New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-12
FREEDMEN OF THE AIISSISSIPPl.
THEIR CONDITION AND NECESSITIES
Defects Of the Cotton Plantation Systems.

Commission recently Nhnsh the 'uisohs '"mPS !"
which the Freedmen gathered from Cairo to Vat
chez, along the Mississippi He has collected his op
,eryatons in report 10 the Commission daled Doe
a. 1863 which IL OF great interest and yane containing
as II does much information on The questions "nc"d'
not otherwise accessible From ii We select and ardse
the following staements:i
Mr. Yeatmans object was 80 10 ASCERTAIN az lar Us
possible the number 81 those who are unemployed snd
who are now or rkely to become in intnio charge
upon the Government, or npon private charity 70
ascertain their wants, and how they can BE- reileFed
and 10 make such recommendations ind suggestions for
their management and improvement. Dc VIII bring them
as speedily as possible 10 ths enjoyment o. the blessings
which tie Presidents Proclamation Of Freedom "as
designed TO confer upon them.'
With these views bo visited twenty-one camps plant
atoms. and farms Concerning Affairs ~ Memphis ne
writes a. follows:
within the City Of Memphis. not directly connect
with any u the camps viii The coofcd regiments
there are some three ha0HsaEd freedmen and women
mostly need men. Who are eHpoyed IN FaI.oiS NaJs
and at various rates OF compensation Those employed
By Government receive but slOper month while many
could readily carr from go TO $50 pr month Those
TINS EMPLOYED are OF tside Of the military organization
ITO give an instance: One irartermssier told me
that he had IN his employment harness Maker 10
whom he could only pa. sl0le month, rA''s tag ss's
paying rhis sss Icing te sarse vork si5 PER moHm
and that tho eoloy a could readily procure the same
wages were he dioefi 70 sors ior NJ labor in
the sane town / saw q number Of coored men pressed
into service Quot MILITARY labor ri The rate OF so
per month one OF whom pefioned be released as he
had good situation $50 per month. The fremen on
the s;eanbo o. which l was posser ser from St
al aud efuip
a. per month Tasv nen t,-s afraid 70 60 Gssors at
Amyhis jorsar d beng Pisd - Gad oTesf into Cor
ernm.at eEpIoyIaeai iess tan oasi1h her sris'in2
xa1,. Besde the act that are thus pressed into
service thousands have been employ 81 for weeks and
months who have never received anything but promises
to pay.
"This negigcu., aud failure TO comply with cblga.
tlons have greatly ,sheariened the poor slave. VINO
comes forth s the cal Of the President. and supposes
himself Tree nan sad that by leaving his Rebel mas
ter he Is INJECTING low the enemy, ngio labor
and Ia prylde food for him and Tor the armies OF
the Rebellion T- 40 xas promised freedom. but hoH
~ win niuf n 3. seized IN the street. and ordered
to 20 and help unload steaH5oat FOR which he viii be
paid or sent 20 work IN the trenches. 10 labor ol
some QaArfsrIrn.ter 10 chop wood for the Govern
mont. He lsbors FOR months and d. LAT is only
paid with PROMISES unless prrchsnoe II nay DO viii
kick. cuf- and cse- Under ssch treatmel. be feeis
that he has exchanged OLE master for many masters
these continued abuses saddsn and deprsss lin. and he
sshs to return 70 b.. former home and master He at
least. fed clothed and sheltered h'1 Something shoad
be DONE sud doubt not vii - done. 10 correct t.se
terrible abuses when the proper Authorities made 10
comprshentiA Them
Goodrchs Landing presenis another and more favor
abb picture II r. the Headquarters II the NorihEast
Department Of Louisiana. under command Of Brig Gen.
Hawkins who has In command SIX regiments of eoored
troop oil well olcsred and thoroughy drilled. Ono OF
these regiments n A. nliken's Bend and two a;
vicssbnrg ensasa "a working "a the io-tiheaiions
He IS Justly proud OF his troop. eDd has every conf
doDce In them az soldiers.
The Inhmory Farms s-e intended FOR women and
children AID TO- men unable 10 do Ordinary work Dr..
Litcded who is tho phy soisn " the Iu6rmary Farms
l. located az the Savage Plice whore be has established
FreedaeRs Hospital. lie appears 70 take avery deep
interest In this people and Is DESTROYS to sid in improv-
ns their condition He reports be has 10 furnish medi'
cine. and attendance 20 many Of those leased paDia
tons especially ~ thoss on tire places leiscd by
one man Who had leased i've plantations, whose
negroes are greatly neglected AID poorly pro
yided FOR. Tho testimony oi quite lumber o. per
sons fully corrobors;ed this statement. one % Ge
freedmen Henson Jackson. wof.ilg at .ltoo, Plan
taton sad that obey get wherever they lind Il
ON abandoned plantations thai hey frequently haze 20
" ss far a. 1ensss Bayou, 1o. Re ias 5,sa ri'en'
brad for dags that oIr potads o eai Pr Tess j. o. aa
IL soscd him. thar he pays fer hs four szd has ''rkff
zinc. april riIow rssrirg ary pay cieHHe rsair'
nai Ne oEiy rscres nss Jo psi Sats ror 70 b. pJid
rhe nc crop ia sold Others rom the farm test
ga ia the Same thing aud lai-ers from other p'an-
lions euye similar tettmOay None received moll.eS.
rice. or beans. ana hnnny onh when they oaooss to
make II themselves.
The poor negroes everywhere greatly depressed
at their condition They al testify that Il they We
oaly paid their li'e wages they crn taem 20 that
they could purohasec'ohing aud we're furnished Wit
the provisions promfed they could ssad ~ hgt 30 wors
and set poorly paid poorly FED aad Not doetofod When
sick 1. moro than they endure Among tie
thous ands whom Questioned none showed the least III
Willingness to work. Il they could only BE- paid fair
wages they would be- oontcuted aid happy They 90
not realize tina, they free They gay that they
are told they are but hen thcy taken aud hired out
10 men who treat then FAR prOe!dinc for them is
concerned IA. wo.,e than lheig "lcces masters aid
Beside this they feel mat their pay hire Is lower now
than Il was Whom tie secesh" used 10 hire tlcm This
is true A good negro would hire Tor nom goo 10
500 per anuu'n, snd woman for from $3.50 20 else
Der annum and be led and clothed beside and tia 800
when cotton was only worth 10 cents pound. Nov y
Is worth ~ cents Why should not tho freed man ROW
get at least ss m for his labor the slave owner ia
FOR II when lie Va, slave. The planter WAC formerly
hired negro slare obtained from $3.50 70 s5v as the
result of his labef; nov he will obtain al ess. - tV
while tho labor.r, Il no should obtain Lis entire