Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-28
Correspondence Of the Prsspsn
Affairs in the South.
THE FREEDMEN, MILITARY OPERATIONS, &C. &c.

THE FREEDMEN, MILITARY OPERATIONS, &c. &c.
New ORLEANS, La, /
March I, 1868.
FRIEND WILLARD Il am sorry to clip the
following paragraph from the FREEMAN
THE FREEDMES's BHI--The Commtte Of
Conference, who have been engaged for some
time in arranging the disagreements between the
two Houses on the Freedmens Bill, have settled
the matter. The bill is to establish depart
nent in the City Of Washington for the care Of
Freedmen and abandoned lands 1t provides for
the appointment of a commissioner, at an annual
salary Of 81 600, who is required to give bonds
in the sun OF 100000 for the faithful perform
ance OF his duty. 1t is to be separate depart
ment, and is destined to be Of the highest i'm
por,anCe. There is SAID 10 be SOME doubt, hoe.
srer, Of the passage Of the bill, as The military and
htr friends are jealous Of any interference vith
their assumed prGogaiive Of dealing irith, and
treating The Freedmen as they see N.
Not that object to the bill referred to, but to
The unkind reference made in the last clause, to
the military meaning evidently, the management
Of the Freedmen in the Department OF the South.
| hsys read the discussions in the FREEMAN
during the last year with something Of regret
especially the reference 80 Gen. Banks, and bis
labor system. With regret because | was not
situated in a manner then to demonstrate the
;nco.rectness fthe FRgEMAN's argument, though
knew them to be wrong, now have the mat
Ter completely under my personal knowledge, aud
wish, not only to correct some ideas existing in
Vermont, but to give your readers some facts as
they exist. Personally Of Gen. Banks, have
only TO say that | admire bis earnest sincerity,
manliness, uprightness and true statesmanliks
qualities Those who abuse Gen. Banks, ignore
the great principles of Democratic enterprise,
and the true spirit of greatness which should be
taught to every young man in this land.
forget now the particular objections made by
the FREEMAS to Gen. Banks and bis system oil
free labor But will give you a sharp compar
sou Of the two systems-that is, ths one be created
and the one since put in force by the Government
and leave you to decide under which system
the Freedman is most likely TO become respon-
sbe citizen, and to get bis rights as freeman
and citizen.
Gen. Banks system provides that every person
laboring on the plantations, should be fed and
clothed, have medical treatment, and the children
should be sent to school. That they should labor
nine hours day 10 winter, and ten in summer
and have the rest OF the day, with Sabbath ant
Saturday afternoon for their own benefit, with The
privilege Of culliyating land for themselves. Ii
addition to this, all hands of every grade haC
some kind Of wages in money. One bali pai'
every month, and one half reserved to the end Q
/ the year. What Was the resultP 1t cost th
planter 10 cash, an average Of slS month 70
D every one OF the G0000 laborers employed 10 th
department, for food, clothes and medical treat
4 mtnt alone. In addition to this the labouT
e received an average Of Sj,ij per month. some
J, them receiving IS per month and some u
Z together with the profit Of whatever they raise
n upon their acre tr half acre Of gro md. Ih
I amounted in some instances, TO as high as $500
!, What does the present system provdsf
z provides regular scale Of wages for Let, %, j
n and ilh, class hands. And the standard Of dr
d class will not find an averegs Of one hand to
y plarta,iou, Of the whole 1900 plantations no
e under care Of the Bureau. Out Of 0O,000 han'