him, & on investigation it has been shown in almost every instance
that his men were in the wrongI came here not for pecuniary considerations, but to contribute my
might towards sustaining an administration which I respect; & I feel
concious of having done my duty to the best of my ability -- I do not
doubt the motives of Mr Pierce & those under his employ; I believe they
came here to do what they could towards elevating the condition of the
unfortunate contrabands within our lines, but sir, I am satisfied from
observation that seven eighths of these Gentlemen are totally unfit for
the positions which they attempt to occupyThis is apparent to every one here, & thus it is I presume that scribblers, & gossipers, have turned their attention to itIf Mr Pierce had condicended to advise with me, I could have saved
him a great deal of trouble, & the Department a large expenditure --
For instance the steamer Atlantic arrived a day or two since bringing
consigned to me, nearly two hundred thousand pounds of cotton-seed ordered by Mr Pierce -- I was perfectly astonished, as I have on hand here,
more seed than would be required to cultivate all the Plantations now in
our possessionAbout one third of the amount was landed before I was aware of the
fact, & I had it put into store; the balance I have ordered kept on board
the ship & taken back to New York where it has a market value -- I
learn that Mr Pearce has ordered ten thousand bushels of seed shippd
from New York here -- That already sent has cost the Government over six thousand Dollars, & is perfectly worthless here except for manure --
I have mentioned this to show you what might have been avoided, if I
had been consulted in this instanceI have only to say in regard to the plan adopted by Genl Sherman
for employing the contrabands, & cultivating the abandoned estates,
that I heartily endorsed the measure, & exerted myself in assisting him
to systematise the whole thing 2Trusting you will pardon the liberty I have taken in addressing you
this lengthy communicationI amYour obt servant WM H REYNOLDSHon S. P. Chase Secy. of the Treas Washington D.C.
| NaN. | The article was critical of efforts by Pierce and Chase at Port Royal, but praised those of Reynolds and advocated allowing "private individuals to work the plantations at their own risk." "Altogether, there is every indication that time will prove this to be a dear and useless experiment, for which the Northern tax-payers will have to suffer," wrote "Wopsey," a correspondent at Hilton Head. In his letter to Reynolds, Chase had ex |
-158-
Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information:
Book title: The Salmon P. Chase Papers.
Volume: 3.
Contributors: John Niven - Editor, James P. McClure - AssociateEditor, Leigh Johnsen - AssociateEditor, Salmon Chase - Author.
Publisher: Kent State University Press.
Place of publication: Kent, OH.
Publication year: 1993.
Page number: 158.
This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.
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