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[[stamp]] The National Archives of the United States [[/stamp]]

one half the gross proceeds of the crop. The word "proceeds" would seem to imply that the crop should be disposed of and one half of the gross sum allotted to the Freedmen, On the other hand the verbiage of the 9th & 10th Sections would go to show that the crop was intended to be divided in kind, In this conflict of language, we must, to form an opinion, go to other sources. What is the custom? We are informed that without exception, the rule is to first dispose of the crop and then divide the proceeds, which course will best subserve the interests of all parties? We are of opinion that to sell the crop will best to do so. The Crop sold a body or in large quantities by responsible and respectable merchants, and under the supervision of an able, and upright planter, will command an higher price than if frittered away in small parcels: and the Freedmen will be better protected than he would be left to his own simplicity, and inexperience and to the dishonesty and deceit of petty traders.
Another consideration is that justice requires that the interests of the planter should be looked to, and if the crop de devided in kind, and the Freedmen allowed to carry off their allotted shares and dispose of the same, the planter will have no security for payment of his advances, thus he will be disinclined to advance in future, and planting would languish. A prior sale of the crop and division of the proceeds, while it works no