Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-07-27
RUTLAND HERALD.
TUESDAY,, JULY 25, 1866,
The Freedmen.

and North before the war not because
IL was true, but because IL was n neces-
sary defense of the "divine institution"
Its fallacy is already being demonstrated,
II Is being ascertained that human ma
ture, In this respect, is very much the
same whether done up in black or
white skin. II will work best under
the prospect OF receiving a suitable rec
ompense for its industry. 1t will shirk
labor Just so far as it can, where the
fruits OF that labor are systematically
stolen by others. The Southern chiv-
airy" have lived and luxuriated on this
most villainous kind of robbery and
that they should now be compelled, like
the rest OF mankind, to do their own
labor or pay others reasonably to do 1t
for them, is indeed great change, but
no worse for them than for us all,
Colonel Brown, Assistant Commits
sioner of the Freedmen's Bureau for
Virginia, in recent letter from Rich
mond gives some facts in relation to
the disposition OF the freedmen to sup
port themselves. He says
THE whole number of freedmen re-
ceived at these barracks is twenty five
hundred and seventy-one, and all of
these, except eight hundred and eight
cen, have found work and homes else.
where. All of the eight hundred and
eighteen still left are supporting them
selves. Meanwhile there have been
ninety eight white persons similarly &C
eommodated with quarters in those bar
racks, sisty Of 'ohOm 0ye supported ty the
GOgerHWeHt.
II the above were not enough, the fol-
lowing would be conclusive as to the
relative pauperism Of the whites and
blacks;
From reports made to me to-day,
from the President Of the Relief Com
mission, | find that out Of twenty five
thousand colored persons only nine hun
bred and forty-two received ratiOns for
the week ending July !, while for the
same time eight thousand four hundred
and uinety-four of the white population
were fed by the Government"
Concerning North Carolina we have
the statement of Chaplain James, who
has been stationed in that State. He
says there were in Beaufort about three
thousand blacks and nearly the same
number Of whites. Of the former be-
tween three and four hundred were APP
plicants for government aid Of the lat
ter from tsCelre 10 fourteen hundred. At
Newbern, there was scarcely 4 trade or
profession in which the negroes were
not represented. Three hundred and
five freedmen in Newbern, who were not
in government employ, but pursuing some
business on their own account reported
to Chaplain James an aggregate income
for 1864, of $751; 500, or an average of
about $500 each, The largest incomes
reported were derived from the turpen-
tine business
A CORRESPONDENT of the New York
Herald says
"a special government agent, now trav-
cling through the Southern States,
formerly a member of Congress and
prominent member of the Committee on
the conduct of the War, has just reported
to the Secretary of War from the cities of
Memphis, Vicksburg and New Orleans
upon the condition of freedmen and
government plantations, located m and
about those vicinities. At Memphis a
considerable number of freedmen had
been taken to plantations upon an island
two miles below the city. The infirm
were receiving supplies from govern
ment and the Others were working dill
gently.
In the vicinity Of Nicksburg fifteen
thousand freedmen are reported to have
located themselves as farmers, with
their families. Two thirds of the num-
Der had worked on their own account
last year, and been so successful that at
the commencement Of the present sea-
son it was very difficult to induce them
to hire themselves out. To these the
government had furnished some seed and
articles indispensable to farming, which
were to be hereafter paid for out Of their
crops. The report states that expert
ence proves that the most feasible meth.
cd Of securing a livelihood to the ne
groes is TO allow them small pieces o.
land for farming, thus teaching them q
positive reliance upon themselves. The
writer says wherever the blacks receive
theirpay promptly, or have it in reason
able prospect, for their labor, they are
working as we'll as ever they did. Most
of the freedmen working for hire are
receiving eight dollars per month, OF
tenth and one-sixth of the forthcom-
ing crop.
At New Orleans it was stated there
were fifteen thousand Colored children
between the ages of four and twelve in
the schools of that city, together with
about four thousand adults, who were
attending night and Sunday schools, al
Of whom We're said TO be learning we'll
If not impeded the writer states that
the freedmen will not long remain a
burden to the government.
It is stated that the cotton yield this
year will not be above one-fourth of an
average crop, and of sugar not more than
one-tenth. Corn, however, will be pro-
duced beyond all previous harvests
These yields are based upon the facts, as
observed, that the freedmen work much
more readily upon growing corn thar
upon cotton and sugar, from an 'ppFess'o'