Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-01-03
Condition of the Blacks i'm the Cotton
Growing States-Oficial Report of Major
General GiIlem.

| AND ABANDONED LANDS,
| OFFICE ASST COMMISSIONER OF MISSISSIPPI,
| VICKsBURG MISS, Dec. III, 1867. J
Major General e O. q. Ord, Commanding Fourth
| Military District:
| GENERAI-I feel it incumbent upon me as AS
s;stant Commissioner Bureau If Refugees, Freed,
men and Abandoned Lands for this State to
represent to you the present condition CT the
freshmen and planters, and their prospects FOL
the future.
| At the close of the war cotton, heretofore the
| great staple of the South, commanded what was
regarded an enormous price, say from forty 70
sixty cents per pound, the result OF which was to
cause large amount of capital from the North
to be Invested in tie production Of cotton. Labor,
| of course, commanded price comparatively be-
yond what had hitherto been known IN the plant
ing and farming districts, ranging from SO to
$40 per month"; with rations. for frst.class hands
The short crop of 1866 dispeed the illusion enter
tanned by man9 pitaliss of rapidly accommodating
q fortune, and in many utterly ruined plant
| ers and adventures, who had invested their all
| in single crop. Yet there was a sufficient num-
Der 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 contracts,
where wages were the consideration, 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
AID no credit, the planters agreed to become re-
sponsible for tie supplies necessary for tie Ia
borer 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 WI at
| regarded as an average crop, and that has not
commanded bnt one-half of the price of the pre-
viOus 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 capt.
talist and discomfort OF the labOrer.
In cases where laborers worked for stated wages
there is but little complaint or discomfort on the
part OF the freedmen, remuneration having gen.
orally been received by the aborer either in money
or supplies, if not paid the claim be easily
established or adjudicated, and if the planter 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 aborer,
being without means, has generally been fur
nished the necessary supplies by the planter on
his security. On gathering the crop it has in a
ma ority of cases been ascertained that the share
of the laborer does not Pay his Indebtedness for
supplies advanced, and instead Of receiving div-
dend he is in debt. This causes great discomfort
and conviction, perhaps well founded in some
instances, of dishonesty and false accounts on the
part of the planters, but this cannot generally be
the case. Instances have occurred where the
planters have entirely abandoned the crop to the
laborers, losing their time, the of their ami
mails and implements and the supplies advanced.
Gases have been brought to my attention of plant
ing 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 if they
wished to prosecute it another year it would,
appreIend, be impossible for them to procure
further advance OF the necessary supplies from
any merchant, so prevalent is the conviction that
cotton cannot be produced at the present prices.
The next year the land in cultivation will be al
most entirely devoted to corn, which requires but
about one.fifth of the labor demanded by cotton :;
therefore four-fiths of the laborer required last
year will be thrown out OF employment, and of
course there will be corresponding decrease Of
wages. This the freedmen do not appreciate,
considering it the result of combination to de-
fraud them OF what they consider Just wages
The consequence is, they almost universally de-
cline entering into contracts fer the year 1868
terms offered by planters.
The crop Of 1867 having been gathered, the
freedmen now idle and without, il Il great
majority of instances the means of support. 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 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 freedmen
being 10 a great extent diScontented refuse TO
enter into contracts for the coming year. The
remedy to be applied demand2 most thorough
and immediate cons deration, for the military,
either through the commanders OF troops or
agents of the Bureau to reach all SECTIONS of the
State, to see that all persons able to q n their
support are compelled to do 80, and that all those
is simply impossible. The of the poor and
the duty of seeing that contracts are faithfully
executed properly devOyea upon the local magis-
trates and higher courts.
How far it is safe, under the peculiar cOndi-
ton of affairs existing in this State, trust the
civil authorities with this duty, it is for YOU to
whom the act creating this District intrusts the
security Of the life and property" to Judge To
empower the local magistrates to arrest as va-
grants all persons without visible means Of sup
ort, would no doubt lead to acts Of injustice;
hat fha hsiy,r
ntrusted with the execution of the civil law, col
lection of taxes and th3 care Of the poor, it would
seem to be necessary consequence that,
protection to the community, they should have
authority to compel all who are able to support
themselves, and thus proven. them from becom-
ing burden upon the community. 70 deny the
civil authorities the exercise Of this right is to
place the freedmen above the recognized severn
ment of the State.
1t is matter of very grave doubt whether, in
the present condition of affairs the civil authOr-
tiles, unaided by the military, will be able to MAIN
tain order and execute the law Civil process can
only be served in the ordinary manner where
offenders are the exception and the law is su,-
tanned by public opinion; but in the present
ruined condition of labor in this State, tt Ousands
are without labor, and must subsist; consequent
y, depreciation is the rule and honesty the excop-
ton, while, on the other hand, to treat as va
grants four-hfths of the community is simply
lmpractlcable.
But these are matters for your consideration
and OF the law making power rather than foI me.
whose functions entirely executive, sud to
you l submit the merely with the sUrIi.ise
that it will be impossible to inaueurate any ays-
tenn for the relief OF the blacks which is upani-
mously approved by the whites.
There is another subject worthy Of attention in
this connection. There seems to be widespread
belief, which is daily increasing among the freed
men, that the land in this State is to be divided
and distributed among them, and in some sections
of the State this illusion is assuming practical
form. by the freedmen refusing to contract for
the next year, or to leave the premises they have
cultivated this year.
It is to be feared that this course, induced by
evil disposed advisers may lead to collisions the
extent and result of which it is difficult to sur
mise.
I receive almost daily petitions and memorials
asserting the existence of organized companies
of freedmen and asking the presence and protec-
ton of troops, and although am satisfied that
these representations are generally the result of
fear and exaggerated rumors yet the existence
of such organizations in some sections Of the
State is certain. Commanders of troops and
agents of the Bureau have been instructed to
| urge upon the freedmen the absolute necessity of
abstaining from armed demons rations that
they will be protected in all their rights but that
they must not seek redress by force or violence.
In order to avoid far as possible bringing
the races in collision with each other, have
| advised that whenever practicable tie 'posse''
summoned to assist in an arrest shall be of the
| same race as the person arrested.
am, General, very respectfully, your obedent
servant, ALVAN O. GILLEM
Brevet Major General, Commissioner.