New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-26
The Freedmen Of Natehcz District.

SIR: n0tCe III IHB Tribune OF 'ho ~Int
inst. communication concerning freedmen from MI.
Charles W. Elliott ir which the following passage &C.
ours;
"Mr Menen who controlled thngs IN the Na,eher District
AN told thought the rsto o. wages tfed by Gen Banks quite
too low and raised It. The consequence was that planters e
Obliged to sbanjon the cultivation when was d~Ieus TO
the NJ gro b. well NJ 10 the couL'fy."
"A tie writer has been misinformed, and the state
ment uncorrected may do harm TO the freedmen sub
nit the following stemen; Of facts for sueh use ss yoo
,hink best to make Off
do not know a man who intended 10 plant in ny
agency for leasing abandoned plantations which en-
braces all the territory Of insnrrecionary Saes reooV
cred 10 our possession wet Of the Aleghsnios and
north OF the mouth OF Red River. who abandoned ms
purpose on account Of the high wages to freedmen e.
tabsied by me; nor do / know Of anything "disaf'
trous 10 The negro as well as 20 the country which has
resulted from this cause.
The rate OF wages fixed by me was s25 per month for
first elias. men, ard se for Of same c!ass. and
proporonaey lower for inferior CLASSES beside selar
ate quarters for families and Of ground for gar
den purposes for each family.
In addition 10 THE ech lessee was required by the
terms Of his lease 10 "soAoH ono cent per pound on
all cotton grown by him. and aproportionate sam upon
all other products Of their che freedmen) labor TO the
fund for the support Of helpless ard aged freed people,
for educatonsl and otler Purposes conpected there
with"
And in addition 10 this each lessee was required TO
furnish aud sell to his employees all neodgl supplies
AT 70 per cent adyaroo npon wholesale invoice prices IN
Northern cities which was considerably lees than The
actua cost Il the plantation The rent 20 be PAID TO
the Government was fixed az cent per pound FOR l
cotton raised. and propoTonate upoa al other
products.
IL is ,ruo ,ba. some Of the former lessees Who had
employed freedmen Il much love. rates and come 9th
ers who were expecting 10 plant under the former sys
TEN, wero disappointed, and protested against the
change; but, 50 far as know, none abandoned plant
ing On that account.
| gave notice OF public lo:tne at VictsbrTg Of
abandoned plantations in dat part Of the valley.
large number attended. The above terms were an
nouncea rs the minimum rates determined on. Many
plantations were applied for by two or more persona
These ] decided 20 dispose OF al auction. The bids
were 20 be bonus above the rates stated The compe-
tiion in bidding vas gnch would have satisfied Mr.
Elliott or any other esintesestel that the rate OF
wages fixed by a. 40, deter say man fiom plant
ing ire bonus bid ranged rom Ito OF cent TO Il
cents Ter pound all cotton raised and proportion
ate ,nm on all other crops.
regard this "a conclusive evidence that Tie rate OF
CONDENSATION 10 freedmen established BY ne was not
too high but tha, safety OF location was tie chief con-
sdcra,ion with persons proposing to plant whatever
consequences disastrous to the negro well a. the
country have occurred in my agency have resulted
nom other causes no; necessary to mention now
over a thousand contracts were mrde in my agency
with lcssees and owners to employ all the freedmen
worked by them upon the above terms The demand
for labor at has been ands largely in excess
Of the supply Hundreds Of lcssces have been driven
away by raids and still daily Informed by agents
end planters tha, hands enough cannot 10 obtained to
gather the crops planted.
A frs,.clnss hand can raise ten bales say 1000
pounds ~ cotton which at two thirds the present price
win bring 5000 do no, think the condition offreed
men likely to b improved BY employers unwilling to
give them one tenth OF the products Of their labor
Many owners OF lands have made partnership arrange
mepts with their former slaves. by the terms OF which
they support the hboTers and their families and give
them opetlird Of the net products securing 1t 10
them By arrangement with the agents oil The Govern
ment TAey understand these people and their own in
terosts.
Regulations are now being prepared In the Treasury
nenartment under the late act Of Congress concerning
,b. sub,ect making the system and rates uniform over
tho whole country and think II rates OF wages are
established by the Secretary they will be fully equal to
those fixed by me last Winter
The persistent efforts q Rebels 70 break up this nee
Isr planiing interest and the use OF our military
forces elsewhere 20 that they could not be spared to
pro,ect H. have caused much interruption and loss thus
year b.. still, hope II labor can be obtained to gather
the cotton planted that over 10000 bales VIII be sent
% market from my Agency. the product of this years
r,ntiue in spite OF guerrlas ard oil adverse crcum
s,.uces AN. very respectfully, &c.
WM. L. MRIIhs,
Sup. sp. Agt. Trees. Dept. LIST Agency.
T,,o,s,, Dsrartrers, Wa.hfsSton, July 49, lttA
Colored Troops.