Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-15

that their crops were purchased by Beau
fort storekeepers and others at merely nom
inal rates, in most instances at less than
fourth of their real value. These thrifty
traders, many of whom made their advent
at Beaufort with the army, purchased the
sea island cotton of the freedmen at ten
cents pound in the seed, and have this
season already secured mortgages on
large proportion of the freedmen's growing
crops, in some instances even on their
lands. .. . '... '..
TYCOON CAMPBELL.
After visiting the South Carolina islands
we proceeded TO Savannah, Georgia. where
we were joined by Breyet Major General
Davis TilsOn, Assistant Commissioner of
the Bureau for Georgia. He accompanied
lis on our visit to the sea islands under his
charge. Our first investigation was on
St. Catharine's Island. There has been
much confusion and disorder here, Occa-
stoned by the Rev. Tunis g. Campbell, a
colOred man from Nova Scotia, who was
located on the island by General SaXton as
an agent of the Bureau. This man abolished
all the simple rules and regulations adopted
by the freedmen for their own guidance
and established in stead parody of the
United States Government, putting himself
In the position of President and assuming
in addition dictatOrial powers. Under his
administration the freedmen were armed
no white man was allowed to land on the
island, and every effort was made to stir up
feelings of animOsity against the white
race. Among other powers assumed by
Campbell, he issued land grants, claiming
to do so 'by virtue of the authority vested
in him by the President of the United
States and General SaXJon," and took espe-
cial care to bestOw the best allOtments on
himself and relatives. The conduct OF this
man had a most preiudicial influence on
the freedmen and placed them for time
entirely beyond the control of the Assist
ant Commissioner for Georgia. On his first
visit to the island General rilson discerned
that prompt intervention was necessary for
the interests of the freedmen themselves,
as their lands were lying uncultiyated, and
they were not far removed from absolute
want With much difficulty he obtained
hearing from them and succeeded in restor-
ing order, getting them to work and abol-
ishing the absurd form of government es-
tablished by Campbell.
LANDED NEGROES AND PLANTATION Ne
GROES.
General Tilson aseertained that of the
whole number of land grants on the island
seventeen only were valid. These grants
covered five hundred and fifteen acres, and
were scattered all over the island. He con-
sOlidated them so as to occupy one section
of the island only, leaving the remainder
for cultivation by the owners. There are
at present six hundred and twenty-five
freedmen on the island. OF these one hun
dred and tOrty-seven are working for
Messrs. Winchester 81 Schuyler, of New
York, who have rented part Of the Wal
burg plantation, and the remainder are cul-
tivating land on their own account. The
one hundred and forty-seven freedmen
working for Winchester 81 Schuyler have
planted five hundred and thirty acres of
cotton and one hundred and fifteen of corn.
The four hundred and seventy-tive freed
men working tor themselves nave planted
only two hundred acres Of cotton and two
hundred acres of corn.
sAPELo ISLAND.
From St. Catharines we went to SapelO
Island, which is cultivated exclusively by
MessrS. Dickson and Mcbride. The freed
men here are working the land for two
thirds of the crop, and, so far as we could
perceive, were well treated and cared for,
and will make money it they can be pro-
tected from the bad influence of an un-
principled man who came among them last
year with permit from Captain ketchum,
Bureau agentunder General SaXton, bought
their cotton at ten cents a pound in the
seed, and paid them mainly in whisky
This vicious man has eXerted such an evil
influence over these freedmen as to make
them dissatisfied with an exceedingly lib
eral contract. On
ST. sIMoN's ISLAND
there are eighteen valid land grants encum-
bering four plantations. There are be-
tween five and six hundred freedmen on the
island, most of whom are working for
wages, are well fed, and appear to be per-
fectly contented. On two of the plantations
they were working without formal con-
tracts, but we were assured by the Bureau
agent that these freedmen relied confident
ly on being fairly dealt with by their en-
plOyers. Our visit to this island satisfied us
that the freedmen there were doing exceed
ingly well.
oGECHEE RIVER SETTLEMENT.
This settlement, embracing originally
seven hundred freed people, the largest cUl-
Onv on the coast under General Sherman's
order, was last year under the control of
Rev. Mr.. Tiffany, an agent of the Bureau,
appointed to that position by General Sax
ton.
On taking charge OF this settlement Mr.
Tiffany hired twenty-five freedmen as a
guard, armed them with United States
muskets, and used them to prevent any
white man entering the settlement. Even
United States officers who had not Mr.,
Tiffany's pass were halted and were re-
fused the use of the Government boat to
cross the Ogechee river This guard of
twenty-five men, who served the entire
season, were TO be paid out of the proceeds
of the rice crop raised by the freedmen of
the settlement. Mr.. Tiffany gave them
certificates for the amount due them, which
certificates they still hold, but are unable
to get either price or money. ..I
WHAT BECAME OF THE RICE CROP.
All the freed people of this colony were
supplied through the season with Govern
ment ratiOns, which were to be paid for out
of their crops. We were informed by the
Bureau officers of the Department that
none of these rations have ever been re-
paid. A very considerable crop of rice
was made by the freedmen, and Mr..
Tiffany, the agent advertised sixty thou
sand bushels of it for sale. General trilson,
who had in the interim assumed charge of
the Bureau for Georgia, seeing the adver-
tisement, ordered the sale to be suspended,
and notified Mr.. Tiffany that only bonded
officers were authorized to sell Government