Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-03
EXPERIENCE OF THE REBEL GEN. PILLOW
CHARLESTON. S. c., Dec. %, 1865


THE CONTRACTS WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREED
MEN FOR THE NEW YEAR.
General Saxton's interview with the planters and
freedmen of Sumptsr district ct the town of Stump
ter took place according to appointment on the 2ls
The result the adoption by both sides of salts
factory form Of contract which is as follows:
FORM OF CONTRACT,
STATE or SOUTH CAROLINA, DARLINGTON DISTRICT
Articles of agreement between - and -
freedmen and women. whose names are hereunto
FirstThe said servants agree to hire their time as
laborers on the plantation Of - -- from January
!, 1855, to January J. 1867; to conduct themselves
faithfully honestly civilly and diligently to perform
all labor on said plantation. such as may be con-
nected herewith, that may be required by the said
- or his agent; and to keep no poultry dogs or
stock of any kind, except hereinafter specified: and
without the written of the proprietor or his
agent to keep no firearms OF deadly weapon. no ar
dent splIits, nor introduce or invite Visitors nor
lesvc the premises:
second-The said servants agree to perform the
daily tasks hitherto usually allotted said plauta-
tlon, to wit One hundred and twenty-five TO one
hundred and fifty rails; cutting grain three to six
acres; ditching and banking. three hundred to six
hundred feet hoeipS cotton, seventy to three hun
dTed rows. long; corn, four thousand seven
thousand hills. In all cases where tasks cannot be
assigned they agree to labor diligently ten hours
day.
Third-For every days labor lost by absence, rcf1-
sal neglect to perform the daily tas said servants
shall forfeit fifty cents If absent voluntarily or with
out e we two dollars day; if absent more than one
day, without leave, to be subject to dismissal from the
plantation and forfeiture of share in the crop All
such fines and forieituIes shall inure to the benefit of
the employer and employees in proportion to their
Fourth-Said servants agree to take good care of
all utensils, tools and implements committed to their
charge and to pay for the injured destroy
ed also, to be kind and gentle to all work animals
under their charge and to pay for any injury which
they may sustain while in their hands
Fitth-They stipulatc 10 keep their houses lots
and persons IN neat condition, and subject to the in
spection Of the employer or his agent at any time.
Sixth-lhey agree to furnish from their humber a
nurse for the sick; Also stock minder and foreman to
be selected by the employer. They agree to be di-
ders and that he shall report all absences neglects
refusal to work, or disoEderly conduct, to the en-
| piOyer.
Seventh.-The said employer agrees to treat his
hirengs with business and kindness; to furnish each
family with quarters on his plantation, with one
fourth of an of land for garden, and the privi
lege OF getting hreWo"d from some portion Of the pre-
mSeS to be indicated by the employer and to divide
the crop with them IN the following proportions. viz
to the hirelings onethrd of the corn. potatoes and
peas gathered and prepared for market and one
third net proceeds of the ginned cotton or its mar
ket value at the end OF the year, and when desired
to furnish the usual bread and rations to be ac
counted for at the market price out of their share of
| Eighth.-Said employer, agrees to furnish animals
and to feed them; also wagons, carts plantation i'm
pements &c such us cannot be made by the laborers
Ninth-All violations of the terms of this contract,
or of the rules and regulations of the employer may
forfeiture of his her share of the crop or wages
the may be- but the employer shall pay said par
s.,
| deducting theretr0m advances made.
Tenth-Ihe employer or his agent shall keep book
in which shall be entered all advances made by him,
and fines and foreitures for lost time any cause
| which book shall be received as evidence in same
| manner merchants books are now received in
| courts of justice and shall have right to deduct
from the share of each laborer all his her fines and
| forfeiturrs; also all advances made by him.
Eleventh-Ihe laborers shall not sell any agricu-
tural product to any person whatever, without the
| written consent of the employer.
Twelfth-ihe laborers shall commence work at
sunrise, and be allowed from to three hours each
day for their meals, according to the season of the
year. In where parties prefer to contract for
wages in lieu OF part of the crop it will be compe-
tent for them to do So in which case the committee
suggest scale Of prices according to quality of hands,
ranging from forty dollars to one hundred and twen-
| ty dollars q year.
| The freedmen were addressed during the day by
| Gen. Saxton and the Rev. Mr.. French, the latter
| affirming his belief that the freedmen would work
faithfully during the coming year and in the raising
| Of the next crop, by receiving fair and impartial
| treatment
| GENERAL PILLOWS EXPERIENCE WITH The TENNEs-
| SEE AND ARKANSAS FREEDMEN.
The rebel General Pillow has been doing admirable
service in the difficult work of ystematizng labor in
Tennessee and Arkansas, and the following lettt
| from him and the Commissioner of Freedmen, Gen.
Fisk in Tennessee, give the present status of thu
| freedmen and the labor question in that region;
/