New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-06-13

Justice
SEA ISLANDS
On the 18Th Of Nav we lef Charleston hv steamer and -
first tie Sea Islands on the Georgia which lave been
tie exclusive control Of he IIeedmens these
islands tAcIo are ~ pcs.esso-y titles held iy he freedmen
under the order Of Gen Sheir an and Die Valid They
mcumber - plantations situated on JnuCs Jchs WadDelaw
and E9s1O Islands The number Of freedmen all Tie
South Carolina islands is about $1,000
They foIm however but proportion Of e aggregate
Der who have occupied the islands since Gen Serau
issued Many OF those VINO FIRST came lere remained on
islands but snort time and then returned their
the mainland Others Who made small crops gathered them
III ana Ieit 70 seek other employment.
large majority OF the freedmen who s remain the
islands are IN destitute circumstances On Wadmclav and
Edio iSlnd many VINO are euiyang lands for themselves
would be compelled 20 abandon their crops for the
provisions furnished them by the pntrs Last Coy
eminent raon and clothing were furnished oost Of the freed
men who were woir lands on their account with the
deIstlndmg that they should aorwad pay for the supplies m
has been repaid We found inquiry that few OF the
freedmen raised good and could easily have reimbursed
we boNeihmeit lo le supges PROVIDED i" Uen uut most
Of them sWnded Of all Lat they lad made by gang
Of white shaiDeTs who pretended TO be tr heHd SCI up
little stores provided With sveetreats. che lewcify aii
worthless articles OF dress with which tboy pundeod these
poor creatures OF their hard earnings TIE class Of per
sons who tluS deirauded tue freedmen a year have made
extensive peparaons secure W Seasons crop hy the
We found number Of these stores on Etiss
and MadmeaW Islands and mention one case as on e1anIe
This one Is on farm rented and cultivated by hr UIder'
wood Of Boston, Mass. Accompanied by Gen. Scott,
topped on tns plantation ara lnNtg1u t coNu,L q me
freedmen They working by tie task winch pre-
csey the manner in which hc worked them.
The prices pald per tss MY cents Nhch pIu II money
or it equivalent would be wages lieu Of money
tickets were given them o. which vaa printed Good for
u provisions at ouI store These tickets were taken up by
the stare keeper with rec dollars prr blsl AMI other
articles at similar exoIbant Tices There was TO meat In
this shop. The need poop gaea IOuuu Us "Ae We were
there and complained bitterly Of thor treatment stating at
with paid them they unable 10 enough 70
buy a. the prices charged them necessary subsistence Al
freedmen paid money Tor their labor theY cond
escape extoon OF Ae sholkecpes but with tie tickets
isued 10 them they were cd pay the prices charged
whatever the shop keepers NJ to give them
Competition which would greatly reduce the prices Of pro
visions prevented least this plantation bY military
orders MI Tolls adjacent plantation was selling corn 20
these people at two dollars Iei bpsh aud taking Underwood
payment but he compelled 10 dess by specol
Major T. Cornelius Acting Sub ssstant Commissioner
for the islands in the Department Of south Carna stated to
US that ls attention hu peen caed 10 hOme unouy among
vestgaied found the freedmen fault end therefore
ouired the freedmen 10 resume work and notified them that if
they did not he would arrest tLeu. Our mnaon
led different conclusion from that arrived at by Major
Cornelius In our opinion the condition
freedmen Underwoods plantation fully Jgsthed them IN
Near the plantation rented and worked by Mr. Underwood
mont is pursued Tie freed people hero working thee
g. bushe md bacon 25 cents per pound with other
articles proportion e prices and during The remand OF
week hey allowed TO cgltvate foF themselves
much land they could manage TIE land being gwen them
by Mr.. jenkins free Of rent.
On the hayward panaton on Edisio Island the following
circumstance brought 70 our knowledge This farm
under land grants and partly without On TIE I2,e o biy
when the crop being hocd, man rom NcW-l ork
men 10 with HIM 20 cultivate tle l for BIS benefit
"
men with whom conycsed seemed 70 know some be.
eved they get third Of tie crop While others stated
they were 10 pay 6 month for the Of their cabins
MIR Hoon The plantation az the time OF visit
and consequently unable 90 ascertain the true nature
Of the contract no cory ~ i Aav been en With TIE freed
men We called TIE attention OF tie Assistant Commissioner
to the complaints OF Tho freedman on this Plantation
Chat',iu Frerch Brregu Missionary and Rev G l..
