Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-13
Report on the Freedmsn's Labor.
ITO the Chicago Trlbune.l

h6pOFI Ou LU6 1f6eQm6Q' h3DQf.
ITO the Chicago Tribune.I
WASHINGTON, November IL.
Senator Sprague Of Rhode Island has
arrived here. He is to be married to.mor-
row evening, by Bishop Clark, to Miss
Kate Chase, eldest daughter of the Secrs-
tary Of the Treasury. The ceremony
takes place at $3.50, P. N and will be fol-
lowed by a reception from to Y o'clock
The bridal party leave the next day for
Providence, R. l., whre Senator Sprague
resides. From Providence their tour will
be continued to Miss Chss's former resi-
dence and to other points in the West; and
the party expect to return in time for the
opening Of Congress.
Several persons have called on the au
thorities here, within day or two, rep
resenting the case Of our prisoners at
Rishmond. Il is understood that the War
Department has promised to send provis.
ions which are most needed, and in case Of
refusal by rebel authorities to permit
them to be given to our soldiers, retslia-
tion will be resorted to. It may be that
retaliation will be commenced at once, as
the rebels insist that the rstions now
given our prisoners are ample, aud they
will not probably consent to any arrange
ment that will appear like an admission Of
having starved men in their hands.
General Foster, it is understood, goes
speedily to East Tennessee to succeed Burn
side, whose resignation has been accepted
The following report has been received
from Adjutant General Thomas:
"NAToHEz MISSISSIPPI, I
October 15, 1868.
SR:-I recently passed few days at
Goodrich's Landing, Louisiana, fifty miles
above Vicksburg,, one Of my purposes be-
ing to ascertain the condition Of the leased
plantations, to what extent the cultivation
Of cotton has been carried on, and espe-
daily to know whether the cultivation Of
plantations could not be carried on as well
by hired freemen as slaves. The gather
ing of cotton is now in full operation, and
it may be too soon TO report fully on the
result, but the facts in my possession arc
sufici for a Judgment on the experi-
ment. AS previously reported, the season
has advanced fully two months from the
time that cotton should have been planted
which was unavailable, although the sys-
TEN was put in operation as soon after my
coming TO this country, as was possible
The lessees, therefore, labored under great
Disadvantages in this respect, for most Of
them had just TO run the furroW to plant
seed and then plant their corn. Relying
on subsequent time to break up the ground
between the furrows Of cotton, and elimi-
nate the weeds. The necessity of with
drawing the troops from Louisiana to the
immediate force operating against Vicks-
burg, left line of communications, some
sixty in all, without adequate protection,
when the rebels made their attack on Mil
iken's Bend, when they were signally de-
feated and made raids on the plantations,
scattering and driving off the rebels and
stock.
This occurred at time when it was i'm
portsnt to cultivate the crops. Sometime
elapsed before the hands could be collected
and induced TO recommence work. The
consequence was near one half of the crops
we're not worked at all, and in other cases
where some other work was done tbs
weeds and plants had to grow up together,
the tall weeds overlooking the plants. The
army worm attacked all the late cotton
and destroyed from I to of the crops.
Still under all these disadvantages, not
one Of the lessees will lose money, but all
derive profit. know that they are sat-
isfed with this experiment. All desire to
release for another year. The colored les
sees, Of whom there are Is, will make from
four to five bales up 10, in one case, ons
hundred and fifty, and it is fact that the
cotton they have raised for themselves, ow-
ing to better cultivation, is Of higher grade
than that Of the white lessees. Some Of
the negroes have cultivated by themselves
and their families, whilst others have en-
ployed their fellow freedmen. The freed
men have all worked for wages, according
to scale fixed upon by the Board Of Com
missioners, and at a higaer rate, under
stand, than was adopted in the Depart
ment of the Gulf. Tney have been well,
and more abundsntly fed than they we're
when held in slavery. Schools have been
established upon the plantations, and the
lessees have means TO cultivate this unfor-
tunste race. As general rule they prefer
working with Northern men, whom they
regard as their friends, to working with
Southerners, even with their former own
ers and they hazard nothing in saying
that the net proceeds on crop by north
ener who has paid his hands wages will ex-
ceed that of a sOutherner who has cultivat-
ed by slaves.
The number Of acres being the same in
both cases. Those employed have thus
been Of no expense to the Government, but
have supported themselves and families.
They are perfectly contented and lock for
ward with hope 10 future elevation Of
charagter. The experiment, adopted from
necessity, with many misgivings, l now
regard as a complete success. The num-
Der of bales of cotton raised on these plan
tations will not much, if any, fall short Of
5000 bales, giving TO the Government the
sum Of $500 Of a revenue. The lesses
will also pay to the quartermaster's De-
partment for mules or utensils furnished
or found on the place Sl00 900. The
change in lieu of rent is 8 bale, making
$1,000. The Government share on some
few plantations abandoned by the Iecses
may sell for $4,000. 1 desire that this
money, or as much of it as may be neces-
/ sary, be set aside as a fund necessary to
pay the expenses Of this year and Of the
year commencing January lst 1884.
It is a significant fact that while trans
ports on the river have been frequently
fred into by the rebels, not single shot
has been fired from that line Of the river
covered by these plantations, extending
for forty-fve miles above Vicksburg,
shows the Importance TO commerce Of lin
ing the river with a loyal population.
have, sir, the the honor to be, very
respectfully, your Obedient servant
L. THOMAS,
Adjutsnt General.
Hon. E. NJ. STANTON, Sec'y of War.
ITO the Cincinnati Commercial
WAsHRGTON, November IL.
Advices from the front tonight by the