Daily national Republican., 1863-02-24


Banks replied by pointing them to the law Of
Congress prohibiting slave catching by the
army. The result was an agreement that the
planters should pay their laborers, and that the
sCQucstration committee should 'lnduCc" the
negroes to work. The following official docu-
ments explain the arrangement:
HEADQUARTERs
L. S. Sequcstratlon Commission,
New Orleans, Feb. 3, 1868.
The officers of the government will induce
the slaves to return to the plantations where
they belong, with their families, and when re-
turned will require them, and those remaining
upon the plantations, to work diligently and
faithfully on the plantations for one year, to
maintain respectful department to their en-
ployCrs, and perfect subOrdination to their du-
ties, upon condition that the planters or other
employers, will feed, Cothe, and treat them
properly, and give to them at the end of the
year onC-twcntioth Q.2O) part of the years
crop, or a fixed monthly compensation, in cases
wherC 1t may be more convenient rs follows
Mechanics, sugar makers, drivers, DC, SO each;
able bodied field men, 81; able bodied field wO-
men, house servants, nurses, &c, 81.
The proportion reserved for the slaves shall
be divided into shares, and distributed accord
ing to the value of their labor, as follows: me
ChaniCs, sugar-makCrs, drivers, &C., three
shares cach able-bOdiod field men, two shares
each; abe-boded field women, house servants,
All negroes not otherwise employed will be
required 10 labor upon the public works, and
no person capable of labor will be supported at
the public expense in idlcness.
E. G. BECKwITH,
Colonel, Pres't Sequestraton Commission.
This was signed by the planters, and with the
following was sent by Gen. Banks to tho district
provost marshals and judges
HEADQUARTERs DEPT. GULF,
Office Sequcstration Commission,
February 9, 1868.
In accordance with the agreement between
the military authorities and the planters, based
upon general orders No. II, January 20, 1868
you arc authorized to receive the signatures OF
planters to said agreement, Ga printed copy OF
which is herewith inClosed, } and are ordered To
carry out in good faith the provisions Of the
agreement on the part of the authorities.
You will, In good faith, offer all fair and legal
inducements to the negroes within your district,
in whatever condition of service they may be
found, to return to their families and the plan
tations where they belong. When any negro
has acquiesced in the terms proposed, you will
sec that he fulfls his engagement for one year
in good faith.
He shall be required to Gmain upon the plan
tation to which he is bound, to work faithfully
and industrously, and maintain a respectful
and subordinate department toward his EN-.
! plOyer. 1ou are ordered TO prohibit the har'
boring and employment Of negroes laboring
upon plantations under this agreement by otheI
parties, either civil or military.
That all negroes not acquiescing in the pro
posed agreement, not otherwise employed
shall Immediately be put to labor upon The
public works, and that all negroes found in the
country, cities, villages, or about the military
stations, without visible occupation or means
of subsistence, shall be arrested as vagrantl
and put to labor upon the public works or the
quartermaster's plantations.
You will also see that the agreement entered
into by the planters in regard to the negroes Ii
faithfully and fairly carried out.
By order of the L. S. SequeStration Commits
sion.
Approved N. P. BANKS,
Major General Commanding.