Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 7 [Nov. 5, 1863-Sept. 12, 1864].

To Alpheus Lewis1Jump to section

Alpheus Lewis, Esq. Executive Mansion,
My dear Sir Washington, January 23. 1864.

You have enquired how the government would regard and treat cases wherein the owners of plantations, in Arkansas, for instance, might fully recognize the freedom of those formerly slaves, and by fair contracts of hire with them, re-commence the cultivation of their plantations. I answer I should regard such cases with great favor, and should, as the principle, treat them precisely as I would treat the same number of free white people in the same relation and condition. Whether white or black, reasonable effort should be made to give government protection. In neither case should the giving of aid and comfort to the rebellion, or other practices injurious to the government, be allowed on such plantations; and in either, the government would claim the right to take if necessary those of proper ages and conditions into the military service. Such plan must not be used to break up existing leases or arrangements of abandoned plantations which the government may have made to give employment and sustenance to the idle and destitute people. With the foregoing qualifications and explanations, and in view of it's tendency to advance freedom, and restore peace and prosperity, such hireing and employment of the freed people, would be regarded by me with rather especial favor. Yours truly A. LINCOLN

P.S. To be more specific I add that all the Military, and others acting by authority of the United States, are to favor and facilitate the introduction and carrying forward, in good faith, the free-labor system as above indicated, by allowing the necessary supplies therefor to be procured and taken to the proper points, and by doing and forbearing whatever will advance it; provided that

existing military and trade regulations be not transcended thereby. I shall be glad to learn that planters adopting this system shall have employed one so zealous and active as yourself to act as an agent in relation thereto. A.L.

This P.S. is in the body of the letter given2Jump to section

Annotation

[1]   ADfS, DLC-RTL. On January 20, 1864, Green C. Smith wrote Lincoln:

``Mr. Lewis obtained when here some time since a permit to purchase cotton. He proceeded south for that purpose but found that the planters in side of our lines refused to let him have cotton unless he would furnish a . . . proportion of supplies in lieu of the cotton purchased. These people are bound to live, must live, & they can only live on supplied furnished by our people. . . . Therefore would it be improper to allow Mr. Lewis this privilege. I will stand as sponsor for him that he will not abuse this privilege, but in connexion with it, obtain more valuable information upon which the govt. can act than any man you can have to operate. . . .'' (DLC-RTL).

A letter from Brutus J. Clay of January 21 gives supplemental information: ``From our conversation last night it seemed probable, Mr. Lewis would leave for the South soon, and stop at Bolivar, Mississippi, and see my Brother-in-law, C. F. Field. I thought I would act at once for him & in behalf of those he represents, as well as of my son Christopher F. Clay, for permission to hire voluntary Labour to carry on their plantations . . . under such restrictions as you may require. Also the right to purchase and carry to the plantations all needful supplies . . . and receive the proper protection from the Military Authorities for carrying on their legitimate business. . . . The season is approaching for putting in a crop. . . . Therefore despatch is necessary, & I would like for Mr. Lewis to carry all proper authority to Mr. Field when he goes.'' (Ibid.).

A draft of an order dated January 21, 1864, is as follows:

``The Supervising Special Agents of Treasury for 1st Agency, or proper Treasury Agents at Memphis or Vicksburg will grant to Alpheus Lewis Esq, necessary authority to purchase at, and ship from either place, family supplies, to the residence and plantations of such well disposed persons as he may name, within the lines of national military occupation, who will adopt the voluntary labor system.

``And the Surveyor of Customs at either place will clear all boats containing such supplies to any place or places within our lines, for the purpose of transporting said supplies and bringing back cotton or other produce he may receive in exchange.

``The Military and Naval authorities are requested to allow Mr Lewis to proceed to and from such places as he may desire with his boats, for the purpose of carrying out the above.'' (Ibid.).

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[2]   The letter given has not been located.

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