The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-09

Il may interest you TO know that up to this time
ration has been drawn from the government in ives
tern Louisiana to support ablebod:ed freedmen, ant
that only the sick and helpless are aided and thes
are few There less than three thousand freedmen
maintained By the government in all this State.
! Respectfully,
Wv. CONWAY.
! FKEEDxExs BUREAU, !
! Shreveport, La, July %, 1865. !
/ Capt. T. W. Conway, Assistant Commissioners Bureau
| Of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands:
SIR have the honor to report, agreeably to in
structions that arrived here upon the 18th ut after
4 trip of eight days from New Orleans, and the nex
day reported Major Gen. F. j. Heron, commanding
northern division of Louisiana. He very kindly ga
me general idea of the situation of the freedmen and
the condition of the planting interests here. Two
general orders had been issued upon the subject;
publishing the information to all that there were no
longer any slaves in the United States the other re-
curing the freedmen to remain for the present with
their former masters, and directing the planters to
make specific contracts with them These were adopt
ed as Of necessity; the FIRST to prevent any
misunderstanding the part of the planter and the
second prohibit the freedmen from congregating
military posts where they could find no employment,
and would be subject to many abuses.
also found that the provost marshal OF the post had
issued an ORDER requiring all persons of color to pro-
vide themselves with certificates, showing by whom
they were employed. Those found idle were placed
at work on the streets, for the public good, under
guard.
Upon opening my Office hundreds thronged it to as
certain the real status of the negro and to learn what
course would be taken ito compel" him to work. The
change in the system of labor incident the occupa
ton Of the country by armies caused consdera-
bic disaffection among the freedmen The absence OF
an armed force in the interior and the want Of civil
law and the proper officers to enforce it, coupled with
disposition, manifested By some cruel and hard
Ia 49,
maltreat the freedmen upon their plantations simply
because they could no longer call them slaves and the
entire want OF confidence in the planter by the freed
men, of the causes which led to this state
Of feeling. The vast area Of the Red River bottom,
and the fields upon the upands, were covered with
uxuriant growth Of corn, and as the principal re-
of the country vested in this crop, there
seemed to be general desire to secure much Of it
as possible.
Major-Gen Heron had ordered that written con
tracts be made and hundreds of planters in with
as many different forms Of agreement At the same
time the freedmen came forward and stated that they
willing to enter into written agreements provided
they could be assured that there was no trap laid to
ensnare them and force them back into slavery The
extent of territory which was expected to ex-
ercsc jurisdiction so vast that it became necessary
to adopt some plan by which every parish could be
reached. q will here state for your information that
most Of the parishes in this section Of the State en-
brace of territory 100 miles in length and
from to 80 in widtb.) To accomplish this purpose
to secure uniformity and to the laborer that the
government would protect and assist him, recon-
mended to the maior-general commanding that pro-
vost marshal of freedmen be appointed for every par
ish, and that blank forms of contract be printed and
the marshals be charged with the duty of carrying in
to effect the labor regulations in their respective par
ishes. This plan being approved, drew up form of
contract put it in the hands of the printer and Gen
Heron appointed the marshals and issued circular
defining their duties
Meanwhile my Office was visited by large numbers
daily The planters to ascertain what was to be
the policy Of the government in regard to the negro
and to acquant me with his ncapacity to take care of
himself OF his Incidence, stupidity his theTish dispo
stion, his utter disregard of all forms of law and
Ter OF the impracticubility well mpossibilty of
the country without of "con-
rolling" the persons of laborers. Hundreds Of ques-
lions were asked, which could all as well have been
answered by the inquirer could he have recognized in
the colored laborer free man. The freedmen came
to me to know whether they were or were not Free
and to obtain advice in regard to what necessary
Tor them to do Many Of them were laboring under
The delusion that the soil had changed proprietors and
hat they were now the of the land Having |
10 confidence in the word Of their former masters I
hey came 80 and even so miles to see the Greed /
mans man" and ''to obtain some obstruction
ion. The majority Of them | advised to go back to /
heir former homes and to work there long their
lights were respected and wages paid them.
With the freedmen there seemed to be two points
# difficulty when the planter presented his written
contract for them to sign
The first, their entire lack of confidence in the
ianter. The second, was the idea that if they re
NAMED upon the old place. their rights would be com
romised and their status unchanged. This seems
ut natural. Said gray-haired old eolored man to
le what shall do? Shall sign dat ar paper when
don't know what it means? l can't read it, and l
m afraid it will bind me to slavery again" The
uestlons here raised certainly exhibit great deal of
God sense aud prove that though poor and ignorant
ne freedman has some native capacity. With the
lanter and the citizens generally, setting aside the
reudce that exists against the negro there seems to
c no definite comprehension of the change produced
y four years war, and they cannot look upon the
oored man as free man, and still contend that the
United States had no power to emancpate the slaves
nd baSing their actions upon these IDEAS they only
esirc to have guard placed upon their plantations
compel the negEo 70 work. but still persist in having
lie right to exercise tie authority the per-
Jns of the freedmen as i'll former times. Could the
reudices of the freedmen be eradcated, and the
lanter recognize in him free man, there would be
ut little difficulty in ustipg all matters relating to
lie new system of labor
Notwithstanding all this the great majority of the
lanters manifest disposition to abide by the new or
er of things while it lasts and desire to be inform
of the nature and extent of their obligations to the
oEernment. Some few, with that keen foresight and
agacty which characterize the successful man of bus
ness, are not only offering liberal compensation for
be services Of those whom they formerly held as
ayes but propose to employ as oyerseers, or bust
ess managers, some of our discharged soldiers who
ave had large experience in farming upon the pfai-
les Of the west and have manifested willingness to
pen schools upon their plantations for the children of
leir employees.
Men with such comprehension and with such liberal
leas cannot fail to succeed, and l only wish that
as able to report that this class was more numerous
mother small class still adherng to the usages of the
asst with the utmost tenacty continue to violate In
led away in my Office the statements of ten freedmen
no complain of having been brutay treated by their
,rmer masters. Some of them came to my office
18th the marks of brutality still plainly visible One
oman had received long cash upon the top Of her
cad and cut under her eye, and her dress was
aimed with che blood from these wounds Two old
zen brought me the hickory sticks with which they