Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-26

General Banks and the PIanters---The
Slaves HInst be Freed this Year.
As the season comes rapidly forward
for the putting in of the crops in Louisi-
ana, it is becoming question of interest
and great Importance to the planters to
know what their relations will be to the
colored laborers. These men are free-they
are not under the word or lash of their
former masters, and hence some special a.
rangement must be made with them for the
coming year. A meeting of planters was
held few days ago to ascertain what Gen
eral Banks could do for both parties in ef-
fecting system of labor. The negroes
have got to be hired if they do the work
at all. Several plans were submitted, one
of which we give below as the one which
win probably be adopted, or something
very similar. One of the best overseers
in the South, says, that under these rules
he can work any gang Of negroes success
fully, and that they could be adopted with
safety to the negro, the master, and the
crop throughout the South. The rules al
luded to are as follows;
1. We agree to remain on this plantation
for one year and work faithfully the usual
number of hours, and will obey and assist
the managert to enforce the following rules:
"2. We will get to work at Daylight and
work till dark; taking the usual number
Of hours for meals.
"3. The rations are to be 8 lbs of meat,
one peck Of meal and one quart of molasses
per week.
"A. The wages sreto be S3 to SIS per
month for boys aud girls, and S. to SO
for full hands; one-half Of the wages viii
be paid monthly in cash or clothing, the
balance at the end Of the year.
rs. The proprietor will also divide
among the hands, according to their merit,
ten dollars per hogshead for every one
that is made over and above the FIVE hogs
heads to each hand; no one will be enti-
tied to any share of the general fund who
has not done two hundred days work dur
ing the year.
''6. The punishments on the place will
be: First, fines; second, the stocks; and
lastly, expulsion from the place.
z. The penalty for the Grst offence will
be fine of one dollar; second, three dol
lars; third, five dollars; and fourth, ex-
pulsion. s
'S. Each family will be allowed half an
acre, and Saturday afternoon to work it.
'9. During grinding, the hands will
make their watch and work Saturday af-
ternoOns, but will be paid fifty cents for
their Sundays work
"10. No hand will leave the place with
out written license.
al. A barrel Of liquor will be kept on
the place, and a dram given each day to
those who wish, and are willing to pay for
it, but no one viii be allowed to purchase
it from another.
"12 If hand leaves the place, or is
expelled, his back wages will be forfeited
TO the hospital funds, out (which the ply
sician and medicine must be paid.
"l3- Each hand viii be responsible for
the loss or careless damage Of tools, stock,
or any other property.
4" IA. Stealing viii be punished by fine
Of twice the value of the property stolen,
one half to 60 TO the hospital fund.
"l5. Rsl0Grds.-Each good days work,
without fault, will secure a mark OF ap-
probation, and three hundred such marks
entities the party to a chance for the high
est prize Of twenty-five dollars. Five
hundred dollars, taken from the general
funds will be divided into various prizes
from 81 to SIS each-one mark Of disap-
probation will counterbalance a good mark.
Marks of appreciation may be given for
other meritorious conduct. /
Every Sunday morning the hands
l., 4 ~ 4
read to them.
The construction of these rules indi-
Gates that practical men are struggling |
with the difficulties, which beset the labor
question in this country. The freed ne
gro must live and the great question, after |
all, is how can you harmonic his new pO-
sition of independence with the necessi-
ties Of practical industry"