BadWe co0Ted of Edisto Island stated 10 Us that sU
occufie hoe n' ~ i, 80 - a. 80. ~ 49,,
planting crops had been aipD5sesca aud ilcDy CON-
PEELED 20 sign coaifaci-a squad o. co.'ed soldiers LAYING
Nf4TT 70 I
While on Ecisto Island visited the Eilircs Plantation
which is being cultivated ly freedmen exclusively WoIAlne
49, =. drel,fr ~ rc of fie, or rufl,er sirer..for
ent chosen bv themscve Here TIE people apparently
dong well and have O fair prospect q good crol. 1fs
tie s.fls where The freedmen clratlE exclusively IJr
tiemseive without white direction were dong even to-r.
Ne visited other rlsrierons beside those above mentioned
on Edsto and Wadmeav Islands bat mention tcsc only ss
a flir index u the condition Of 90 nes geueray
There ore land ants ulacr dgu eAeimans order on
Port Royal Island lui ihc freed people "a end tva
made tlroe crops est these anif but notH &
standing tie advantages hls etyed iy are ueaf' OIL Of
ished condo Is ati.lio.e 20 nc Ile .i l'i.
na rates IN most instances 70 Ices t4ol uith Of a &c.
value. These thri'y trader nn,y 90 wen ne .e.I pr.
Beaufort with the army purchased te sea Ina eo,
tor Of the freedmen az ten cents pound n Ne seo uLu
have tllS season alel.! Ply ~ \. ' 's a. litJ.
ton Of the irec dmens CROPS ~ s.e @.,'a o. ~
After visiting the South Carolina i amos we proceeded 70
Davis Tlegu, Aersout oinw.- icHef o. we L-''t3 ny
Georgia lie accompanied us on oar Ni 10 tue Sra ssls
n
ines Island There has been much lou end disorder,
accustomed by the Rev Tgns Campbell coored man from
Saxon as az agent OF tie Bureau Ia abolished all tie
simple rules equations adopted y the freedmen i their
States Government putting himself ln ~. position o. Iie..
eslt aia a. .Ii s..,c5 wee ereg o i man
was allowed land on the nnt and every effort was maie
10 st up fec & 81 an mostly against iAe Ele men among
claiming 20 90 -, Med states and en saxt9n end took
iaef. hg Ie.t "a
~ on he f-cedrrer and placed lem for tr1e entirely
evold the contro of the Commissioner Tor Georgia
on his frst the Island Gen Unison dc0fcIrl iuhi
prompt action IN tie interees Of the freedmen
Themselves tire lands lying uncuiyaed and hey
were not Tar removed from obsolete want with much d
Guilty be obtained hearing i'oM iAeH ana tuSeelei n'
restoring order getting them 70 work. ara oooiHe tie
absurd form Of go'einment established D Camppel Zen
Ison GsceTained that 81 ne "hoe hummer o. Anusal
on the island ~ Oly valid lese grants covered 90
ceres and scattered all over ihe island lie consolidated
remainder cult, by the owners Eere are at present
6Iessrs Wj1cIester & schuyler Of Kew York who have
rented part thc Woburg plantation and tie remainder
f t- Wincbestor SCHUYLER hove planted $50 acres
co ton and rs OF The AS froednon ~oftng 9r them
selves nave planted on OJ ACRES o! co'oA ana ~ "c'eS VI
From ST. GATHERINGS We went 10 spelo Island cultivated
exclusively by Mosrs Dickson End II Bnd. lle freedmen
here are working me land for twohls 81 The crop and far
a. We could perceive well treated and clcd ior ana 81"
Of an uonc ed man. WHO came among them last year with
Tcru it from Capt Krtchum Bureau Agent under Gen 5 4.
paid manly IL whisky. This vicious las e1eried
such evil influence over the freedmen Us to make them
Dissatisfied with exceedingly liberal contract.
On ST. Island there II valid lands grants ncu
beTiug four plantations h,re aIe oewee4 80 ad 600 freed
wen 4, tvi were Working without formal contracts but
We we're assured freedmen relied confidently
be,ae y dealt with by their employers Our yst TO this
son satisfied Us that tie freedmen doing exceed
oGEECHER RIVER SETTLEMENT.
This settlement embracing originally several hundred rco