The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-09
MILITARY INTERFERENCE WITH CONTRACTS
IN THE SOUTH.

To rnr EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The Southern people have no tribune in the national
~ Senate House Of Representatives defend
The testimony OF their newspapers discedd sympa
thy with the Northern opposition is regarded evil
depce OF dsoyaty, and matter how plain any state
ment they may make appears is taken with distrust
This es mag be removed by degrees through tho efforts
OF journals like the HERALD and, therefore, send you
brief outline OF the practical operation
military orders in this the Fourth District.
Last year many planters, foreseeing the failure OF
labor system organized rented their plantations
TO those who had more faith In IT, The renters gave
their notes for the payment of the rent and
in many instances executed trust deeds on th e
crop for the protection OF the landowners They then
contracted with the iaborers stpulatng in the great
majority OF cases. to feed them and TO give them a
certain percentage OF the crop. with the express condi
invariably required that Tor all OF money
and Of extra ratons OF and bread made during the
year for the families Of these aborers corresponding
deduction was 10 be made out OF the percentage agreed
upon. Here you win bear in mind that since the
render the negro women class, have given up field
labor and have to DO fed by their natural protectors
They affect the habits OF the whites when suits their
inclination, and OF they remain in the cabins
while their lords go out to the fields.
This the current style of the contracts for 1867
and the agents OF the Bureau" everywhere pro-
bounced them just and proper With this sanction and
entered upon the experiment Of raising In the
early portion Of the summer General Ord put dead
the list Of January 1855 THIS law foroids the
ton Of any judgment into final execution upon any
land mules other property employed in agriculture
and prohibits the removal or any cotton from the
plantations until the negroes receive thor pay. To this
law there was especial objection, SO far can
learn but in Its application BY the beaurocracy II has
ard II insisted on under present rulings will still further
impoversh the Southern people, whites and blacks
Cases OF this kind constantly arise, to wn:--Land-
apply TO those who have rented their lands for
the pay mont Of the notos held against them. Tho
renters endeavor to effect settlements with the negroes
basis Of their contractshat is to deduct the
advances In money and provisions from their percent
age Of ihe crop and then 20 close up the years bust
with thenl in order that they settle with the
OF the land. But here comes the rub. The
groes will not accede 20 this proposition Tho crop is
Short the return for their labor 10 not great they
anticipated and their profits at the present prices OF
cotton do not satisfy them They have heard Of Gen.
eral Ords order and OF opinion Of friends
the Bureau the point named ABOVE and will not SUBJ
nit 10 just deduction from tho sum total Of their
claims. Tho Bureau as diabolica an oracle as'ever
dashed tho hopes Of long suffering people, announces
that matter what advances in money provisions
may have been made 10 the negroes they nrs be
Tho creditor must look 70 them for psymens Of the
amount advanced. In other words the cotton must be
sold tho money paid into the negroes pockets and hen
the hirer must try and get IL out OF there best no
may This certainly cheering prospect The hirer
and for tho disconsolae landlord the background
unmitigaisd wicksdnsss and folly. This country
OF ours is so large that the people At one
at sa' the s.hss Here 1n are :hoai S'ns idoss
playing those fantastic tricks which must surely
belong to the category Of things that have tendency %
them afraid. The Northern people do not know the
evils 70 which we constanily subjected man can
not under existing laws and regulations In Mississippi
Arkansas rent out his land. II he tills him.
self he will be impoverished; II he rents he cannot
get what 10 his due even II an honest man Happens 70
be his tenant and sincerely wishes 70 zee him paid.
These truths. simple, bitter truths and Ne hope
your readers will ponder them They are only specimen
truths and do not comprise . 1.-THE Of what might DO
told could hnd voice In Congress. This 10 not to
be had now, and ask that you will act tribune for
until the dag OF our rehabilitation - sovereign
States. b.
Columns, hiss, Nov. %, 1857