The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-04-18
Ger. Thonaass Plaa Of Employing
the NEGROES. &c

| the Negroes. ss-
I CAIRO, April 16.-Below will be found
Gen. Thomas plan for employing negroes
on abandoned plantations. He saws he
wishes it had been done much earlier when
the success would have been complete. but
even yet much may be done.
!. The Government of the United States
IN order to secure the safety of the Missis-
sippi river have determined to locate on
and near its beach loyal population, who
will protect instead of destroying, as is now
done, the freedom of commercial inter-
course on this great inland sea. That this
policy may the more speedily receive its
mutation, Geo. b. Field, Capt. A. T.. Stric-
kle, and Rev. L. 8. Livermore, are hereby
appointed Commissioners, whose duty it
shall be to superintend the letting of plan
tatlOns to persons of proper character and
TO see that the mutual obligations between
the negroes and their employers or super
lntendents shall be faithfully performed,
ana 70 attend in some measure to their
moral and intellectual wants. and gener-
ally to carry out the policy of government
In regard to negroes that are to be put to
agricultural pursuits.
2. 1t being deemed the best policy as far
as possible, to make the employment and
subsistence of negroes q matter of private
enterprise, plantations will be placed in
possession of such persons as the Commits
sioners shall deem of good Character and
pecuniary responsibility, and in lieu of
rent, a tax will be collected upon the pro-
duct of the land, payable to such agents as
the Treasury Department shall designate,
care being taken to secure as far as posi-
BILE the just rights of employees and en-
ployers. In all cases the negroes will be
furnished with enough clothing for comfort
in advance, Of their earnings, in conse-
iquence of their present extreme restitution,
and in no case will negroes be subjected to
corporal punishment by the lash or other
cruel and unusual modes. os ,...s, + -.
3. Upon entering into the occupancy of
plantations, inspectors will visit each
plantation and take an inventory of all
property on the estate. Crops yet ungath-
cred wilkbe turned over to be gathered by
the lessee, upon such terms as shall secure
to the Government its fair share, while all
movable property, stock, grain, &c, will
be taken possession of by the Government
or sold to the lessee, if he SO desires, at
their appraised value, payable out of the
proceeds of the plantation in the fall, the
appraisers to be appointed by the Commits
sioners, unless otherwise designated by the
Government. -,
4. After the lessee shall have taken
possession OF the plantation, as many ne
groes of age and quality as he may desire
shall be turned over to him upon the order
OF the commissioner, the lessee entering
into bonds to employ them until the LIST Of
February, 1864, and to feed, clothe and
treat humanely, all the negroes thus turn
ed over; the clothing to be deducted from
their wages and to be furnished at cost.
5. 1t it shall be found impracticable, in
consequence of the latene OF the season, to
find persons Of sufficient character and re-
sponsibility to give employment to all. the
negroes coming within the lines of the army,
the Commissioners may appoint superin-
tendents, under whose supervision the soil
may be cultivated for the exclusive benefit
ofthe Government; or may have the plan
tatiOns worked upon such terms as, in their
judgment, shall be best adapted to the well
fare OF the negroes, taking care that in all
plans adopted, the negroes shall be self
sustaining, and not become charge up
on the Government.
6. The wages to be paid for labor shall
be as follows: For able bodied men over
Is years of age, seven dollars per month,
for able bodied women over Is years of age
five dollars per month, for children be-
tween the ages Of IL andil5, half price.
Children under IL years Of age shall not be
used as field hands, and the family must
be kept together when they SO desire. The
rent, shall be at the rate of two dollars per
bale of 400 pounds of cotton, and five
cents per bushel on corn and potatoes.
Z. Whilst military protection will not be
guaranteed for the safety of persons engag-
ed in cultivating the soil, yet all troops
will be required to give protection where it
can be done without injury to the service,
and it is confidently believed that the mill
tary organization of the negroes will afford
all the protection necessary.
8. Commanders of the army will render
the Commissioners such military assis-
lance as may be necessary, without injury
to the service, for the execution of their
duties. The Commissioners will report
their proceedings to the Secretary of War
every two weeks. st..
= Given under my hand at Milliken's
Bend, Louisiana, April 18th, 1868, by au-
thority Of instructions from the Secretary
of War, L. THOMAS, Adjt GenI.
513i r. What Jeff. Davis Says. an