The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-03-02
The Value of Negro Labor.

lowing letter to Congress, in answer to a
resolution of inquiry concerning the
profits accruing to the Government from
the labor of contrabands:
TREASURY DEPT, Feb. Is, 1868.
SIR: | have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of a resolution of the House
of Representatives, dated Jan. u, 1868,
in the following words:
"ReSOtced, That the Secretary of the
Treasury be directed to report to the
House, so far as in his power, the amount
expended since the commencement of
the rebellion in the employment and
sustenance of slaves in the disloval
States; and, also, to what extent will ex-
penses have been compensated Cor by
the services of such slaves"
In response, beg leave to submit the
following statement:
Soon after the taking of Port ROYAL
and the occupation of the adjacent
islands by the United States forces, act
ing under the provisions of the act of
July l3, 1861, authorizing commercial
intercourse with States in insurrection.
and on consultation with the Quarter
master General, l appointed Lieutenant
Colonel William H. Reynolds, of Rhode
Island H9+995SsFfe 5ahd6ed s the te tb@ets,
Rr3R65uutT1 RRrf2hR6uT compensation other than his pay
as Lieutenant Colonel. Under regulaa
tions and instructions issued by me, it
was made his duty to superlntend the
receiving and collecting the products of
the soil and other property, found or
brought within the districts occupied by
our forces. These instructions and regu
lations were framed with a view to the
protection of the rights of loyal citizens,
whose property should fall into the hands
Of the Governments; to insure economy
in gathering, preparing, and transport
ing to market, the cotton and other prop
erty found on the abandoned planta-
tions; and to protect not only the inter-
ests of the United States, but the interest
of all parties concerned, by securing
from sales the largest possible proceeds.
Under these instructions, all the prop
erty was shipped to New York, consign-
ed to Hiram Barney, the Collector of the
port, who was directed to prepare and
sell at public auction, after advertise
ment, 6hatever was consigned to him.
All expenses of collection, transportation
and sale, were to be paid from the pro-
ceeds of sales, aud the balance was to be
held for the benefit of whatever persons
might be found entitled to The same.
The act of July l3, 1861, already re
ferred to, authorized the President to
permit commercial intercourse with any
parts of the insurgent States, under such
regulations as the Secretary of the Treas
ury should adopt Regarding it as il
the highest degree essential to CONNER
cial Intercourse with that portion of The
country that the ,aalR2aP9Aaateaa, aRaAaateaaae1f 1 appoint
ed Edward l.. Pierce, Esq, specia
agent. and made it his duty to superln
tend the culture of the plantations, ant
the employment of the laborers engaged
thereon.
Copies of the regulations made an
instructions issued are herewith trans
nitted Acting under th0na1 tho spoons
AGENTS named performed the duties al
stoned them until the 18th day OF Jun'
1862, when the whole subject OF the Gu
: tivation of the soil and the collection
nropertv was transferred to the contr
of the War Department. !,
In obedience to the direction OF Il
House. transmit statement OF the I
ceipts and expenditures on account
the agencies referred to. by this stat
ment it will be seen there has been pa
For agricultural implements, baggage,