the inhumanty OF the
original order in several respects.
With reference to the question Of the EN-.
ployment of the blacks, tho serious mistake of
Gen. Banks was and is that he considers the
Government and the Planters to be tho only
interested parties. The matter evidently lies ia
his mind substantially in this way: "Here are
plantations wanting labor, and Government
that does net want BIO burdcned or bothered
with negroes. The negroes, to be sure, are
free, but then they have no political import
ance, and not many friends. They must work
in some way, they are incapable to take care
of themselves. aud the best practical solution
of the difficulty is for the Government to COM
pei them to return to their masters, secure
them low wages, and trust to the interest of
the planters not to abuse them any more than
is necessary to make them work. SO the
Government will be relieved from burden
and responsibility, the planters will be con-
ciliated. cotton, and sugar, and corn will get
planted, and the negroes-well, the less said
about them the better. Nobody really cares
for negroes"
Gen. Banks accordingly appoints a Sequestra.
ton Committee the Committee makes q bar.
gain with the planters, and the negroes have
nothing to do but acquiesce " the arrange
ment. The planter gets his labor for nominal
price, and the Government gets rid of q
troublesome question-only undertaking BY way
of performing its share of the contract to en-
force continuous and faithful service, respect
full department, correct discipline and PERFECT
sUBORDINATION on the part of the negroes
In other words the military authorities OF the
Department of the Gulf, who were charged by
the President to recognize and maintain the
freedom OF the emancipated blacks have gone
into the business Of slave-driying on tie largest
possible scale, and the officers who went down
TO Louisiana from the free coil of New-En.
gland and New-York TO suppress a Rebellion
OF Shareholders, ore made oyerseers OF planta-
tons which tho Government stocks with re-en-
shaved blacks
not wanted on the plantations are provided
for with the same generous and considerable
care which il bestowed on the rest. 1t is not
enough that the Government shall help the
shareholders coerce the labor of free blacks
but it goes into the business of enforcing un-
paid toll on it, own account. Gen. Banks
orders that the negroes not engaged" on the
plantations shall be "empoycd on the public
works or in the Quartermaster's Department
WITHOUT PAY, except their food and clothing
medical attendance, and such instruction
and care ne may be furnished 70
them and their women and children" Posi-
bly, such economy of administration may
be deemed loo careful. The Government ia
spending great dea OF money, doubt but
We shall be slow TO believe that it viii resort
to ndscriminate oppression and plundcr Of the
negroes in order 10 save to the National
Treasury the amount of their hard. earned
wages. Let the Administration leave every
thing else to the will of its General if ii must
but do not leave him to enrich his military
chest by extOrtion from the only class Of PEG.
pie subjected to his sway, who are absolutely
and totally unable to resist or demonstrate
against his oppression.
Other orders of Gen. Banks, and other
proceedings under his authority, supply ai-
ditiOnal evidence if any is needed, to show
how completely his department is administered
in the interest OF the slayeholding cla.-a
class that, without exception, is Indignantly
and dtiantly disloyaf to the Government
which he represents. He has forbidden the
removal Of negroes from the plantations by
any officer or other person without authority
from hls headquarters. He haS left no means
untried to discourage enlistments of the blacks.
None will be- received who have been at work
on the plantations, and those who are already
enlisted may withdraw from tho service if
they choose. His Quartermaster, TO
whom ho gives tho Planters Committee
a note of introduction. assures the shareholders
that everything will be done to restore /" lost"
negroes. Ilis Sequestration Committee is en-
deayoring to secure the services of former
of rlantstiona-of couvsa hacausa