American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-01-04
REPORT FROM GEN
.-e...tuE s 0ILLEM. aEP.T. -,
sBuREAv REPpasEs. +. A.LlSps.
F: OffiGH Assn. Gox'R. OF Mas.


Ny. Gen. f. o. G. Ord. Commanding FourtI
Military Ds'riet. ... s.-r.- ! .
GEsERAL:-l feel il incumbent mo n me Al
Assistant Commissioner Bureau OF RefuQee
Freedmen and Abandoned Lands for this
State, 10 represent to you the present condi.
lion of the freedmen and planters, aud II,
prospects for the future. al, r.,,..1E art
AT the close Of the war, cotton, heretofors
be great staple Of the South, commanded
'Fhat Was considered an enormous price, say
from forty to sixty cents per pound, the re
suit OF which was to cause a large amoa ut ot
capital from the North TO be invested in the
production of cotton. Labor, of course com
manded price comparatively beyond what
had hitherto been known in the planting and
farming districts, ranging from SIS to 500
per mouth, with rations, for first. class Geld
hands. The short crop of 1856 dispeiled the
illusion entertained by many capitalists of
rapidly accommodating a fortune, and ia many
cases, utterly ruined planters md adyentur.
ers, who had invested their all in a singl.
crop. Yet there was a sufficient number who
regarded their losses as the result Of an e..
ceptional season, added TO the nu N Der ofland
holders who determined to risk the result Of
auoiher years planting to maintain the hgh
rate OF RACES of the previous year, and the
contracts, whore wages wis the considera
tiOu, ranged from Sis to $50 per month and
where the land WAS titled on shares the
planters agreed to furnish the land, animals.
nntensil and, in many cases, forage, the freed
men furnishing the laber. In most Of these
cases, the laborer having no subsistence and
no credit, the planter agreed 10 become re.
'ponsible for the supplies necessary for the
Iaborer and his family, the amount to be de
Quoted from the share of the laborer when
the crops were gathered.
In consequence Of the dry weather and
worms the crop Of 1861 has not exceeded half
Of what was regarded u, AN average crop, add
that has not comma nded bar one half Of the
price of the previous year, thus reducing the
proceeds to ons.fourth of what was anticips-
ted by the planter and fire sdman as the pro.
ceeds Of the years labor. The result is tn.
financial ruin Of the planter and capitalist
and discomfort - the labOrer
In cases where laborers worked for stated
wages there is but little complaint or di.con
tent on the part of the freedmen, remunera.
ton having generally been received by the
l"borer either in money or supplies. or II no
paid he claim can be easily established or |
adjudicared, and If the planter has the mean,
the claim can be collected. Where the Ia.
borer has worked for share oe the crop erd.
less litigation has been the consequence. The |
lnb0rer being without means, has generally |
been furnished the necessary supplies by the |
PLANTER or on his security. On gathering the |
:rop. il has, in nsJority OF cases bees as
,ertsined that the share Of the sborer does |
not pay his Indebtedness for supplies advanc
ID, and instead Of receiving a dividend he is |
n debt This causes great discomfort and |
conviction, perhaps well founded in some
Instances, OF dishonesty and false accounts
'n the part Of planters, but this cannot gen.
rally be the case. DISTANCES have occurred
where the planters have entirely abandoned
he crop to the lnborers, losing their time
he use Of their animals and implements and
he supplies advanced Cases have beeH
'rOught TO nv sttention Of planting where
Iot only the entire crop has been turne over
o the lAhorers to satisfy their claims, hnt
lso The mules and implements used in its
reduction. The result of this condition Of
fairs is the almost universal determtnation
4 plan crs to abandon the culture Of cotton,
nd even II they wished to prosecute It an
ther year. il would ! apprehend, be impos-
IDLE for them procure further advances Of the
ecesiary supplies from any merchant, so
revalent is the conviction that cotton csunot
= produced at the present prices.
The nert year the land in cultivation will
= almost entirely devoted to corn. which re.
uires hut about one ff'h Of the labor de-
lsndsd for cotton therefore four 6fhs al
he lahorers repaired last year will he thrown
at Of employment, and Of course there will
2 a corresponding decrease "f wsges. This
ne freedmen do not appreciate, considering
the result ofa combination 10 defrand them
what they consider just wages The con.
'quence is they almost universally decline
ntering into contract for the year 1868 on [
!. terms offered by planters. t.
The CROP of 1867 having heen gathered, tn.
'e'dneH are nov idle and without, in q great
I'joritv nf Instances, the means If support
he result Is great complaints from everv I
eeiion Of ths State of depredaLions being
nmuitied On live stock. hogs, sheen and I
attle. This 10 nov the condition fnfairs In t.
10 Stat. ef Nississippi.
Planters srs without means having liuI, D
fl then eEeeP. their lands. Capitalists he 4
1nd the limits Of the Stste refuse to nska I
ivances from the uass'tled coalition Of AZ n
irs. The freedmea heing 70 q great extent !
senRtented. rsfuse to enter into contr cts
= the eouiue year. The remedy IN he an. !
led dsaaods nsst Thorough and immedi {
'Dsidsrasisa for the niIit-rT, either through d
= commander Of troops or ar.n,s Of the a
! -ean q reach all sections u the State. to ;,
, fhst sli perssss shte 70 sarnthefr ,upoort .
> compelled to do %. sad that all hos. e
nn labor receive compensation for ID. o. M. h
simply imp eSsible. The care NJ the nor
d the duty Of seeiag iha, contracts are Il
ihfaliy etecutsd dsvnIses upon Local mag. ii
rat es spd higher cosrtS.
How Far u is safe. nader The peculiar ean. y
ior 81 affairs sTisiine 10 THE Safe. 10 trust Il
eiVu RUtkofitiaa Uifh aIia dutw Z. Z. l. -
J. = -hon Re set e er.s.isg this District y