The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-02-05

49, AA>Ns l. G1IA'ASO@AAei
spasashing, and if 90, whether any principle Of
justice, or any good reason Of policy, would pre-
ye1tthe Government from restoring the lands 80
Leased, to the original owners1
| Hrther, the Commissioner, after stating that
most Of the alotments of homesteads were made
during the last fiscal year, proceeds:
"After the cessation cf hostities and the
eenth day of May last she several commissions were
direed by this Office, in pursuance of the instructions
Of the Secretary OF the Treasury to suspend all salos OF
lands for taxes In districts before that time in insurrec
| ton. until otherwise ordered"
| N01, if am rightly informed of the legal effect
of these acts, and the Presidents instructions,
these allotments could only take place upon the
GovSrnment, and the order forbiddfng all further
sales.Has in effect forbidding any further allot-
merf8; and yet, according to the Commissioner,
most Of these alotments were made, ''during the
last fiscal year." that is after tho issue OF the
| order forbiddng them. You are yourself aware
| thas this order was so openly disregarded, that
| apMiation was made to you by the executive
agent Sf this State ir November last, for order
to sepand aalcs in Beaufort, advertised in direct
yio,a.on of its terms, and that you promptly and
Z Justly gave tho order asked for. And it is my
dutyto state, on perfectly reliable authority that
these allotments were not only made during the
last fiscal year, but that Dir. Brisbane. Of th
Commissioners, is now engaged in surveying and
laying out tnc pla0Clt1OnS IN dolCQR, lOr LQe
purpose of continued allotment
The condition Of these lands is such that, owing
to the action Of the direct tux laws, the original
owners arc ousted Of possession, while the system
OF leases and aotments, and in snme portions the
feld-ordor Of General Sherman, have clused their
distribution among the freedmen and created
strong expectation among them OF continued and
more extensive distribution. l would submit to
you, and through you to the Government, wheth-
or any principle OF justice can sanction such dou-
bic punishment as first to compel the. owners Of
these lands to bear the whole burden ofthe States
taxation, and tlten to contiscate the very lands
which had been so taxed. For, as have said be-
fore, now that the cessation OF war has given the
opportunity, these owners are perfectly willing to
pay their taxes, and ask simply that the principle
Of redemption, incorporated in the acts them
selves, shall not be made barren by being limited
to point Of time before which it was clearly i'm
possible to use it.
But there is another point of view from which
the condition Of these lands assumes even graver
Importance. The question Of the relation be-
new freedmen has been 4 very perplexing one,
and not altogether free from danger. 1t has been
for long time doubtful whether the freedman
would contract for labor ut all, and the great
difficulty in the way has been his conviction that
the lands Of his former master wore to be given
to him. This deusion is not yet dispelled. In
the interior of the State, where there has been no
dispossesson Of the owners, the freedmen are
gradually becoming convinced Of the truth, and
are beginning to find that work is necessity, and
by contracting for labor at fair wages, only can
they secure work. But in the low country the
case is different. Difficulties still seem impossi-
BILE to be overcome and serious disturbances have
occurred. General Sickles, by energetic and
practical action, is making some progress to 4
moro wholesome state Of affairs. But there is one
obstacle too strong for him, the planter, or the
State That is, tho existence in the State OF o
large tract Of the richest and most valuable lands,
from which the white owner is excluded, to which
the freedmen look with the assurance Of future
possession, and over which the State possesses no
control, and the military authorities OF the United
States can exert no beneficial influence.
As long as these lands remain in this condition,
40 long the freedman OF tho low country will re
fts3 to York for wages, and tho freedman OF the
see that proposition has been made i'll Congress
to confirm tho grant made by Gen. Sherman 8
field order, I can not believe that either tho JUS
tice or wisdom Of great government will permit
80 fatal injury to this State as must be tho es
tabshment Of u negro colony upon her borders,
wasting her most fruitful lands, obstructng her
largest harbors, and shutting out from the sea.
by Il belt OF barrenness, her enterprise md hcr
industry But the delay in deciding the status OF
these lands is acting most injuriously. upon the
fortunes and future of this State. Already the
beneficent action Of the Presidents restoration oi
lands has been unaccnuntably delayed, intention
ally ignorantly, by those entrusted with its ex-
ecution. But imperfccry and unwilingly rs it has
been executed already its good effects visible,
and will venture to assnro you that if you can
contribute to make it perfect, by aiding the State
in the restoration OF tho lands, now practically
confscated by tho Direct Tax Act, you will be
going far in securing the solution of that question
OF labor which is to-day the only real obstacle to
the firm, harmonious, and prosperous recon
struction Of common country.
Impressed with the Importance Of these views,
but finding it impossible, oithor with justice to
your engagements or my own to awoil upon tnom
Hon. VIM. Henry Trescot to lay this letter before
you, and to enforce it with such information m
examination OF it en- your part may require. Mr.
Trescot has already had the honor of communica-
tion with you as the representative in the same
capacity of my predecessor, Gov. Perry.
Commcnding him to your courteous considcra-
tion, and asking for the subject he lays before you
your early and serious attention,
am, very respectfully,
JAS. L. ORR,