, 1864-03-09
ABANDONED PLANTATIONS.
STEAMER SCLrAyA, 1ELow HRLESA,
Ark, March I'd, 1874.

EDITOH5 tribune:
few words, I think need be said concern
on leased plantstions along the Mississippi.
VIII yon give them room? We're such
plan Of dispensing the people from the camps
In which they arc now gathered 1t wop1d be
most desirable one. But is 1t sagcs Remem-
ber last year's experience. During the
plantations from Helena to Aillikcn's Bend
were broken up. Labor after time was re-
sumed, indeed, and the lessees made money
but what Of the laborers! They were, By
thousande, driven back into Texas and bonds
again, The crops were gathered by a new
peared. Have you not heard of the intcrrup-
tion of navigation on the Migsfssippi9 Or
boats riddled or sunk? # these things have
partly ceased for two or three weeks do not
therefore consider the banks Of the river
what must be expected If this plantation
scheme is carried out, Some three weeks
since Island 70, near the mouth Of the White
river, was surprised by gucril1as and large
number of wood cutters taken off with the
land GO, off Helena, waa attacked by party
crossing on RATS from Mississippi and some
fifty 1aborcrs taken from it. But few 1ays
since leased plantation 1ear Helena was
attacked and several Of the blacks killed, and
@ the white man man, in charged Of them hanged:
hundred miles north Of Vicksburg,
has been Just now broken up, her
buildings destroyed and herself driven
away BY guerillas, because she did business
with Union men In Vicksburg. A week ago
this day rebels came in ut Goodtich's Landing
and took off q considerable number Of bl ,cks
and three whites, one Of whom they hung
on the prete1t that he YVES rebel desertef.
Five men were recently shot dead upon
Adams plantation, Miliken's Bend, by
guerilla party.
Such is the safety these people will find on
Isolated and defenseless plantations. Fifteen
thousand troops would not suffice to make
safc the same line Of farms which was leased
last summer. Have we any right to throw
these people ont thus to tho mercy of the
rebe1ss Yet we have begun to do italready,
Two boat loads have been distributed within
few weeks, In squads or gangs, at various
plantations for q hundred and fifty miles
above Vicksbnrg, and, I suppose, plans arc
being now matured for the far more extern
eivc prosecution Of the same work.
There are some points where large tracts
Of land arc easily defcnsible, rs At Davis'
camps will be formed for laborcrs, which
will be safe. In the vicinity Of each camp,
as al present located, are large tracts also,
which are either abandoned or untitled by
their owners, which can ut least be made safe
for day labor, and cultivated from the camps,
the Lands returning to quarters nightly.
There are opportunities for wood cutting u
60, under like circumstances, to large ex-
tent. Probably all the labor now ii the
hands Of the Contraband Department can be
profitably employed without resorting to To-
calities In which every interest of the freed
man is imperiI1ed+
viii not the press aid the people to consid-
er these matters? No man doubts the pro-
priety Of putting the blacks to till for wages
the abandoned lands Of this region as soon as
such lands are safe for their labor. No hu-
name person desires to throw them fairly into
tie hands Of any party Of rebel marauders,
who choose either to take their lives or con-
vey their persons to the interior to be thrust
again into bondage. That scheme Of work.
ing abandoned lands ought to be postponed
tn The military arm Of TIE service Gun assure
the workers full protection. Our command
ers have now too much on hand to undertake
this SO General Sherman was doubtless
right in refusing to detach large force from
his present important expedition to guard
the leased plantations on the west bank Of
the river. Yours truly, 49, F. s.