The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-16

DISTRICT OF SOUTH OAhOLlNh,
CHARLESTON, s. c., January 16, 1868. }
[Crcutdr Letter.
The government having again charged the
Assistant Commissioner with the duty OF dis
tributing food among the people of this State,
for the double pur pose of preventing suffering
from the destitution now common in many To-
calities, and to enable the people to provide
against recurrence Of the like destitution IN
future, it becomes necessary, in order to ac-
complish the obje,t designed, to adopt such q
system of distribution for the supplies thus
loaned, as will most offectually both accom-
plish the objects above named, and insure 10
the government the repayment OF it's means.
This end can only be attained by well regu-
lated system Of lnbor-for from such system
al me can il be expected that any degree OF
prosperity will follow. 1t will be found impos-
sible TO distribute food to the needy thousands
as individuals, but only as communities.
The sad experience of the past year should
have given lesson OF profit to all. Hundreds
of people were the recipients OF the charity OF
the government, who claimed to be planting
at the time they wore fed, but who, upon in
ycstication, were discovered to be either idling
away their time or engaged in culvatlng a
small patch, the whole products OF which could
not subsist thoin for more than month or
two: others received aid who were located on
barren and worn out lands, upon which, cven
by the most severe labor, it was impossible to
produce subsistence; while yet third class,
without any peclniary means, entered into a1-
rancements whereby they gave one-haF or one
third of thoir time to the landowner, and dur
ing the remainder attempted To dig out sub
sistence for themselves without either ami
mails to assist them or food to live upon.
To continue in these foolish attempts to OBJ
thin livelihood will result il the complete
prostration Of every interest of the country,
and to foster such folly by squandering gov
ernment rations on such people would be
criminal on the part OF the agent charged with
their distribution.
It is, therefore, the intention of the Assist
ant Commissioner to issue food in future to
the extent allowed by the government, to
those persons only who he is satisfied are 81
cmployed that they will be able to repay TO
the government the amount loaned as well as
to place themselves beyond the possibility Of
want during t le following year. To accom-
plsh this object, responsible persons will be
appointed agents of distribution in each local
itv where destitutiou exists who will be held
strictly accountable for the reliability and in
dustry of the consumers. They will be in
strncted to tske from the recipients bond,
giving lien upon the crops to be grown, and
other products of industry and personal prop
erty.
The Assistant Commissioner must be satls'
fed that each applicant has planted or IS about
to plant sufficient number of acres in cereals
to insure his provisions for the next year with
out purchase. To parties engaged wholly OF
to an undue extent in the cultivation OF cot
ton, no assistance will be rendered. Duly ap-
pointed officers and agents Of this Bureau will
be instructed to frequently and carefully In
spect the plantations of those Vino are the re-
cipients of assistance, and if it shall ut any
timo be found that they are likely to fail to
fulfil their obligations. all necessary measures
will be taken to protect tho interests of the
government.
The Assistant Commissioner desires it to be
understood that The amount of assistance that
he is author zed to render is limited, and it is
therefore necessary that all persons who have
private resources at command should avail
themselves Of such, these supplies being only
intended by the government to relieve the
most extreme cases Of destitution.
R. K. SCOTT,
Byl. Mai. Gen., Asst. Commissioner.
Official: H. NEIDE, 1st 1t. 44th Inf, Bvt