The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-04-17
MIDNIGHT REPORT.

DetOW VIII DS lOuhu oth'
plan for employing negroes on abandoned
plantations
/. The Government of the United
States, in order to sucure safety on the
Mississippi river, has determined to To-
cate on I'd near its hanks, loyal popu-
lation which will protect instead OF dc.
stroy, as is now done, the freedom OF
commercial intercourse on this great In
land sea. That this policy may the more
speedily receive it's initiation, George b.
Fuller and Rev. s. s. Lauman are hereby
appointed Commissioners, whose duty IT
shall be to superintend thelcrne"i i'ls''-
tatious TO persons of proper character anu
quail fcations, and to see that the mutn-
al obligations between the negroes and
their employers or superintendent Shall
be faithfully performed, and to attend IN
some measure to their moral and intel
tctual wan s.
z. 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 per-
sons os 'lt3 Commissioners shall deem OF
good rh racter aud pecuniarily RESPONSE
bic, and in lieu of rent tax will be colec-
ted upon the products OF the land. pays-
bic to such agents rs the treasury depart
|-ment shall designate care being taken to
secure as far as possible the Just rights of
employee and employed, In ali cases
the negroes will be furnished with enough
clothing for comfort in advance Of their
earnings, in consequence OF their present
,xucme destituti0r, and in 10 case will a
negro be subjected to corporal punish
ment by tue lash or 9otA-x~ cruel and :
usual modes.
5. Upon entering into the occupancy
of plantations, inspectors will visit each
plantation and take an inventory OF all
property on the estate. The crops not
vet gathered will be turned over 10 the
lessee upon such terms as shall secure to
the Government its fair share Of the
whole. All movable property, stock grain,
&C., will b, i,H possession OF BY the
Govern 5a,,t. ~ sid - the lessee, If he
50 d,,ie,, at their appraised value, paya-
Me cut OF the proceeds of the plantation
in thu fall; the appraisers to be appointed
by the commissioners unless otherwise
designated by the Government.
4. After the lessee shall have taken
possession Of the plantation. as many ne.
groes Of average qualit, as he may desire
shall be turned over to him upon the or
der of the Commissioners, the lessee en-
teriug into bonds to employ them unit
the LIST of July 1854. and to feed, clothe
and treat humanely all negroes thus turn
ed over. tho clothing to be deducted
f;o'n their va rs and to he furni.hei q
Sos.
). Ii it shall be fouut I-r7ftaetlesb!e II
consequence of the lateneae - the seusoi
to find persons of sufficient character ane
responsibility TO give employment to SEE
the negroes coming within the lines, from
the enemy, the commissioners may ap
point superintcndents, under whose su
peryisiou the same may be cultivated TO-
| the exclusive benefit of the Government
or may have the plantations worked upo'
such terms as in their judgment shall h
best adapted to the welfare Of the negroes
taking care that in all plans adopted tn
negroes shsll be self-sustaining, and no
become charge upon tho Government
Is. Ns.,s 10 be paid for labor shall b
az follows For ablebodled men over l.
years Of age, seven dollars per month
for able bodied women over i 5 years 0
age, five dollars per month for children
between the ages of 2 and is, one hal
price. Children under 70 years OF as
shall not lie used as fed ls,d md fam
ilics mu b kept - ia they $
dcsite. The tax 81 the products OF tn
plautalions, in lieu OF rent, shall be q
the rate of two dollars pc bale of 400 lbs
OF cotton and five cents per bushei o
corn and potatoes.
I. Whilst military protection will no
be guaranteed for the safety of person
engaged in cultivating such land, yet a
troops will be required to give protectio
when it can be done without injury
the service. and it is confidently believe
the military organization of the negrot
will sfford all the protection necessary
8. Commanders Of the army will rer
der the Commissioners such military al
sistance as may be necessary without II
jury to the service for the execution I
their duties. The Commissioners will r,
port their proceedings to the Secretary I
4 War every tive weeks
Given under my hand at Milliken
; Bend, La, April 10, 1868. BY autho
: ity Vi instructions from The Secretary {
War.