New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-21

!. the Editor Of The N. Y Tribune.
Sir: viii you allow me q little space TO treat
briefly Of "Gen. Banks and Serflom," both OF which
topics summaIily disposed Of by writer in The
aRIBuSE of iae 10th. He says:
80 much for the character Of the class (he planter
IN whose behalf Gen. Banks devised negro abol sys-
tem."
Amer stay OF some months in Louisiana, part Of
which time was spent in the practical examination Of
Gen. Bankss labor system" ] satisfied that the
writer above quoted has misapprehended that system
aud has Internationally perhaps Done Gen. Banks great
wrong Whether that system OF labor IL wise unwise
II one thing quite sure that not devised by
Zen. Banks in behalf the planters but the contrary.
that his leanngs and have been to favor the freed
men, and desire the emphatically to say this be-
sauso in common with Othors Of Gen. Bsnkss fellow
szens have not been able to approve of many things
he has done fo-borne to do.
IA to his good intentions respecting the negro there
shadow Of doubt in my mind, i'll those con-
suted with. AS to the pisdon OF his "labor system
That Is quite another question, respecting which, how
ever ask your indulgence to say q few words.
Let these facts be borne in mind:
l. That the dislike and disrust between the old plant
Or and his slaves mutual and that the contempt Of
The planter intensified into hatred by the rresist
Die march OF events which freed the slaves The master
coed at the notion Of the negro working for wages
and without the lash; and tho negro was not In any
Ease that could learn Of willing TO work for his old
ncner upon any terms.
The old planters had either abandoned their estates
er If remaining had not tho means TO work them upon
any system and thus very large proportion Of these
magnificent properties rushing TO weeds and 10
ruin. Thor productivencss for the time nearly
destroyed that in tho last year in place of 400 900
hgsheads Of sugar. they did not produce 40 900 hogs
-se,ds.
3 The slaves Suddenly freed from all restraint
ney we're in most ignorant. and had had no ex
oeiente in caring for themselves. Their first impulse
was TO Sc sone~he, and 10 get away from their old
svner. whom they feared would reenslave them Tbs
tendency to wander restrained only by their love
Of home. which can suppose was not very strong in O.
aegro hut The result Of this wretched condition of
Affairs was that the negroes collected in crowds near
the camps or rushed into the csics that they suffered
uom disease ana want and died by thousands There
wss the most imminent danger tina, tho whole negro
population "oud lapse Into vagrancy and barbarism,
not nom any unwnngness to work or Inability 10 take
care OF themselves but because the total absence Of
any sy'e~ by which their Labor could DO made syaila BIZ
to 'hemseisco anybody else Tho old lasor sy,.m
was obiteratcd; what 70 be donef
The result of letting alone would have been Dc.
structive 10 life as well to property II WA CLEARLY
wise In Gen. Banks TO devise labor systsm With
tho least possible delay. which should socompsh two
things.
rirst-Jndace new men With cApitA 10 engage "a III.
euston Of these abandoned States before Il vas too
iate; ana
Seoond-iasure 10 the Freedmen Immediately, Q d.
cant support and far q possible fair treatment
Let u see what was done:
hh quite clear that capital would not engage Ia sol
AAsArdoas business the cultivation Of these estates
s1ospt In the hope ofvey large returns therefore, the
terms mast be made favorable TO capital US possible
Much 0nlt found by your writer because the Freed