My idea of the adjustment in the Mississippi Valley, seeing what I can make from the mercantile portion of my business, is that it is simply my revenue that I get from the rent of my land as an investment on my capital; and whenever a negro can get his own merchant in New Orleans--a number of them have very good factors in New Orleans and ship their cotton direct--I encourage it.
When one negro wants to help out another, I give him the privilege of doing it and encourage it.

There are several negroes, a great many, not a few in Chicot County to-day who have their own factors in New Orleans, ship their own goods, and receive their own accounts of sales.
Q.They are not owners of alluvial lands?
-- A.

They are not owners at all; they are tenants.
Q.I suppose some time they will be liable to make some accumulations, and they will now and then own a plantation?
-- A.

I do know of one instance on the river below Vicksburg where the old property of Mr.Davis was bought by a former slave of his.
Q.Is that the only instance?
-- A.

The only instance I know of.
Q.One question we have been accustomed to put is as to the actual personal feeling that exists between the laborers and capitalists of different parts of the country.