Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-25
Negro Policy or the AdministratIo
Plan for Occupying the PIansa.
tiOns ON she MIssIssippi.

ti0ns ON she Mississippi.
!. The Governments of the United States, iu
order to secure the ssfety of commerce and nav
igation on the Mississippi river, have determin.
ed to locate on and near Its bank q loyal popu-
lation, who will protect, instead of DESTROYING
ss 10 now done, the freedom of commercial in
teicourse, on this great Finland sea- That
this policy may the more speedily receive its
initiation, Geo B. Field, Capt. A. E. Strickle
and Rev l.. 8. Livermore, are hereby appoint
ed Commissioners, whose duty 1t shall be to
superintend the letting of plantations to persons
OF proper character and qualifications, and TO
see that the mutual obligations between the ne.
groes and their employers or superintendents
shall be faithfully performed; to attend in s,me
measure TO their moral and intellectual wants:
and generally to carry out the policy OF the
Government regarding the negroes that are to
be put to agricultural pursuits.
2, It being deemed the best policy, as far az
possible to make the employment and subsist-
ence Of negroes matter to be left to private
enterprise, plantations will be placed in possee.
sion Of such persons % the Commissioners shall
deem Of good character and pecuniary respon-
sibility; and In lieu of rent, tax will be COL
lscted on the product OF the land, payable to
such agents 90 the Treasury Department. shall
designate, care being taken to secure, as far as
possible, the just rights Of employers and en-
ployed. In oil cases the negroes will be fur
nished with enough clothing for comfort in ad-
vance Of their earnings, In consequence Of their
present extreme deatitution; and in no case viii
negroes be subjected to corporeal punishment
BY the lash, or other cruel and usual mode.
3. Upon entering into the occupancy Of plan.
tations, Inspectors will visit each plantation.
and take an inventory Of all property upon tbe
estate, Crops yet ungathersd will be- turned
over to be gathered By the lessee, upon such
terms 40 shall secure TO the Government its full
share, while all moveable property, stock,
grain, ETC., will be taken possession Of By the
Government, or sold to the lessee, II he 40 de-
sires, at their appraised value, payable out of
the proceeds OF the plantation 10 the fall--the
appraisers TO be appointed BY the Commission
ers, unless otherwise designated BY the Govern
ment,
4. After the lessee ahsll have taken posses-
zion Of the plantation, az many negroes, OF ay-
erage quality, as he may desire, shall be turned
over to him, upon the orderof the Commissions
ers, the lessees entering into bonds to emp.oy
them until the first Of February, 1864, and 70
feed, clothe and treat humanely all the negroes
thus turned over, (the clothing to be deducted
from their wages, and TO be furnished ct cost.
| B. If IL shall be iound impTacticable Tin CON.
sequence Of the lateness of the st ason) to fnd
persons Of sufficient character and responsible.
" 70 give employment 70 all the negroes COM
Ing within the lines Of the army, the Commis-
sioners may appoint supefsntendents, under