The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-10
Ar II A rs As.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD.

Negroes-Thcir C0ndkion anu now A"eS
Mountaineering Facts Regarding Them
Contracts for Work-Change In the Whites
towards the EIncks. &c.
LITTLE R1cK, Ark, May 20, 1857.
One OF the Intricate problems OF reconstruction and
not but the difficult of satisfactory solution
relates TO the negro element fixed fact In our poliii-
cal economy is the disenthrament OF the negro from
the bonds OF slavery By the laws Of the land no mas
been placed political equality with the white man.
He stands forth full fedged American citizen wears the
imperial roles Of citizenship Yields the sceptre Of SUI
frage exercises the sovereign OF the ballot oox
and has become vast and indlsgu'abe power 10 the
landan engine of political strength of gigantic proper
tons 1t too late TO discuss the wisdom Of this sud
den and high exaltatcn over their past estate OF
the late slave population of this country. Like the
magcians OF old, by our incantations and conjura-
tion and wizard arts we have called up mighty
sen. win the spirit We have summoned turn upon US
and in turn rule and make bow the power of its
will. have the power either exercise II or make
1t tamey submissive to behests2 These questions
serious and the such the future alone
develop Closely connected, therefore, with the
progress reconstruction and of special interest from
the intimate and indissouble connection between the
two Is the present condition Of the Southern freedmen
With earnest and patriotic OF the North the chief
questions the negro are-and with these ques
gardng the colored man-wha is the present status Of
the southern freedman how does stand up under his
condition, Is he industrious and saving or idle and
shftess 10 he moral dssoute and does he give any
indication CT comprehension Of the dignity and response
OIlities Of American citizen, and determination and
capacity to show himself worthy the high honors conferred
on himY Through every possible channel Of informa-
4on within my reach through the records Of the Freed
mems Bureau and conversations with leading officers Of
this department, through military orders and confer
with military commanders, through visits to plan
tauons and careful observation Of the condition and
treatment of freedmen, and through talks with the
freedmen themselves and their employers have been
special pains coate the facts responsive these
nteTogatores In reference to the freedmen OF this
State and about the same condition OF affairs as shall
describe doubtless exists through most OF the states I'M
der military rule.
The Freedmen's Bureau, from its operations extend
ing the whole STATE affords the widest range Of
information regarding the negro besides furnishing the
most recent and reliable statement Of facts from the
careful reports required TO be sent in TO headquar
tiers every month, from each county, by the DIFF
erent ubcommsslonevs. At the last census,
in 1860, there 11l,000 negroes in this
ton or this number, about 40, 900 were employed
In the different grades Of slave labor the remain.
der being children and the aged and decrepd VINO were
twenty-five per cent less OF able and active negro labor
now in the State which estimate includes women as
cal economy to know that of FIRST and vital Importance
to any class of workmen the negro his present condi
employment controlling their labor Only two systems
Of employment Of freedmen prevail here-the contract
system and working for shares Of the crops raised
About one fourth are working under the former,
and the remainder under the latter system, which
nearly the reverse Of what Was last year. The follow
blank copy Of the contract entered into between
employers and aborers:-
State OF Arkansas, county OF - m.-Know all men by
these presents that We The undersigned employer party q
part held and firmly bound each other in the
following contract to begin is6 and expire
T.: Of ss an. IN Of
furnish the p.rtie. Of the second and each Of them full
needul medicine medical attendance during the cOntn
Of III; and 70 s:eS Of the Of the
per SAID s 20 Dc paid Il full on Ssi0s r. the
crop should be disposed Of prior to tho expiration Of
Of second e s. and I'd, in
r e s. Rg
treated with cruelty And the parties the second part DO
nnmser q working month ana number q h9ass
their pay and the value Of their raons for 50 much
their e a @ AL 70 os, Of s q ). @
end Of each month to the Agent Or
The form above properly sgned and attestsd is in
use throughout the State Each contract s verified by
the Freedmens Bureau agent of the county, and copy
left on die with him. while me Original is kept by the
pears the Of the various aborors and the amount
OF to be paid each Any change in the number OF
aboers amount of wages las To be reported to the
Bureau agent the end Of every month Contracts for
the year have been made ~ much better rates
than last season. The freedmen comprehend much bet
ter the Of contracts in other words have got
their eyeeeth cut and much more careful in their
stipuations The average OF wages Is about nfcen dol
lars per month. The raons nearly the same as the
army ratons and only few instances have been reported
Of their being small in quantity deficient In quaty
Ii will be understood that large numbers OF the work
men, particularly those having families, prefer board
themselves and are permitted TO do SO, In which cases
the contracts drawn up accordingly aud an average
or about nfty per cent additional allowed wages
Regarding working on shares no forms OF agreement
have been prepared owing 10 the diversity OF the agree
menls Some are for one-haf aud some for one-tnird
of the crop and everything furnished by the land owner
Again some OF the freedmen are TO furnish part and
then others hire their land at much acre. either
furnishing not furnishing the necessary stock and
TOOLS As general thing most OF the share contracts
half the products less the cost OF provisions con-
sumed by the aborers When land IL hired out by the
acre all sorts prices fixed, according TO the Local
ton and richness OF the land and all sorts OF payments
bushels OF corn or pounds or cotton or specified
ment weight OF other products taking the chances o!
the prices at harvesting Reports OF violations Oh con-
tracts by the aborcrs constantly diminishing Only
one instance reported last month which tho freed
man was the offender In this Jury Of six colored
and they ordered . Judgment against him
muIcting him out OF bali a months pay.
general thing employers have sso. s,han NIKE hd .m
instances have been reported OF the most fragrant viola
ton In one freedmens bureau agent seized
ii 500 due the laborers The man ownias the cotton
came with a gang OF armed men at night and took the
cotton from the in whose care IL had been placed
threats 10 shoot him any who should
fore with them The result that the man got away
with his and has not been seen or heard OF snce
Ana his workmen arc still minus their pay. But such
instances happily are serious drawback the
operations OF many planters and aborors have been the
recent disastrous floods Of the eastern portion Of the
stae bordering Mississippi river, and the bot
tom lands OF the White, Black Washita and Red rivers,
and lower section OF the Arkansas The stock and
WA and evp
the water subsidies in time to pant cotton the chief pro-
duct OF this wet bottom land OF which the indications
are not very favorable at present. they almost wholly
without and facilities TO cultivate any crops
Irrespective Of this good deal OF positive
destltutiou prevails through lack OF food and
As IL well known the cholera has madc its appearance
two or three places Az TO the general prospects OF
crops ia other sections VI the State Il Ia impossible TO
form now correct estimate The earliest cotton planted
was about three weeks ago, many planting and
some have not planted yet just Al present
putting in their corn OF which q much larger proper
non 10 that cotton will be cultivated this wear