New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-18
A xinaien,ion Of Gen. hanks.

~
the slaves in this department, have been receNeu
BY the people Of the NOrib. have lea'a WIN
deen regret tbe severe c;lticisms which nave oeeh
made upon his course in this natter aud by those
too who am sure would give him their entire snd
UNQUALIFIED sympathy, were they made aware OF the
actual facts in the c4se. IL has even been charged
agaiust him tbat be has used conpuson in return
ing fugitive negro 10 his master. Nothing can be
more false Printed orders are issued and placed In
the hands Of every Government official who Is at all
connected with this question: prohibiting the use Of
force OF any kind, even that Of persuasion, aud L
feel very sure that any who should be guilty Of
90 heiDous an act as that complained Of, would be
visited with coudign punishment So far as know,
and have mad occasion to know great deal OF tns
whole matter, Gen. Banks hss surpassed my ex.
pectations in throwing bis influence on the eide OF
the slave. know him to be a somewhat CONSERVE
tive Republican; but IN this matter be has gone as
far Is the Abotionists even would desire bim TO-
sm personally interested in making this statement
10 the Northern people because, as warm "a or
ZIONIST, have entered into the plan Win an '-o
enthusiasm sm possessed Of, believing .nal ~ ~
precisely the thing to prepare l1S oiaVH nj: .It
louisiana Tor the freedom when Know nc - rOON
ino for aud which believe will be his belore au-
otbs, twelve months are ted. II you VIII alio"
me. will give Won detailed history OF this Whoie
moveuent that you may understand the emu ~ NC
souoht and the means taken 10 secure ~
few weeks since, Gen. BANKS SEM !9r me, euu
IN abe conrse of conversation told me that be had
bean irving to settle the Degro-laoor question IN
some such way that the slave should be assured tns'
the Government was win nm IA ilAs ei'or > " OD
tain his freedom. The blacks wer3 couluS into our
cumps. hundreds every day. IL was well known
TIT tbey were fast getting into bad habits. Not
only had the percentage Of mortality increased 10
an alarming extent, arising from the Grange III tnelr
mode of living, but they were greatly deln0ralzmg
themselves and also our troops. IL was necessary
that something should be done 1T once 10 elect
cure of this evil he then spoke Of the plan he had
formed. II was simply tins: ihat statistics should
be obtained Of all the negroes within our hnes VINO
had no means Of obtaiuicg livelihood, who were
being eubslsted on Government ratiOus; then TO
give them tteir choice either 20 WORK ON the roads
or levee-whch, ratiOBs were IL suod case served
% the laborer and his family, would cost Govern
ment one dollar and Blk cents per man on an aver
ape-Or to work on plantation, not neeessar ly
tie one from which they fed, for liked sum. which
Government would guarantee to them by lien on
the crop in case Of trou0le with the planters II Is
at once sean that the latter would be altogether
the better choice for tie negro, for he would
then have bis family With him, and at the end OF
the month have small sun due hin beside his
rations whereas, if he worked on the rOads or
leyees he left his family for week at time,
and In little hut no protection against the weather,
built, as II generally Waf, oub OF some leIlcS haIu
By. The planters were to be bound to treat their
negroes no. NE for neTlv, slaves, but rather is
hired hands. The power 10 whip them was 10 be
taken away. In case slave proved refractory the
planter could apply " the nearest Provost Marshal
and the negro should receive no punishment which
might not under like circumstances, be visited upon
a white uian. Moreover, If the planter should not
fulfill his part In the act and should refuse TO cothe
feed his hands as per agreement the negro should
have the right to apply TO the same Provost Marshal
who il he saw fit, could remove the negro from tn
plantation altogethec. The plan struck me as bein
very like the apprentice system IN the West Indie
between 1894 and 1910, except that, In this cast
the black had mUIe privileges. Still, told tb
General that the plan was likely 10 be mlsunde
stood by the people OF the North. They Will 50
shat we are carrying fugiliyes bsck to their old
tiers, ana many otheI things which 1t will be III
pleasant 10 hear. lie replied that the plan
lust QUE and one that, to hi5 words, " give
the slave bis future" Ii the north does under
stand it the black man viii, and IN the end 1t Wi
all be right.
have worked now for some weeks, and am NOR
than ever convinced that ne plan Will exercise
great influence in favor OF the negro have tray
eled over the entire Department, nave seen the fu
gityes as they live while within camp llnss,
have seen them also, as, under protection they
have returned to their plantations, or been PLACED
upon some plantation hired out to responsible indi
vidualS. l have seen them at Baton Rouge, IL.
dying since last December out Of 1000. have Wis
ited them at Thibodaux go or 700 living in wretcheC
shantles built in unhealthy locson getting LITTLE
or no work, and, from proximity TO Onr camps &C
curing habits of Immoral ~ and yieiousness. dc
know That while this continues 1t will 6e utterly
iupossble 10 give such attention 10 this question thai
MI its perplexties can be made clear. lam moreover
sure that the humane o the friends of the negro
in the North could they visit iho Dlacks as they nave
been living here for the last few months, indeed
eiuce the Union troops landed in the State would
ut once acknowledge that the best hing that can be
done for the negTos welfare during the present
season is to give him back bis own cabin, and TO
compel his master to feed, clothe, aud Pdy him,
while he in return shall give that amount Of labor
which phite farmer has right to erPect from his
apprentice.
To further chow you the position winch Gen.
Banks occupies in this matter, will give you a
copy Of letter which he sent TO me just as was
entering upon the work;
N2 WV ,S Peb' a. T. 1903 SSt'
MI DEAR SIR; take great interest In the Of the
peDsat!on IL a ie only solution II La6r question ia,
a. laey are oOoensd You may be that abors viii
A.. planters are fsyoTsby Disposed There 30 much
said about Gna status OF the slave That will depend
pop the future If khs eDtguss tle DH be 6k1ty
II u sSds sOon emo eonDeH,atsd plan Of labor 8
adopted We DO not st that reason, undertake to decide
ever the Government dc foE hs nesOes win be
executed BY row aud hereafter shall Isq1ss all officer,
70 aid you sndI hope your entire succesh Let me know
10" you 60 w. n 7. BANKS, M &C.
Lieut. Ono. H. HEPwoRTH.
Wbon IL Is remembered that this is said of negroes
In parishes specially exempted from the act OF Eman-
cipation by the President, it shows conclusively
enough that Gen. Banks 10 ready to use the necess-
ties OF the planters, who were willing 10 subscribe
70 almost any terms order TO get force enough 10
put in their crop, for the benefit Of the negro. ]
think am not wrong in saying that to-day, prsc-
tlcaly speaking, there Ia not slave IN the Gulf
Department. ihe Presidents Proclamation saws
there is. But when the blscks crossed the Union
lines, from that moment they were free men, And
when the planters desired 70 get them back, they