Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-07-04

season on trust lands; but n0twith-
ng the advantage thus enjoyed, nearly
Ill of them are now in destitute cir
Their present impover-
shed condition is attributed to the
act that their crops were purchased
by Beaufort store dealers and others,
at merely nominal rates-in most in
stances, at less than fourth of their
net value These thrifty raiders, many
Of whom made their advent at Beau
fort with the army, purchased tho
sea island cotton at ten cents per
pound in the seed, and have this seas
on already secured mortgage on large
proportion of the freedmen's crops-in
some instances even on their lands.
After visiting the South Carolina
Islands, we proceeded So Savannah,
Ga, where we were joined by Brevet
Major General Davis Tilson, Assistant
Commissioner of the Bureau for Geor-
gia. He accompanied us on our way
to the Sea Islands under his charge.
There has been much confusion and
disorder occasioncd by Rev. Tunis G.
Campbell, a colored man from Nova
Scotia, who was located on the Island
by Major-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. I'm
der his administration the freedmen
were armed. No white man was al
lowed TO land on the island, and every
effort was made to stir up feelings OF
animosity against the white race.
Amongst other powers assumed by
Campbell, he issued land grants,
claiming to do so Hby virtue of the
authority vested in him by the Presi-
dent of the United States and General
Saxton !" and took especial care to
bestow the best allotments on himself
and relatives. The conduct of this
man had a most prejudicial influence
on the freedmen, and placed them for
time entirely beyond the control
of the Assistant Commissioner for
Georgia. On his first visit to the
island, General Tilson discovered that
prompt action was necessary in the
interests Of the freedmen themselves
for the lands were lying uncultivated
and they were not far removed from
absolute want With much difficulty
he obtained hearing from them, and
succeeded in restoring order and get
ting them to work, and abolishing The
absurd form of government establish
ed by Campbell. General Tilson as
certained that of the whole number
Of land grants on the island, seventeen
only were valid. These grants Gov
cred five hundred and fifteen acres
and were scattered all over the island
He consolidated them, so as to occupy
one section of the island only, leaving
the remainder for cultivation by th'
owners. There are at present 62;
freedmen on the island of these Ia
are working for Messrs. Winchestc
and Schuyler, of New York, whit
have rented q part of the Walburs
plantation, and the remainder are cul
tivating land on their own account
The l47 freedmen working for Win
chester and Schuyler have plantet
$50 acres of cotton and ll5 of corn
, the 475 freedmen working for them
selves have planted only 200 acres o
cotton and 200 acres of corn.
From st. Cathcrine's we went :
, Sapelo Island. cultivated oxclusivel.
by Messrs. Dickson and Mcbride
The freedmen here are working tn
land for two-thirds of the crop, anC
so far as we could perceive, were we
! treated and cared for, and will max
} money if they can be protected fror
l the bad influence of uDprincipled mel
4 who came amongst them last yea
f with permit from Captain Ketchun
c Bureau agent under General Saxtol
i, bought their cotton at ten cents
Y pound in the seed and paid them mail
iy in whiskcy. This vicious man hs
4 exerted such an evil influence owe
the freedmen MS to make them dissa
isfed with an exceedingly liberi
+ contract.
) On st. Simon's Island there al
c eighteen valid land grants encumbe
J. ing four plantations. There are b
c tween FIVE and six hundred frecdmC
|, on the island, most Of whom are wor
d ing for wages, are well fed and sppei
Q to be perfectly contented. On two
# the plantations they are workir
J. without formal contracts, but we we
IS assured that these freedmen reli'
q confidently on being fairly dealt Wi
by their employers. Our visit TO til
IS island satisfied us that the freedm'
d there wero doing exceedingly well.
70 odEEcuEE RIVER SETTLEMENT.
If This settlement, embracing oril
nally several freed people, the large