DOMESTIC ECONOMY.
Around Major Delany’s district, there being evidence of an abundant
harvest, the movements of persons designing to reap large profits,
to the detriment of the freedmen, were apparent. With a view of
frustrating their designs, he suggested proper measures to obviate the
difficulty, which we find in his general report made to headquarters,
dated March 1, 1867, for the year 1866. Therein he gave his views,
showing the necessity of important changes in the industrial pursuits
of the freedmen; also the measures put forward by him for their
financial protection.
“It was apparent from observation and experience that the custom of
renting the lands to speculators, who sub-let them to freedmen, or
employed them to work at disadvantageous rates--that these poor people,
at the end of the planting year, habitually came out with nothing--nay,
worse than nothing, as those working them in shares having provision
supplied from the stores of the speculators, or renting the lands,
and obtaining them on credit from such stores. When the crops were
realized, they paid them all away to these stores for the scanty
mouthfuls they received on credit during cultivation--finding
themselves with nothing--in rags, and debt for “balance due” on the
books of these first-hand lessees and supply speculators. And those who
had a little chance of raising crops for themselves to advantage, were
equally the victims of the petty brokers and cotton traders (resulting
from their superior business knowledge and intelligence, and the almost
entire absence of such qualifications on the part of the freedmen),
their cotton being sacrificed in the market. It was evident from these
facts that there could be but little or no chances for the freedmen or
refugees to compete with bidders or lessees of the land, let at the
highest cash price (frequently above their value in this district),
except by an adoption of some measure for their protection, whereby a
portion of their scanty earnings could be saved, and the lands let to
them at prices suited to their means, in preference to speculators and
capitalists.
“To this end I recommend the establishment of a freedmen’s cotton
agency, to be attended by a competent agent, where all could have their
cotton deposited on consignment, culled (assorted), ginned, packed
(bagged), and sold at the highest cash market value, in Charleston;
they realizing, the profits themselves, instead of the speculators.
“To make such an establishment profitable to them, the expenses should
be as moderate as possible, and less than the usual rates of charges in
commission houses. Hence, to accomplish this, a suitable building was
obtained from the quartermaster’s department (free of rent, of course),
and those freedmen possessing foot-gins requested to put them up in the
establishment, where they might be used in ginning the cotton brought,
charging twenty per cent., or one fifth less than the market price for
ginning, and receiving, when not worked by themselves, one fourth of
the proceeds of the gin, the freedman who worked receiving the other
three fourths as his compensation, thus making them self-sustaining as
well as self-reliant.
“The agent supplied the bagging, and received, as compensation for the
advances thus made, the pay for the weight of the bag, deducted from
the price of the bag of cotton. This will be understood in mercantile
circles, as bagging is always worth the price of an equal weight of
cotton.
“The next effort, officially, was to secure to them the advantages of
the lands at a ‘first-hand’ low rate, as they were now able to raise
the money among themselves, by which to secure leases. To accomplish
this, interviews and correspondence were had with the United States
Direct Tax Commissioners, who, being without instructions, were
awaiting the action of Congress and government in relation to the
division and assignment of land on the tenure of Lieutenant General
Sherman’s field order, No. 15. After mature consideration, as the
season for planting was rapidly approaching, and the people clamorous
and anxious to go to work, preparing for cultivation, I concluded to
divide responsibilities with the commissioner, and let the lands to the
freedmen at _one dollar_ an acre, for the year 1867.
“They had been advised to prepare for leasing them at two dollars an
acre, the leases to be made to one man on each plantation, who would
receive and pay over their money, and see to a proper apportioning of
the land. In less than three weeks from the time that notice to this
effect was given, upwards of three thousand dollars in cash and cotton
vouchers were deposited with the bureau to secure leases, and fourteen
plantations taken with the extreme satisfaction of paying back to each
individual _one half_ of his money. This last act of the commissioners
crowns their official doings with discretion and liberality, which
should entitle them to at least the thanks of the friends of humanity,
if not respectful consideration of Congress.”
The action of the major in this direction was approved and commended
by his superior officers, and resulted in proving so far successful.
His duties gave indications of further extension at this time, by the
following document, issued from the war department, and reissued from
the headquarters of the assistant commissioner subsequently:--
HEADQUARTERS ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER,
BUREAU R. F. & A. L., SOUTH CAROLINA,
CHARLESTON, S. C., Feb. 19, 1867.
The following circular letter is republished for the
information of officers and agents of the Bureau R. F. and A.
L., in this state:--
_Circular Letter._
WAR DEPARTMENT, BUREAU R. F. & A. L.,
WASHINGTON, February 12, 1867.
To Brevet Major General R. K. Scott, _Assistant Commissioner,
Charleston, S. C._
It has become apparent that the designation of the several
officers of this Bureau should indicate the nature of the duty
which each is to perform, and that such designation should be
uniform throughout the jurisdiction of this Bureau.
Each state will be divided into sub-districts, of the proper
number of counties, in the discretion of the assistant
commissioner. The officers in charge of each will be empowered
to exercise and perform within their respective sub-districts
all the powers and duties of assistant commissioners, except
such as by regulations devolve upon assistant commissioners
themselves, and these officers will be designated sub-assistant
commissioners.
Any officer or agent serving under the direction of the
sub-assistant shall be denominated an agent, except those
serving in staff department and as clerks.
All officers authorized to disburse the funds of this Bureau
shall be designated disbursing officers.
Major General O. O. HOWARD,
_Commissioner_.
Brevet Major General R. K. SCOTT, _Assistant Commissioner._
Official.
EDWARD L. DEANE,
_Brevet Major & A. A. A. Gen._
Soon after the publication of the “circular letter,” the State of South
Carolina, by order of the major general commanding, was divided into
twenty-four sub-districts. Major Delany’s administration of affairs in
the spheres previously assigned him, receiving the confidence of the
assistant commissioner, his province was extended, as the following
order will show:--
HEADQUARTERS, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER,
BUREAU R. F. & A. L., SOUTH CAROLINA,
CHARLESTON, S. C., February 20, 1867.
_General Orders. No. 3._
_Extract._
XI. The Sub-District of Hilton Head will comprise the Islands
of Hilton Head, Pinckney, Savage, Bull, Dawfuskie, and Long
Pine: headquarters at Hilton Head; Major M. R. Delany, United
States Colored Troops, sub-assistant commissioner.
By order of
Brevet Major General R. K. SCOTT,
_Assistant Commissioner_.
Official.
EDWARD L. DEANE,
_Brevet Major & A. A. A. Gen._