Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-27
THE NEGRO.
Condition of the Blacks in the Cotton
Growing States-NegrO Oatrages APP
prehendad.

cumbent supon me as Assistant Commits
sioner Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and
Abandoned Lands for this State, TO repre-
sent 10 You the present condition of the
freedmen and planters and their prospects
for the future.
At the close of the war cotton, hereto
fore the great staple of the South, COM
manded 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 COM
paratively beyond what had hitherto been
known in the planting and farming dis
tricts, ranging from SIS to $50 per month,
with rations, for first class field hands. The
short crop of 1866 dispelIed the illusion
entertained by many capitalists of rapidly
accommodating a fortune, and in many
cases utterly ruined planters and adven-
turers, who had invested, their all in sim
gle crop. Yet there was sufficient num-
Der who regarded their losses az the result
OF an exceptional season, added to the
number of landholders who determined to
risk the result of another years planting
to maintain the high rate of wages Of the
previous year, and the contracts, where
wages were the consideration, ranged from
Sl5 10 $50 per month and where the land
was titled on shares the planters agreed to
furnish the land, animals, utensils, and in
many cases forage, the freedmen furnish
ing 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 lsborer
and his family, the amount to be deducted
from the share of the laborer when the
crops were gathered.
la 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 one
half of the price Of the previous year, thus.
reducing the proceeds to one4fourth 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
TO the laborer.
In cases where laborers worked for stated
wages there is but little complaint or dis
content on the part of the freedmen, re-
Enumeration having generally been received
by the laborer either in money or supplies,
or if not paid the claim can be easily estab-
lished or adjudicated, and if the planter
has the means the claim can be collected
Where the laborer he's 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
Indebtedness for supplies advanced, and
instead of receiving a dividend he is in
debt. This causes great discomfort and
conviction, perhaps we'll founded in some
instances, of dishonesty and false accounts
on the part Of the planters, but this cannot
generally be the case. Instances have oc-
Cured where the planters have entirely
abandoned 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
planting, where not only the entire crop
has been turned over to the laborers to
satisfy their claims, but also the mules and
implements 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
II they wished to prosecute it another year,
1t would, L apprehend, be impossible fox
them to procure further advance of the
necessary supplies from any merchant, so
prevalent is the conviction that cotton can
not be produced at the present prices.
The next year the land in cultivation
will be almost entirely devoted to corn.
which requires but about one fifth of the
labor demanded by cotton; therefore, four
tifths of the labor required last year will be
thrown ont of employment, and of course
there will be corresponding decrease of
wages. This the freedmen do not appre-
ciate, considering it the result of a combi-
nation to defraud them of what they con-
slider just wages. The consequence is they
almost universally decline entering into
contracts for the year 1868 on the 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 of
support The result is great complaints
from every section of the State of depreda-
tons being committed on live stock, hogs,
sheep and cattle. This is now the condi-
ton of affairs in the State of Mississippi.
Planters are without means, having lit
tie left them except their lands. Capital
lists beyond the limits of the State refuse to
make advances from the unsettled condition
OF affairs. The freedmen being to a great
extent disconnected, 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 of the Bureau to reach all sec
tons OF the State, to see that all persons
able to earn their support are compelled to
do so, and that all those who do labor re-
ceive compensation for the same, is Simply
impossible. The care of the poor and the
duty of seeing that contracts are faithfully
executed, devolves upon the local magis-
trates and higher courts.
How far it is safe, under the peculiar
condition of affairs existing in this State,
to trust the civil authorities with this duty
it is for you, to whom the act creating this
district intrusts ''the security Of life and
property" to judge. To empower the local
magistrates to arrest as Migrants all persons
without visible means of support, would no
doubt lead TO acts of injustice but the
civil authorities, being recognized and in
trusted with the execution of the civil law,
of taxes and the care of the poor,
it would seem to be necessary consequence
that, as aprotection to the community, they
should have authority to compel all who
are able to support themselves, and thus
prevent them from becoming a burden on
the community. To deny the civil authori-
ties the exercise of ti.is right Ia to place the
above the recognized government |
Of the State.
1t Is matter OF very grave doubt |
in the present condition of affairs.
the civil authorities, uhaided by the mill |
tary, will be able to maintain order and |
execute the law. Civil process can only
be served in the ordinary manner where
the offenders are the exception and the law |
is sustained by public opinion but in the |
present ruined condition of labor in this |
State thousands are without labor and must |
subsist; consequently, depreciation is the |
rule and honesty the exception, while, on |
the other hand, to treat as vagrants four |
ffths Of the community is simply impracti
cable.
But > csc are matters for your considera- |
ton and of the law making power rather |
than for ME, whose functions are entirely |
executive, and to You l submit the case,
merely with the surmise that il will be !