The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-12-31
The Reported Distress in Mississippi.

or reports from that section terribly exaggerated
We shall be surprised if it does not turn out that
there is great deal of sensation in the reports
about starvation. But there is no doubt that the
cotton planters of that State have been badly hurt by
the low price of cotton and the partial failure of
crops, for they hired negroes from other States at
extra prices to make cotton in Mississippi, and the
result is that they have not been able to get
| enough for their crop to pay expenses.
A correspondent writes from Mississippi to the
Cincinnati Gazette as follows:
"The state of things is appalling. Distress, want
and misery even now stalking abroad What it
may come to in the dead Of winter God only knows.
Every kind of business here is Frustrated Planters
bankrupts by the failure of the crops and involve
the merchants who advanced for them the strength
of the growing crops The distress here will be
equal, am afraid to the Irish famine of 1847 and
1913 assure you, you never such distressed
and ruined people as the people of Mississippi
Gen. Gillian, the Chief Of the Freedmen's Bureau
in Mississippi, makes the following official commu-
ncation to Gen. Ord:
VICKsBURG, Miss, Dec. TO- 1867.
General:-I feel it incumbent upon me as As
sistant Commissioner Bureau of Refugees Freed
men and Abandoned Lands for this State to
represent to you the present condition of the
freedmen and planters, and their prospects for
the future.
At the close OF the cotton, heretofore the
great staple of the South commanded what was
regarded an enormous price, say from forty to
sixty cents per pound the result of which was
to cause a large amount of capital from the North
to be invested in the production of cotton
Labor, of course, commanded price comparative
ly beyond what had hitherto been known in the
planting and farming districts, ranging from S15
to $50 per month, with rations, for first class
hands. The short crop Of 1866 dispelled the
illusion entertained by many capitalists of rapidly
accommodating fortune and in many cases utterly
ruined planters and adventures, who had in
vested their all in single crop. Yet there was
a sufficient number who regarded their losses as
the result of an exceptional season, added to the
number of land-holders who determined to risk
the result of another years planting to maintain
the high rate Of wages of the previous year, and
the cOntrac s, where wages were the considera-
ton, ranged from SIS to $50 per month; and
where the land was titled On shares the planter
agreed to furnish the land animals, utensils, and
in many cases, forage, the freedmen furnishing
the labor. In most of these cases, the laborer
having no subsistence and no credit, the planters
agreed to become responsible for the supplies
necessary for the laborer and his family, the
amount to be deducted from the share of the
laborer when the crops were gathered.
In consequence Of the dry weather and worms
the crop of 1867 has not exceeded half of what
was regarded as an average crop and that has
not commanded but onc-half of the price of the
previous year, thus reducing the proceeds to one
fourth Of what was anticipated by the planter
and freedman as the proceeds of the years labor.
The result is the financial ruin of the planter and
capitalist and discomfort of the labOrer.
In cases where laborer~ worked for stated
wages there is but little '9mpaint or discomfort
GA the part of the freedmen remuneration having
generally been received by the laborer either in
money or supplies, or # not paid the claim can be
easily established or adjudicated, and if the plan
ter has the means the claim can be collected
Where the laborer has worked for share of the
crop endless litigation has been the consequence
The laborer, being without means, has generally
been furnished the necessary supplies by the
planter or on his security. On gathering the
crop it has in majority of cases been ascertained
that the share Of the laborer does not pay his in
debtedness for supplies advanced, and instead of
receiving a dividend he is in debt This causes
great discomfort and conviction, perhaps well
founded in some instances, of dishonesty and
false accounts the part the planters, but this
cannot generally be the case. Instances have
occurred where the planters have entirely aban-
doned the crop to the laborers, losing their time,
the use of their animals and implements and the
supplies advanced. Cases have been brought to
my attention Of planters where not only the en-
tire crop has been turned over to the laborers to
satisfy their claims, but also the mules and i'm
plements used in its production. The result of
this condition of affairs is the almost universal
determination of planters to abandon the culture
of cotton, and even if they wished to prosecute
it another year it would, apprehend be impossi-
BILE for them to procure further advance of the
necessary supplies from any merchant preva-
lent is the conviction that cotton cannot be pro-
duced at the present prices.
The next year the land in cultivation will be
almost entirely devoted to corn which requires
but about one-ffth of the labor demanded by cot
ton; therefore four-fths of the laborers required
last year will be thrown out of employment and
of course there will be corresponding decrease
of wages. This the freedmen no not appreciate
considering it the result of a combination to de-
fraud them of what they consider just wages
The consequence is they almost universally de-
cline entering into contracts for the year 1868
terms offered by planters.
The crop of 1867 having been gathered, the
freedmen are now idle and without, in great
majority of instances, the means ofsupport. The
result is great complaints from every section Of
the State of depredations being committed on
stock, hogs, sheep and cattle. This is now the
condition of affairs in the State of Mississippi
Farmers are without means, having little left
them except their lands. Capitalists beyond the
limits of the State refuse to make advances from
the unsettled condition of affairs. The freed
men being to great extent discontinued, refuse
to enter into contracts for the coming year. The
remedy to be applied demands most thorough
and immediate consideration for the military,
either through the commanders of troops or agents
i