The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-01-03
ORciaI Report Of Gen, Gillem.
Condition fthe Blacks in Mississippi.

manding the Fourth Military District
In consequence of the dry weather and
worms, tie crop of 1867 has not exceeded
hplf Of what was regarded as an average
crop, and that has not commanded but one
half Of the price Of the previous year, thus
reducing the proceeds 10 one fourth of
what was anticipated by the planter and
freedman as the proceeds Of the years la
Dor. The result is the financial ruin Of
the planter and capitalist, and the disoon-
tent Of the laborer
In cases where laborers worked for sta /
ted wages. there is but ltte complaint or
discomfort on the part Of the freedmen, re-
enumeration having generally been received /
by the laborer either IN money or supple s, !
or if not paid the claim can be easily estab
lished or adjudicated, aud 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 laborer being without
means. has generally been furnished the
necessary supplies by the planter or on his
security. On gathering the crop it has, in
a majority Of cases, been ascertained that
the share Of the laborer does not pay his
indebtedness for supplies advanced, and
instead of receiving a dividend, 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 planters, but this cannot
generally be the case. Instances have &C.
CURED where he planters have entirely
abandoned the crop to the laborers, losing
their time, the use oftheir animals and i'm
Elements aud the supplies advanced. Cases
have been brought to my attention of plant
ing where not only the entire crop has
been turned over to the Iaborers to salty
/ their claims, but also the mules and i'm
elements used in its production. The re-
suit of this condition ofafairs Is the almost
universal determination of planters to aban-
don the culture of cotton, and even if they
wished to prosecute it another year, il
would, 1 apprehend, be impossible for them
to procure further advance Of the necessa-
ry supplies from any merchant, so PreYa-
lent is the conviction that cotton cannot be
produced at the present prices.
The next year the land in cultivation will
be almost entirely devoted to corn, which
requires but about one-ffth of the labor
demanded by cotton; therefore four-ffths
of the laborers required last year viii be
thrown out Of employment, and of course
there will be corresponding decrease o.
wages. This the freedmen do not appre-
ciate, considering it the result of comb
nation to defraud them of what they con.
slider just wages. The consequence is they
almost universally decline entering int
contracts for the year 1868 on the terms Of
fered by planters.
The crop of 1867 having been gathered
the freedmen are now idle and without, il
a great majority of instances. the means o
support. The result is great complaint.
, from every section of the State of depreda
2 tons being committed on live stock, hogs
, sheep and cattle. This is now the condi
g ton Of affairs in the State of Mississippi.
Planters are without means, having it'll
left them except their lands. Capitalist
7 beyond the limits of the State refuse t.
a make advances from the unsettled condi
O. ton Of affairs The freedmen being to
= great extern disconnected, ref-se to eute
Y into contracts for the coming year. Tn
remedy to be applied demands most thor
ough and Immediate consideration for th
g military, either through the commanders Q
j. troops or agents of the Bureau to reach al
a sections Of the State, to see that all person
y able to earn their support are compelled t
d do so, and that all those who do labor re
:. ceive compensation for the SINE, is simpl
impossible The care Of the poor and th
d duty Of seeing that contracts are faithful
h executed deyolvcs upon the local magi:
l. trates and higher courts
T. How far it is safe, under the peculia
e condition Of affairs existing in this State
to trust the civil authorities with this duty
= it is for YOU, to whom the act creating hi
r. district intrusls "the security Of life an
W property" to judge. To empower the k
% cal magistrates to arrest as Migrants a
persons without visible means Of supper
would no doubt lead to acts of iniustic
ne but the civil authorities, being recognize
D. and inuusted with the execution of Il
70 civil law, collection Of taxes aud care of Il
h. poor, it would seem to be a necessary col
is sequence that, as protection to the con
he muujty, they should have authority to con
Ps pei all who are able to support themselve
and thus prevent them from becoming
burden upon the community To deny q
ST. civil authorities the exercise of this rig
Ire is to place the freedmen above the reco
ar nizsd government Of the State
he It is a matter of very grave doubt whes
OF er, in the present condition of affairs. t
IS civil authorities, unaided by the miitar
be will be able to mmntain order and execu
the law. Civil process can only be serv
in in the ordinary manner where offenders a
of the exception and the law is sustained
rot public opinion; but in the present ruin