The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-02-05
Relief for Planters and Freedmen.

81
Bureau Of Louisiana, providing for
carrying out the provisions of an order
recently issued from the War Depart
ment at Washington. The object Of
this order, as it purports to be, is to
afford relief to the impoverished plan
tiers of the South, and work for the
yagrant freedmen, who have been led
by the Radicals TO believe that their
wants would be provided for without
the necessity of labor. So far as this
order is intended to "secure employ
ment to the freedman" and to show
him the necessity of resorting to his
labor to procure the means Of subsist-
ence, its objects are laudable. But, if
it was intended as an act Of generosity
to the planter, it drives too hard bar
gain with him, and exposes the Yankee
trading propensities too palpably, to
meet with much favor with those whom
it processes to benefit. If the govern
ment really wished to do a kinda
generous act towards an impoverished
and oppressed people, as well as to
take care of those unfortunate people,
whom the doctrines of the dominant
party are misleading to their own de-
struction, there are many ways Of do
ing it without exposing national sell
ishness and Yankee closeness. Even
if little risk should be run of losing
some portion Of the advanced supplies,
the item would be considered too small
to be taken into account by amagnani-
nous people.
The slightest examination Of the Or
der in question will show that it can
afford no relief to planter, which or
binary merchants are not willing to
afford, and that all who seek relief
under it run great risk of losing eve
~ thing they have. A lien, it will be
observed, is not only retained upon
the crops, which merchants have been
in the habit of requiring, but this lien
is extended to all the movables on the
plantation, and the planter is still fur
ther required to give bond with good
security in the sum Of $500 for every
twenty hands to reimburse the Bureau
before the expiration of the year
Under the past system if the planter
failed to make a crop, his merchant
lost his supplies, but the plantation
remained stocked for another year
Now, however, by adopting the bureau
plan, in case the crop fails the planter
loses all his movables besides involv-
ing the friend who is kind enough to
90 on his bond for the required amount.
Moreover under the existing laws Of
Louisiana, first privilege on the crep
is granted to the laborer. If the State
law and the order come into conflict
how are they to be reconciled7 The
government and the freedman are Sc
cured, but what becomes of the plant
err The I'd Circular, exposes the
Radical ear-marks little more plainly
than the 1st, to which it is annexed as
IN appendage. Its object is to throw
obstacles in the way of the removal Of
freedmen from one parish to another.
fit is to the advantage offs freedman
to remove, why should he not be al
lowed every facility in promoting his
own welfareq But it is Of the last i'm
portance to the Radicals on the eve of
an election, that the negroes should
not lose their votes by removing from
the parishes in which their names were
registered as voters. Hence, all their
efforts at negro amelioration must be
subrogated to the one great Radical
object, the securing Of the negro vote
for the Radical candidates for Office.
Considering the source whence this
Circular issues it naturally arouses
our suspicious. fit contains any pro-
visions for the advantage of white peo-
pie, it is the first time anything good
for them ever came out of the War
Office, or the Freedmen's Bureau. It
would not be strange, then, if it's pro-
visions should meet with very little
favor among the people.
TRY ST. JOHN C0UG H
J. .Expectorant.
II Messrs. Duplex & Puckette, Ma
chitoches, La, have published o little
pamphlet entitled "The Tobacco Grow
er's Hand Book containing practical
essays on the cultivation, management
and preparation for market Of the sew
eral kinds Of Tobacco, which is indis-
pensibIe to those who are turning their
attention to this crop. The essay on
Cuba Cigar Tobacco shy Don Joseph
Hernandez, whose experience in it's cul-
ture is not surpassed. Send your or
ders direct to the Publishers. Price
only Fifty cents.
S------1s)s<E--
u The Democratic State Central
Committee, says the N. 0. Times, are
not disposed to let the grass grow I'M
der their feet through delays. They
Wednesday night instituted provisions
for the rapid organization of clubs ana
conventions throughout the State, in