Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-11-11
Miscellaneous.
THE FHEEDNEN OF LoTIsIANA

Much tault was found sometime ago by
many with the administration of Maj. Gen
Banks in Louisiana. 1t was even asserted
shat be had ,1incd himself 30 the -laychold-
ing interest. and that under bis regulations
the freedmen were not . whit better off than
.hev ha5 teen under the Old rule Of the
riaa,crs Later information has showed
,datmuch misunderstanding prevailed as to
he7sal facts Of tic case. The statements
o.. zen. Banks himself, made in one or two
Of his speeches since his return to the east,
throw important light on the subject From
a report IN the Coston Journal of a speech
made by him before the Young Men
Christian Association Of Boston, some days
ago, We take the following
In the state Of Louisiana. On the lst of
January. lsf3, there were perhaps one hum
drcd ami FIFTY Thousand blacks who had been.
lu 10 that time ut least, htl. u slavery.
The slave population IT Louisiana in lsGO
vas 3jO,O00 I doubt very much If. at the
period o. which refer. the number of ne
.r1,s ia that state would be more than l5O.-
OnO or 10000 The proclamation of tie
PRESIDENT declared emancipation from slave
~ m most OF the slave srate-. except the Vl-
ris.es uf Louisiana. in whlch this portion 0i
tac u1palarion. or she greater part of this
population 70 which have referred. existed:
ana 1 left that population. therefore. even
under the proclamation Of tile l-- 0i Janua-
rs, 1868. slaves d, llr,. If not a. icct9. But
5lev were not slaves d, fate. Every man.
hy the very condition of the country nj that
moment. was free from the control of his
master. iaa-mucA as the law forbade the ar
nv Ut thc navy, or any officer ot the army or
navy, to return any man to slavery, which
7ers few were prepared OF desired t. io
even. h Is, therefore, perfectly true that,
whether lr Mt. as the planters claimed the
slaves at that time were slaves dc jlue. the
rerrut, perfectly well understood. and every
person connected with the government per
lya-lv well understood. there was no power
o. reduce tuem - the condition OF scrvitude
Without ou plovment, without clothing
without means OF support Of any character
whatever. concentrating near the garrIsOns
# the army, .nseparabie from this condition.
there came great suffering, constant disease.
decimati0n and death, which, TO an observer
vino boxed upon the state % Things for the
first time. WIS absolutely appalling. The
slaves were 20 be supported bv the govern
meut, they bad no means of support OF
5ie.r OWL and as the first step. both to re-
iicye the government and to protect the ar
nv from communication with such masses of
people, 1t was determined to give them en-
plovment That employment was establish
ed at She outset in the month o. June, upon
the basis Of the absolute and Icrfect freedom
of the negro. Those who were engaged in
the culture Of the plantations, and those
who acc clmT3niei the army were told that
by the payment to the negroe- II due wages,
and providing them with suitable ratiJns,
with clothing. with medical attendance.
taking care of the whole population. and
leaving the laborer under the protection of
the government itself, they might employ
the negro population Of that state. The ne
gro was instructed that he was at liberty 10
select lis employer. but he was expected TO
labor for the support Of himself and of the
sick and infrm Both classes accepted the
condition. The negro saw that he had his
freed IN. the choice Of employers, the choice
Of work. rations for himself and family
clothing. such as the government should
deem suitable for him. education for himself
and waEes that would from time to time be
increased in such a manner that be could
provide for him>elfand family in the future.
The principles upon which this was done
were determined bv the negroes themselves
Fifteen or twenty Of the most Intelligent,
the best educated Young colored men OF
L0ui-isna. who were themselves free, and
knew well the character of the cJlored pop
ulautn, were sent out into different parishes.
They were authorized to 20 where they
pleased. to speak with whom they pleased.
Atu'ir request they were permitted to car
~ s-lns 10 defend themselves and they Wis
ei re negro population in the different par
l-Ac- in the early part Of the year 1868 and
the, brought TO the government the terms ot
labor which the negroes desired They
NeT,. inst, that their families should not be
stIa-at i. second. that they should not bt
fa-g-l third. that their children should be
educated and fourth. that they should not
De compelled 10 labor where they did not like
90. whore they had hitherto been abused. AL
these privileges were granted to them. The
planters, both of the old population and o
the new population. considered the subject
lur --, mscycs. and agreed 10 accept th,
terms.
The result of the system of labor prove
c1nclusiyely In my mind am a. sure of u
a. | am OF any fact within my experience O
ms power OF Inyesugati0u-that the iustltu
tiun ot slavery IN tine southern states l. total
ly unnecessary for the protection of any m
tlIest whatever (appianse) that there j
uo us5 OF slavery OF any color or kind o.
character, and so far as the interest of tb
negro himself Is concerned, or the agricul
turists, OF all the people ot the South, or o
the government itself, the return Of seryi
Iude IS hot only Incompatible with the pub
iic interest, but impossible under any cir
,umstances whatever. 1t Is quite posslhl
that there may have been many incident
and occurrences which were uniustifabe
l. almost impossible to find in a coUntr
ISe ours, where opinion Ii tree, agents {
,lrry out successfully an idea Of the chaI
aCter winch have suggested ; but | believ
jas may be said TO be true, that it has bee
as JUST TO the employed, and as profitable t
the employers, a. any system would hav
heen under similar conditions.
There are some objections which hay
1een urged to this system, among other
that the negro has not been authorized >
the government OF the United States, or II
othcers. to make contract wi(h his emplo,
er and to tx the price Of his iaOOr-a veI
Just objection If it was compatible with th
condition OF things, but It is not. II yu
odcr iaborer stipulated sum per mont
twenty tive, fifty or hundred dollars
You have right To require OF him at leu
an agreement 90 perform work for a siipula
ed ame That D, au npoisIble thing
L'ultlant- In-i- ~ $50 legro 1t other inl
engaged 1t asucul-lrl labor that ctn, ui
Ger any Circumstance whatever, StIpuia'
"ith "iS empioter, i'. any i.iuc waa.e7e
ilat be vi, ieri.rl labor .8r month.
20 IA T.. . ~ ar .,r
The nrst place, i4ai;isl Law l. Tue predomI.
All iaN %. iuc sr.t,- II is subject to inv
sioha oi The enemy; Ii Is subicct to inroa'
OF the waters oyerrunning and washing Il