The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-02-17


WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1864.
TO the Editor Of the Press:
In recent letter explained briefly what
has been done during the past summer and
fall for the freedmen of this military depart
ment. The system inaugurated at Arlington,
by Lieut.. Col. Greene has proved success.
Under the direction of the War Office, the
black laborers left by the rebellion without
employment or supervision, without food or
clothing, have been there gathered into
community, have been furnished work for
wages, have been educated to selfsustaining
paid labor, fitted for and brought into the la
Dor market, and taxed to support their own
paupers. All this has been done without ex-
pense to the Government. Since the founda-
tlon of the world, no Government ever had
such task imposed upon it. The whole So
cial system of region large enough to con-
sttute an empire by ITSELF was to be rcmod-
eled not gradually, but at once; not peace
fully and with harmonious consent, but in the
face OF actual war; net with liberal expendi-
ture, but absolutely and necessarily without
cost. 1t will be hereafter the crowning glo-
ry OF this administration, that it had courage
to study this disheartening problem and wis
dom TO adopt the only solution which fully
embraced all the perplexing conditions
The report called for by Senator Summers
resolutions OF enquiry, is still in the hands of
the Committee on Emancipation, 1t will fur
nish matter in due time for as weghty dis
cussion as has occupied the press and the plat
orm of America since the adoption of the
Tonstitution. Meanwhile some account Of
the policy adopted by Adjutant General
Thomas in dealing with this same question in
the West, will be fit sequel to my former
letter.
When General Thomas went West last sum-
mer, all matters pertaining TO the disposition
OF the freedmen OF the Mississippi Valley were
entrusted to his discretion. He went as
military officer, clothed with full powers by
the War Department To him this mark of
the confidence of his Chief must have been
peculiarly gratifying; for it will be remem-
bered that at the beginning of the war, Gen.
Thomas was exposed to most injurious sus-
picons and was actually denounced as trail
tor, on account of alleged disloyal expressions
by certain members of his family His first
care was the organization of the corps
dAfrique. For this purpose the whole body
OF freedmen was twice called. The most val
able slaves had been taken Off to Georgia and
Texas before the arrival of our troops. An
astonishing number, of both sexes was subsc-
quently absorbed by the army, for servants,
cooks and laundresses. After all these drafts,
multitude OF laborers remained, aud there
was district OF about seventy-iiye miles along
the Mississippi, from Lake Providence TO Mil
llken's Bend, in which to employ them.
The plan which was adopted by Genera
Thomas, was TO lease the abandoned planta-
tions In this fertile region under certain i'm
perative conditions. Three districts were es-
tablshed, with offices at Goodrich, Vicksburg
aud Natchez, and three commissioners. Judge
q. B. Field of Wisconsin, Lewis Dent and
Col. f. Montague OF Louisiana, were appoint
ed. The tenants were required first of all 10
take the oath of allegiance provided for en-
ployes and officers of the Government by act
OF Congress in 1861, and any bad faith, wheth-
er dsloyalty or neglect to cultivate the land
entrusted to them, was constituted a sufficient
cause TO determine the lease. They agreed to
receive such stock and agricultural imple-
ments rs should be furnished by the commits
soners, at an appraised value, and TO pay this
value out OF the crops, II any should be found,
and turn over TO the Government one-half de-
livered at the river in readiness for shipment.
For rent, they were required to pay an agent
to be appointed by the Treasury Department,
a tax for cent for each pound of cotton and
five cents for each bushel OF corn and potatoes,
raised upon their several plantations.
These regulations not only secured the Gov
ernment against loss, they made the deserted
lands OF the enemy an actual source of reve-
nue.. The lessees further agreed to employ at
least one able-bodied hand TO eight cultivated
acres. Under the old system, one hand to
Twelve or fifteen acres was the rule. The
families of the laborers were to be allowed TO
live with them, and the children to go to
school. Clothing was to be advanced to the
needy, and its cost without profit deducted
from their wages. A sufficient and specified
amount of food was TO be furnished each per-
son upon the plantation. No person under
twelve could be required TO do field labor
The wages of able-bodied men above fil
teen years of age were fixed at 81 a month.
OF women above fifteen, at So; and of chill
rem from twelve to fifteen, at hali-price, Pun
ishment with the lash or paddle was strictly
prohiblted lazy or ill-tempered laborers were
simply to be discharged on the commissioners
order, but with payment of wages to date.
Under these conditions forty plantations
were leased last summer, sixteen of them by
freedmen. Notwithstanding the lateness OF
the season for beginning agricultural opera
tons. the Inconvenience occasioned by the
presence of Grants army, and the serious
drawback OF rebel raid, each of the essees
has applied for arenewal of his permit There
were hundred and sixty applications on file
at the beginning OF the present year.
The regulations adopted by the War and
Treasury Departments for the current wear
are somewhat modified. A preference is Civ
en- 10 lessees desiring small tracts, and no one
Will be allowed to take more than one aband-
oned plantation. All freedmen over twelve
years Of age and capable of labor are required
to work. Children from six TO twelve are re-
qured TO attend school, Persons living to-
gether as man and wife must be legally mar
ried and assume a family name. The Airing.
ton experiment has proved successful, and ac-
eordngIy Freedmen's Home farms are to be
established at convenient points, to each of
which superintendent shall be appointed
Laborers upon these farms will receive no
wages, but it shall be the duty Of the supern-
tendant to classify them and hold them in
readiness to supply the demands for labor on
the plantations, and the lessees must apply
for and take al! least one No. hand for
twelve cultivated acres. The wages of No.
iaborers are TO be s25 a month; No. 2, $50;
No. =, sl5. For women, the wages are to be
SIS Sl4 and 10 q month. Instead of wages,
the eemployer with the consent of the superln-