Year: 1863

Below will be found Gen. Thomas plan
for employing negroes on abandoned plan
tations. He says be wishes it had been
done a month earlier, then the success
would have been complete, but even yet
much may be done:


First The Government of the United
States, in order to secure the safety OF com.
merce and navigation on the Mississippi,
have determined to locate on or near its
beach loyal population, who will protect
instead of destroying. as is now done, the
freedom of commercial Intercourse on this
great inland sea. That this policy may the
more speedily receive its initiation, George
Is. Field, Captain A. Z. Shickle ami the
Rev. D. S. Liyenmore are hereby appointed
Commissioners, whose duty it shall be to
superiutend the letting of plantations to
persons of proper character and qualihca-
tions, and to see that the mutual obligations
between the negroes aud their employers or
superintendents, shall be faithfully perform
ed /; to attend in some measure to their
moral and intellectual wants, and generally
to carry out the policy of the Government
regarding negroes that are to be put to
agricultural pursuits


Second. 1t being deemed the best policy
as far as possible to make the employment
and subsistence of negroes matter to be
left to private enterprise, plantations will be
placed in possession of such persons AS com
missioners shall deem of good character aud
pecuniary responsibility, and in lieu of rent
tax will be collected upon the product Of
the land, payable to such agents as the
Treasury Department shall designate, care
being taken to secure, as far possible, the
inst rights of employee and employed, and
in all cases the negroes will be furnished
with enough clothing for comfort in advance
of their earnings, in consequence of their
extreme destitution, aud in no case will
negroes be subjected to corporal punish
ment by the lash, or other cruel aud unusual
modes.


Third. Upon the occupancy Of planta-
tions inspectors will visit each plantation
and take an inventory of all the property
upon the estate. Crops yet ungathered will
be turned over to be gathered by the lessee,
upon such terms as shall secure to the Gov
ernment its fair share, while all movable
property, stock, grain, &C., will be taken
possession of by the Government or sold to
the lessee, if be SO desire, at their appraised
value, payable out of the proceeds Of the
plantation in the fall. The appraisers to
be appointed by the Commissioners unless
otherwise designated BY the Government.
Fourth. After the lessee shall have taken
possession of the plantation, as many ne.
groes of average quality as he may desire,
Shall be turned over to him upon the order
of the Commissioners, the lessee entering
into bonds tc employ them until the 6rst of
February, 1864, and to feed, clothe, and
treat humanely all the negroes thus turned
over, the clothing to be deducted from their
wages. and to be furnished at cost.


Fifth. If it shall be found impracticable
in consequence of the lsteness of the sea-
son to find persons of sufficient character
aud responsibility to give employment to
all the negroes coming within the lines of
the army, the commissioners may appoint
superintendents, under whose supervision
the soil may be cultivated for the exclusive
use of the Government, or may have the
plantations worked upon such terms as in
their judgment shall be best adapted to the
welfare Of the nation, takiag care in Ill
plans adopted the negroes sbsll b. self