The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-04-04


Official report made few days ago by
Gen. Gillcm to Gen. Ord, upon the con-
dition of the freedmen in Mississippi, he
states
I'm places where laborers worked for
stated wages there is but little complaint
of discomfort on the part of the freed
men. remuneration having generally been
received by the laborer either in money
or supplies, or if not paid the claim can
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
laborer, being without means, has geDer-
ally been furnished the necessary supplies
by the planter or on his security. On
gathering the crop it has in majority OF
cases been ascertained that the share OF
the laborcr does not pay his Indebtedness
for the supplies advanced, and instead oi
receiving a dividend he is in debt. This
causes great discomfort and conviction
perhaps we'll founded in some instances
of dishonest and false accounts on the
part of planters, but this cannot gcner.
ally be the case. Instances have occur
red where the planters have entirely
abandoned the crop 10 the laburers, losing
their time. the use of their animals and
implements and supplies advanced. Case:
have been brought to my attention o.
planting where not only the entire croI
has been turned over to these labt rers t.
t,sfy 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 an
othcr year it would, I apprehend, be i'm
possible for them to procure further ad
vance of the necessary supplies from any
merchant, so prevalent is the conviction
that cotton cannot be produced at th,
present prices.
The next year the land in cultivatio,
will be almost entirely devoted to corn
which requires about one fifth of the la
Dor demanded by cotton therefore four
fifths of the laborers required last yea
will be thrown out of employment, ant
of course there will be corresponds,
decrease of wages; this the freedmen d
not appreciate, considering it the rcsul
of combination to defraud them of wha
they consider just wages. The conse
Iquence is they almost universally declin
entering into contracts for the year 1856
on the terms offered by planters.
/ The crop of 1867 having been gath
cred, the freedmen are now idle an
without, in a great majority of instances
the means of support. The result
great complaints from every section Q
the state of depredatious being commit
ted on live stock, hogs, sheep and cattle
This is now the condition OF affairs in tn
State of Mississippi"
I General Gillem also says there seems
be widespread belief, which is daily il
creasing among the freedmen, that tn
land in Mississippi is to be divided an
distributed among them, and in som
sections of the State this illusion is al
suming practical form by the freedme
. refusing to contract for the next year, {
; to leave the premises they have cultiv.
! ted this year. Its to be feared that th
course, induced by evil disposed adviser
may lead to collisions, the extent /
which it is difficult to surmise