What were the arguments for and against land distribution for the freed slaves?

Question

What were the arguments for and against land distribution for the freed slaves?

Answer 1

For-It'll help the slaves find homes so they won't be homeless.

Against-There's no land available for the freed slaves, not to mention it'll cost to much money.

Answer 2

Reasons 'for' largely has to with pity for freed slaves - You'll get lots of answers concerning that, so I'll just give you 'against':

1) Slaves would not have made good farmers, because as slaves they were NOT farmers but farm-workers...There's a great difference in the level of skill and planning involving, and in running the everyday business of a farm.  Better to keep them

doing what they know best, as paid farm-workers or tenant-farmers.

2)Land-distribution would destroy the upper-middle class in the South.  There would be no one with enough money to invest, to start new businesses for the upcoming age of Industrialization.  Businesses in the South would therefore come to be dominated by foreigners or (worse, if you're a Southerner) Northerners.

3)You want to avoid a labor-shortage for the factories/industries the South needs, in the transition away from agriculture.