New-York daily tribune., 1865-09-26
Of TIE MISSISSIPPI FREEDMEN.
Report Of an Assistant Commissioner
How the Plantations are Worked.
peeial Dispatch TO The N. Y. Tribune.
WASHINGTON Monday, Sept. 25. le65.

WASHINGTON. Monday, Sept. 25. ls65
Under date of the 14th inst, Col. Thomas,
Assistant Commissioner Of the Freedmens Bureau for
tn Estate Of Mississippi reports that 81 plantations.
embracing 3 500 acres are leased by freedmen in the
States of Louisiana and Mississippi while 100 planta
tions consisting of g. 500 acres, leased by loyal
whites About one.half the lands leased TO white les
sees have been abandoned owing to the overflow Of the
Mississippi.
In his report Col Thomas says "A tremendous
pressure is being brought to bear by returning citizens
OF all classes to get possession Of their property They
constantly writing letters to the President anc the
heads of the different bureaus at Washington hled
with all kinds of Misrepresentation in order TO erect
their purpose" As al illustration OF the opposition OF
the planters 70 the distribution OF abandoned lands
among freedmen, Col Thomas says:
" nave made no attempt TO distribute lends in smau
lots to the negroes as know it will meet with strong
opposition from all parties. 1t will require hero to
execute it, and military force to protect the freedmen
believes he will yet find it necessary to withdraw many
ot his officers for want OF military protection, so ayerse
the planters to conforming to the feelabor system
The total number Of freedmen in the State Of Louisiana
receiving ratons from the Government Is az present
1000"
In reference to the organization Of the militia of
Mississippi Col I. remarks: The organization OF the
militia in this State has created greater panic among
the freedmen than any action OF the Federal or late
Confederate authorities. 1t will do to disturb the
relation Of the freedmen to the whites Of the State
than anything which has yet been DONE II the militia
is organized, as foreshadowed by the Governors
proclamation and indorsed by the President of the
United States in bis dispatch to the Governor. have
no dee that the freedmen will remain quiet laborers in
the cotton fields.
"They are excited and partially armed. They have
some idea Of what war is. They certainly know oil
about Slavery and have no idea Of returning any
such condition That collisions will occur that dis
turbed state Of society will be the result there Is no
question The hope Of organizing labor OF the State In
such way that the freedmen will return to the fields
and assist In recruiting the agricultural wealth Of the
State free aborers seems TO vanish with the prou
CATION OF his militia order.
The members Of the late State Convention have visit.
ed me- and anxious to have me prepare for them
some suggestion for adoption at the meeting " the Leg
aturc by which they can take complete charge OF tue
freedmen's affairs, and do away with the necessity for
United States officers. hear of but little trouble be-
tween freedmen and their employers. Nearly all the
colored people OF the State working plantations have
been contracted with. ald employers anxious to
contract for the year ls65 for fear labor will be hard to
get at the beginning OF the season"
Col. Thomas was originally the commanding officer
Of tho sth Vermont Regt. and Breckenridge Demo
crat Of the most radical stripe. Three months resi-
dence among the people Of New Orleans convinced him
Of the Of his ways. and ma lin al earness
champion " the freedmen Of the South.