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

cents, which, if paid in money or its
equivalent, would be fair wages but
in lieu Of money, tickets were given
them, on which were printed, "Good
for-in provisions from our store"
These tickets were taken to the store
keeper, with corn at three dollars a
bushel, and other articles at similar
prices. There was no meat in this
shop. The freedmen gathered round
MS while wewere there, and complain /
ed bitterly of their treatment, stating,
that with the wages paid them, they
were unable to earn enough to buy,
at the prices charged them, necessary
subsistence. If these freedmen were
paid in money for their labor, they
could escape the extortions of the
shop-keepers bit with the tickets
issued 10 them they were compell-
ed Ia. pay the price charged, and to
take whatever the shop-keeper sees
fit to give them. Competition, which
would greatly reduce the price of pro-
visions, is prevented, at least on this
plantation, by military orders. Mr..
Tolls, on an adjacent plantation, was
selling corn to these people at two
dollars per bushel, and taking Under
woods tickets in payment, but he
was compelled to desist by special
order.
Major J. f. Cornelius. Acting Sub
Assistant Commissioner for the islands
in the Department OF South Carolina,
stated to us that his attention had
been called TO some difficulty among
the freedmen on Underwood's planta-
ton, which he had investigated, and
found the freedmen in fault, therefore
he required the freedmen to resume
work, and notified them that if they
did not do so he would arrest them.
Our examination led us to q different
CONCLUSION from that arrived at by
: Major Cornelius. In our opinion the
condition and treatment of the freed
men on Underwood's plantation fully
justified them in refusing to work.
Near the plantation rented 'and
worked by Mr.. Uncrwood is that OF
Mr. Jenkins, on which very oppos-
lte mode of treatment is pursued. The
freed people here weic working three
, days Of the week for wages, fifty cents
task paid in corn at two dollars
, bushel, and bacon at twenty-five
cents per pound, with other articles al
proportionate prices, and during the
remainder of the week they were al
} lowed to cultivate for themselves as
much land as they could manage, the
land being given them by Mr.. jenkins
r free of rent.
= On the hayward plantation, or
g Edisto Island, the following crcum
: stances were brought TO our knowl
r edge. This farm has been cultivated
by freedmen on their own account
r partly under land grants, partly with
|, out. On tho 18th Of May last, wher
B the crop was being hoed, man from
Y New York named Holton came OF
S the farm with squad of colorcd sol
diers under charge of sergeant, an'
/. compelled the freedmen to contrac
with him to cultivate the land for hi
: benefit. What the exact terms Of th
o contract wero none of the Freedmen
j. with whom we converscd seemed t
) know. Some believed they were 4
|; get a third of the crop, while other
= stated they were to pay five dollars
l. month for their cabins. Mr.. Holtoi
was not on the plantation at the tim
n of our visit, and we were, consequent
n ly unable TO ascertain the nature Q
; the contract, no copy having been lci
e with tho freedmen. We called tn
d attention of the Assistant Commiss
IS ioner to the complaints Of the freed
l. men on this plantation.
N Chaplain French, Bureau Mission
% airy, and the Rev c. l.. Bradwe
re (colored), of Edsto Island, stated {
{, us that similar occurrence had take
y place on the plantation rented by
es gentleman recently mustered out {
&c the United States army, where th
N freedmen, after planting their crop
At had been dispossessed, and forcibl
ID compelled to sign a acontract--a squa
ID of colored soldiers having been use
d. Tor that purpose
re While on Edisto Island, we visltc
lg the Eddings plantation, which is b,
DC ing cultivated by freedmen exclusiv
O. ly, working under the direction of OF
Y, OF their own number, a superiuten
th ent chosen by themselves. Here q
"a people are apparently doing VIC
he and have fair prospect Of goc
O. crop. This, however, is almost Il
We only instance we met with on any
re the islands, where the freedmen, CT
is. tivating exclusively for themselv
on without white direction, we're doll
I'd even tolerably we'll.
We visited other plantations besid
n those above named on Edisto al
n, Wadmelaw Islands, but mention the
only as a fair index Of the condition
We things generally on those islands.