Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-24
THURSDAY. DECEMBER "a, 1868.


trusted the letting and charge Of the plantations
In thu valley d the Mississippi, north Of the De
psrtment u the Gulf One Of these gentlemen,
Mr.. Field. who IL President Of the Commission,
lives a. Matches, Mississippi; another, Col. Mon
tsgue, lives NJ yieksburg and the other, Mr.. Dent
ID Al Goodrich's Landing. They meet at vicksbure
every iLrse or four weeks to decide upon applica-
lions Of persons DESTROYS 10 lease plantations under
their control These consist Of places owned by
disloysi persons, o. which have been abandoned
by their owners. They are eos leasing these plan.
tatons for INC year from the ist Of January next
upon the following conditions, as We find them re.
cspitulated by tho new York Evening Post, after
particular inquiry made In the premises:
Tho ssse- must agree 10 employ QUO abisbod-d hand
10 every eight Of cultivated land be must admit the
chidrva and nhrm 81 The employed 10 accompany and live
With bef pssrnts er nearest u AIM must iced and treat
oil The people hamsnely aud must pay the following
wages a. these who labor ~ Ablssodi~d fifteen
years of age, seven dollar. per month 10 sble-bcdied
women over b~en years u eve dollars per month,
ard ~ children twelve at hall of the above
Children under twelve pears o. ses not TO be-
pat 10 labor In the field Tie iessee further agree
10 furnish the people rsoos which consist chiefly Of bs
con- corn meal rice, beAns. and wolassessuch food.
usually they have been accustomed to- The negroes
expected 81 clohe themselves, they wages
but any ~ isem are 10 need ~ clothing when they are
received plantation, the csscc ssrees % advance
what required. aud permitted tn deduct the value OF
what he hss advanced frem the II the recipients
Finally the sssee 10 psy 10 the United States
des pounds 81 cotton and ave cents per bsshe Cor
and potsoes raised.
Appicaiioas Gar The lease cf pisntssion must be
made 10 the commissioners in writing aud should be-
ccmpani-d by proof Of the loyalty good character and
pecuaisy and business cspscy ability Of the applicant
b. carry plantation Thes@ proofs, informed.
'usnsy eonsst Of the oath o s~g and ettsrs Of
Recommendation from wsl known and trustworthy men
Such pssses may be required be- obtained ut any
military pcst the Mississippi river, without trouble.
the presentation o the recommendations which person
gong there such business should have No transpo
tstan supplies tesns ts.s other ad furnished by
the Government s.1anboat. runliag private account
are Do~ navigating The Missspp and permits are sven
by the Treasury and military authorities NJ Ary pss
b. essees ~ enable them b. carry necessary supplies to
their plantations They sso 10 purchase 81
qusrierms-ters AT military posts within the cotton region
condemned captured mul-s harness. farming utensils,
&c at appraised value and they permitted 10
porcbae 81 the subsistence department supplies Of the
Kind required, at fair rate.
mo secarty " required ~ the lessee by the Govern
ment But II IL appears 20 the commissioners that he 10
not cuvang his plantation with sufficient yigar 10 pro-
duce isr CROP they have the right 10 take out 81 his
hands /"
BY a general order Of the War Department (No.
33lD the control Of these plantations Is presently
to be assigned TO agents Of the Treasury Depart
ment. This, il hiss been suggested, may bring
about change Of commissioners, but our New
York contemporary is led to understand that the
system devised by Adjutant General Thomas will
not be changed 20 that al interested In the matter
or DESTROYS Of leasing plantations, may confidently
trust 10 the information given above. This infor.
nation is given by the Post with the added ssu-
rance that there il not at this time any business
so profitable, or which will yield 10 certain and
large return to an energetic and humane man,
with moderate capital at command, as this Of
raising cotton by free lab Z, during the next year
or two y,ars, on the banks Of the Mississippi"
We have slso seen iu the public prints, and par
ticulsrly in one Of the issues Of "the New Eng.
land Loyal Publication Society,"" a letter addressed
by some anonymous correspondent to Hon HrsRY
T. Blow, member Of the present House Of Repre-
sentatives from Missouri from which We take the
following extract
81 write to you my friend and .. public man tsk-
ina interest in whatever the public COED There
10 immsns geia field down here and nabody appears
TO know H. want u thrown open b. the people 90 the
people can work IN IL refer % the many abandoned
plantations from Helena, Arkansas 10 kstches Louisiana
The owners, 81 them, have I'D with their nesrce.
TO Texas ADD elsewhere leaving land that should be
cupied."
And this appeal 10 the enterprise, not 10 say
the cupidity, Of agricultural sdventurer In this
direction is reiterated in the socslled religious
journals" For instance, the New York Examiner
says under this head:
such chsnee does not occur once q century. Only
by the concurrence ~ circumstances the most eEtraor
binary be brought about Thcse great free.
years ago, and they scfasliy the footns u
Government lands IL the above statement 10 prcr
maely true, the fear 81 getting title after occupancy
should deter no one, for the profits Of lesse viii nov
pay msgn6cently"
Mr.. Blows correspondent desires 10 see thi'
new lei Dorado occupied BY men Of small means
and all will agree that the old plantation system
with its wasteful farming, peculiar 30 all iati.
fandio, may BIO preftsbly superseded by sub
division Of estates among the men Who will worl
them in person. And We are indebted 10 shi.
same correspondent for the useful piece Of In
formation that the commissioners before. men.
toned are Opposed TO the plan, as they a,s 10.
terested an plantations themselves, and vert yea,
,cih 10 make leases Of large tracts 20 one per.
son persons 81 large capital who may hir'
others to To- k after their business" That IL, Tho
commissioners wish to make the old iatifaasiia 81
the South nm der the plantation system still broader
and thus increase and intensity all the evils si