Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-24
The President'p Plan for Employing Ne

Iue EFeBidcnpH Etttm Tor EuRtoJ4h8 W
groes.
The following is the Presidents plan as
announced by Adjutant-General Thomas,
for employing negroes on abandoned plan
tations. General Thomas says he wishes
it had been done a month earlier then
the success would have been complete, but
even yet much may be done:
First: The Government of the United
States, in order to secute the safety of
commerce and navigation on the Missis-
sippi, have determined TO locate on or near
its beach loyal population, who will pro-
tect, instead Of destroying-as is now done
- the freedom ofcommercial intercourse on
this great inland sea. That this policy may
the more speedily receive its initiation,
George B. Field, Captain A. E. Shiekle
and the Rev D. s. Livermore, are hereby
appointed Commissioners, whose duty it
shall be 10 superintend the letting Of plan
tations to persons of proper character and
qualifications, and 70 see that the mutual
obligations between the negroes and their
employers or superintendent shall be
faithfully performed; to attend in some
wants, and generally to crFry out the pol
icy Of the Government regarding negroes
that are to be put to agricultural pursuits.
" Second: 1t being deemed the best policy
as far as possible to make the employment
and subsistence of negroes matter to be
left to private enterprise, plantations will
| be placed in possession of such persons as
| the Commissioners shall deem of good
character and pecuniary responsibility,
and in lieu Of rent tax will be collected
upon the product of the land payable to
such agents as the Treasury Department
shall designate, care being taken to secure
as far as possible the just rights of employ
ees and employed in all cases the negroes
will be furnished with enough clothing for
comfort in advance Of their earnings, in
consequence of their extreme destitution,
and in no case will negroes be subjected to
corporal Punishment by the lash or other
cruel and unusual modes.
A" Third: Upon the occupancy of fplanta-
tions inspectors will visit each plantation
and take an inventory of all the property
upon the estate. Crops yet ungathered will
be turned over to be gathered by the lessee
upon such terms as shall secure 10 the
I hONCAullGAN Ab5 AdLL HLllC oil nAOhG-
able property, stock, grain, &C., will be
taken possession Of by the Government Ol
sold to the lessee, if he so desires, at theil
appraised value, payable out of the pro
ceeds of the plantation in the fall the ap
praisers to be appointed by the Commits
sioners, unless otherwise designated by
the Government.
" Fourth: After the lessee shall have
taken possession of the plantation, as many
negroes of average quality as he may de
wise shall devise may be turned over Il
him upon the order of the Commissioners
the lessee entering into bonds to employ
them until the lst of February, 1864, anG
to feed, clothe, and treat humaneIy all the
negroes thus turned over, the clothing t.
be deducted from their wages, and to bt
furnished at cost.
" Fifth: If it shall be found impractica
bic, in consequence of the Iateness of the
season, to find persons Of sufficient charac
ter and responsibility to give employment
to all the negroes coming within the lines
of the army, the Commissioners may ap
point Superintendents, under whose super
vision the soil may be cultivated for the
exclusive benefit of the Government, ol
may have the plantations worked upor
such terms as in their judgment shall b.
best adapted to the welfare of the negroes
taking care that in all plans adopted The
negroes shall be self-sustaining, and no
become charge upon the Government
" Sirh The wages paid for labor shal
be as follows: For able bodied men ovel
Is years of age, 81 per month; for able
bodied women over Is years of age, S. pei
month; for children between the ages o
u and Is, half price. Children under l:
years of age shall not be used as field hands
and families must be kept together whe1
they 80 desire. The tax on the products
of the plantation, in lieu of rent, shall bt
at the rate Of g per bale of 400 pounds o
cotton, and sc. per bushel on corn and po
tatoes.
" "SeDenth While military protection
will not be guaranteed for the safety o
persons engaged in cultivating the soil
yet all troops will be required to give pro
lection where it can be done without in
jury to the service, and it is confidently
believed that the military organization o
the negroes will afford all the protection
necessary.
" "EIghth: Commanders of the Army viii
! render the commissioners such military
assistance as may be necessary, withou
injury to The service, for the execution o
their duties. The Commissioners will re
port their proceedings to the Secretary o
War every two weeks.
Given under my hand at Milliken'i
Bend, La, April Is, 1863, by authori
ty of instructions from the Secretary
of War.
L. THOMAS, Adjutant- General"