The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-03-23
General Orders No. %.
Department of the Gulf.

| Headquarters, Department of the Gulf.
| NEW ORLEANS, February ,, 1864.
The following general regulations are
published for the information and gov
ernment Of all interested in the subject
of compensated plantation labor, public
or private, during the present year, and
in continuation of the system established
January 80, 1868:
| l. The enlistment of soldiers from
plantations under cultivation in this De-
| partment, having been suspended dy or
der Of the Government, will not be re-
sumed except upon direction of the same
high authority.
2 The Provost Marshal General is
instructed to provide for the division of
Parishes into police and school districts,
| and to organize from invalid soldiers, a
competent police for the preservation of
| order
3. Provision will be made for the es-
| tablishment of a sufficient number of
| schools, one at least for each Of the police
and school districts, for the instruction of
colored children under twelve years of
age. which, when established, will be
placed under the direction of the Super
intendent of Public Education.
A. Soldiers will not be allowed to visit
plantations without the written consent
of the Commanding Officer of the Regi-
ment or Post to which they are attached,
and never with arms, except when on
duty, accompanied by an officer.
s. Plantation hands will not be allowed
to pass from one place to another except
under such regulations as may be estab-
lished by the Provost Marshal of the
Parish.
g. Flogging and other cruel or unusual
punishments are interdicted
Z. Planters will be required, as early
as practicable after the publication of
these Regulations, to make Roll of
persons employed upon their estates, and
to transmit the same to the Provost
Marshal of the Parish. In the employ
ment of hands, the unity Of families will
be secured as far as possible.
8. All questions between the employer
and the employed, until other tribunals
are established, will be decided by the
Provost Marshal Of the Parish.
9. Sick and disabled pesrons will be
provided for upon the plantations to whch
they belong, except such as may be
ceived in establishments provided for
them by the Government, of which one
will be established ut Algiers, and one at
Baton Rouge.
10. The unauthorized purchase of cloth
ing, or other property, from laborers, will
be punished by fine and imprisonment.
The sale of whisky, or other Intoxicating
drinks, to them, or to other persons,
except under regulations established by
the Provost Marshal General, will be
followed by the severest punishment.
H. The possession of arms, or con-
cealed or dangerous weapons, without
authority, will be punished by fine and
imprisonment.
IL Laborers shall render to their en-
ployer, between daylight and dark,
ten hours in summer, and nine in winter,
of respectful, honest, faithful labor, and
receive therefor, in addition to just treat
ment, healthy rations, comfortable cloth
ing. quarters, fuel, medical attendance,
and instruction for children, wages per
month as follows, payment Of one half of
which, at least, shall be reserved until
the end of the year:
For first class hands ...--ss 90 per month.
For second class hands .. 90 do.
For third class hands -....-.--5 90 do.
For fourth class hands .--3 90 do.
Engineers and foreman, when faithful in
the discharge of their duties, will be paid
80 per month extra. This schedule of
wages may be committed, by the consent
of both parties, at the rate of one four
teenth part of the net proceeds of the
crop, to be determined and paid at the
end Of the year. Wages will be deduct
ed in case of sickness. and rations, also,
when sickness is feigned. Indolince,
insolence, disobedience of orders, and
crime. will be suppressed by forfeiture of
pay and such punishments as are provided
for similar offences by Army Regulations.
Sunday work will be avoided when prac-
ticable but when necessary, will be con-
sidered as extra labor, and paid for at the
rates specified herein.
13. Laborers will be permitted TO
choose their employers, but when the
agreement is made, they will be held to
their engagement for the year. under the
protection of the Government. In cases
of attempted imposition, by feigning
sickness, or stubborn refusal of duty,
they will be turned over to the Provost
Marshal of the Parish, for labor upon
the public works, without pay.
IA. Laborers will be permitted to culti
vate land on private account, as herein
specified, as follows:
lst and ID class hands with families, each
LIST and 2i class hands. without families half
ID and 81 class hands, with families, hair
ID and Sd class hands, without families, one qr acre
To be increased for good conduct at
the discretion of the employer. The en-
couragement of independent industry will
strengthen all the advantages which CAPT
tai derives from labor,.- and enable the
laborer to take care of himself and pre-
pare for the times when he can render so
much labor for so much money, which is
the great end TO be attained. No eNemp-
ton will be made in this apportionment,
except upon imperative reasons, and it is
desirable that for good conduct the
quantity be increased until faithful hands
can be allowed to cultivate extensive
tracts. returning to the owner an equiva-
lent of product for rent of soil
Is. To protect the laborer from pos
sible imposition. no commutation of his
supplies will be allowed, except in cloth
ing, which may be committed at the rate of
$500 per month for first class hands,
and in similar proportion for other classes.
The crops viii stand pledged, wherever
found. for the wages of labor.
L Ia