Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-03-18

The working Of the free labor system IN
Gen. Banks department has excited a good
deal Of interest and severe fault has been
found bv some with Gcn. Banks on that
account-more We suspect than was lustIfa-
bic. Col George II. Hanks, Superintendent
ofnegro labor IN that department, IN late
report gives an account of the difficulties In
the way Of success and of the degree to
which they had been overcome. The report
Is as follows
OFFICE SurEEIvrExprxr MICRO LABOR
New Orleans. February -, 1851.
"Naior- General " r. BrHks, Commanding
Department y The Gujf -Nsr Orleans, Ia
General have the honor 70 communicate
for your information the following report Of the
past years proceedings in regard 10 the free la
Dor movement
AT the time Of the issuing Of General Order
No. -, current series 1868, there were between
eight and ten thousand negro refugees who
were being cared for atthe public expense sub
.equent conquests have swelled the number 10
over twenty thousand. The execution Of the
order was heset with iuuumerabe dithculties.
''lst. The planters and ex-slaye-holders did
not believe in the theory, and were very slow
and dilatory 10 assist in reducing Il 10 practice.
They we're universally hostile to the movement,
well knowing that if it succeeded their petted
and stupendous fabric Of slavery would be utter
I ly destroyed
I'd The majority Of the officers and men Of
/ our army, either from real or assumed miscon-
structon Of the order, were hostile TO its execu-
ton, and repeatedly, directly or indirectly, op-
posed IT, being goaded on by the northern pres,
: one faction Of which hurled its maledictions at
/ it and its author, the other jeeringly saying :
I 'Ha ha General Banks is returning negroes
4 to slavery In the midst Of all these contendng
/ influences the principle was quietly working
and it soon became evident 10 all who were not
/ predetermined to disbelieve that il was no longer
/ an experiment The negroes uoTked, and that,
too, under the most disparsging and discoura-
/ ging circumstances. In consequence Of the Gu
pidity or ill.will of their employers, they were
often treated in bad faith sometimes swindled
out Of their earnings, or defrauded in the matter
of food and clothing still they persistently
worked on, seeming to comprehend ;he necessity
Of suffering in their transition from slavery 10
freedom When the crops OF last autumn were
ready for harvesting, then came demand for
I labor, and many thousand negroes were en-
ployed at remunerative wages
81 assumed the position Of guardian or pro
/ tector for them, and made written contracts Win
those desiring to employ them, causing the em-
ployer to support the old, intirm and young who
might be attached 10 the family Of the employed,
and in no single instance have | allowed a sep
aration Of families. The result Is that the ne
groes have been re-engaged on these plantations
for the present year. and at this date there Is not
in the department a single able-bodied negro who
is not self-supporting. | have long since re-
fused to receive applications for laborers, being
unable to supply the demand, the number ap-
piled for being between three and five thousand
There are not now more than two hundred souls
including sixty orphan children. supported a
the public expense in this entire department
and these will speedily become self-supporting
The old and decrept have been placed upon al
abandoned plantation, and materials furnlshec
which will soon enable them TO become indepen
dent Of the charities of the government.
Free labor is perfect SUGGEST the negr
comprehends it, and his former owner Is rapid,
awaking from his lethargic slumber. All tha
remains for the officers of the government to &C
complish is TO enforce system Of education
which shall elevate the laborer and qualify hin
for his new position. The vigorous and lmmedi
ate execution of the third paragraph Of Genera
Orders, No. %, current series 1864, Is all that
necessary, to accomplish the desired end.
Desiring to express my gratitude for I'll
many kindnesses, courtesies, and the ever su'
tanning influence of the Commanding General
which has supported me in NY difficulties an
perrlexing official duties.
IL have the honor TO he,
GEORGE II. HASKs,
'.Colonel snd Superintendent of Negro Labor