The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-02-05
Government Relief to Planters and Freedmen.

Government Relief to Planters and FreedIaen'
The New Orleans Pieayune says: Nothing can pe
more important to planting and labofhg people
than the two following orders from the heaaqlaise
of the Bureau of Freedmen, etc., which VIII pe ila
with the deepest interest.
The first one provides for issuing meal and meat TO
planters having freedmen employed, ana VINO are una
bic to furnisht untilthey can raise or GET supphe
upon easy terms, which are stated; ana the seccu
provides for the transportation OF freedmen rom par
ishes where there is lack of employment to other par
ishes to Which they may desire to CO. where there IS
employment profitable 10 them. We ask the careful
4 reading Of these most important orders:
4 HEADQUARTERS BUREAU OF REFudEEs, FREEDaEN
and Abandoned Lands, State Of Louisiana
/ New Orleans La Jam %, ls6o
Circular No IL
In order 10 carry out the instructions contained IN
letter from War department, Bureau Refugees Ereea
men and Abandoned Lands, dated Washington, u u,
January s. 1865 and to relieve extreme want
by reason of freedmen being without employment,
through inability of planters to furnish s9ppiles W ~
aid will be furnished IN such cases under
the following regulations
! Art T. LIST Duplicate copies of contract, under when
freedmen are employed must be filed IN office OF bu-
4 reau agent III the parish.
i ID For supplies of corn meal and meat, advanced
by the bureau formal first lien VIII be taken upon
The crops and moyables used IN cultivation OF Inc she'
for reimbursement for cost OF supplies t;,
These supplies will be furnished each month until
the necessity for such issue longer exists, anu III
each case the lien will be taken as stated.
Sd. Upon receipt by the planter OF the hrst lnont
supplies he will file in the office OF the bureau ageat ot
the parish duplicate bonds, with good ana suI.cen'
surety in the amount of $500 for every twenty teeo
men Employed STIMULATING that for and in consldera
ton ofsupplies furnished by the bureau, to the ee
people employed as laborers on his plantation d'"iLs
| the year 1868, he binds himself to reimburse ~ ~
the bureau, before the expiration of said year. the 1ns
cost of such supplies from the OF the crops o
other products of industry, raised by him, or from the
movables the plantation used II the cultivation VI
the crops; and he further agrees that when SAID crops
same or his portion thereof shall be shipped for sale
to such merchants may be grated by the bureau
in the city OF New Orleans, La and that 1mmeaiaSey
upon the sale said crops sufficient amount OF the
proceeds accruing therefrcm, to the full amount II
necessary shall be turned to the proper officer OF
the breIu in liquidation Of his just indebtedness tor
the subsistence advanced He further stipuates and
agrees that should there still be balance due the bu
reau after the proceeds of the crop have been thus a
Piled then and in that event the movables and other
goods on the plantation shall be liable therefor.
i copy of the contract and bond will be torWardedto
these headquarters BY the assistant sub-assstan COM
| missioner duty III the parish. ,
| Art II. With view to systCmatse the issuing OF
supplies indicated in the preceding article, the o
lowing detailed instructions will be strictly complied
| with: ~
1st planter who may be unable to:furnsh supplies
to the freedmen in his employ, and desires to procure
them from the bureau will apply to the bureau agent
of the parish and file in his office afldaVits, IL dupl
cate stating whole number Of freed people employed
for whom rttions required during the month, and
specifying number of pounds OF corn meal or hard
/ dI,
subsistence Of the freed people on his plantation, and
further that he is not able furnish Subsistence for
them in any other manner. The parish agent after be-
ing fully satisfied Of the reliability Of the planter, of the
correctness of the number OF freed people reported as
employed in each case and Of the necessity of the bu
reau advancing the supplies will then forward to these
ton for approval The supplies will then be procured
and shipped to the bureau agent in the parish.
?. The cost Of the supplies including that OF trans
porting them to the agent will be charged against the
planter requiring them, by the oincer procuring the
same.
s. Said charges will be communicated to the parish
agent and will in like be entered upon books
prepared for the purpose IN this office.
4. Upon receipt of the supplies the parish bureau
agent WILL if necessary the same to be trans
ported to the plantation where they are required
5. The cost Of this transportation will be an add,
tional charge against the planter, and the agent VIII
Immediately report 10 the assistant commissioner of
subsistence at these headquarters the amount of such
additional charge, order that the same may be
charged on his books.
G. Upon the delivery of the supplies to the planter
he will receipt to the agent for the number Of pounds
of each article of subsistence, on which receipt viii be
specified the full cost Of the supplies, including all
charges on same up to time OF delivery by the parish
bureau agent.
I: These receipts will be in duplicate and to each
will be attached agreement, part of planter Civ
ing to the bureau formal ieD first privilege, upon
crops and movablcs, as specified above. The agent
will then retain copy on file and forward duplicate
to the Assistant Commss4'y OF Subsistence, at these
headquarters.
s. At the end of each mouth, the parish agent will
plies issued in accordance with the foregoing directions
0. 1t must constantly be borne in mind by the bu-
agents. that the distribution of these supplies is
solely for the purpose of securing cmpl0ymcntto the
freedmen by enabling the planter to furnish them with
subsistence for the time being, and whenever the plan
ter becomes able from any cause to furnish his en-
ployts the necessary subsistence the advances made
by the bureau will be Immediately discontinued, and
the fact reported to these headquarters in order that
the account with such employer may be closed.
In the adoption OF this system, agents are instructed
to advise freedmen to contract to labor, during the
year. for stipulated monthly wages, in all cases. when
it is in the power of the planter to do
The experience the past two years has clearly pro-
ven the disadvantage OF working for shares. The for
mer system should be given Observation-Disclosures
found practicabe-as it establishes labor up0u- fixed
and certain basis preventing the endless complications
and numerous difficulties incident to the system Of
shares.
In this connection agents are instructed that their
action with reference to the character Of the contracts
with the freedmen is to be advisory and b. no means
compulsory. The freedman is authorised to make his
contract on such terms may be most agreeable to
himself.
Many planters unable through want of means,
to pay freedmen wages, and can only employ them on
the system of shares crops raised In all such
bureau agents will, when called upon, furnish all ne
cessary assistance as provided under existing orders
Art. 3. Monthly reports of INDECENT and Helpless,
specified in Circular No. 49, series of 1867 from these
headquarters will be made aud forwarded hereto
FORE and must include only those desttues who are
unable to labor otherwise provide for themselves
and to whom the parish other local authorities fail
to render the necessary assistance to prevent sarva
The utmost care will be taken by the agents not to
include the accounts Of the INDECENT and HELPLESS with
these Of the laborers who receive assistance through
the planter In all cases, their accounts must be dis
tinct and separate.
Subsistence for the INDECENT and helpless will be is
sued gratut ousy and will be accounted for in accord
ance with instructions heretofore promulgated.
The necessary blanks will be furnished to agents re-
curing them on their application for the to these
headquarters.
b order of Brevet Maj. Gen. r. c. Buchanan U. S.
A, Assistant Commissioner.
Capt 39h U. s. Infantry, A.AA.G.
HEADQUARTERS BUREAU REFUGEES, FREEDMEN |
and Abandoned Lands, Dist Louisiana, :
New Orleans Jan. q, 1868. |
Circular No 81
Frequent applications being made to these headquar-
tiers for the transfer Of freedmen from parishes where
they are unemployed to parishes where they can be
secured employment on plantations during the year,
the following instructions are hereby promulgated for
the information and guidance Of the agents of this bu
No planter will be furnished with lahcr from annthnr