Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-12-21
Gen. Mownrd,s Renor1.

II. .NEw Y YoRK, Dec, 2O.-Gen. Howard, In
MS Official report, states that on entering
upon the discharge of hisduties he sepa-
rated the Bureau into four divisions-A0fe
OF lands, another OF financial affairs, one OF
record, and the fourth a medical depart
ment. 10 each of these divisions he as
signed an officer and secured the required
number ofclerks by appointment and by
detail from the rank Of the army, Be
fore the organization of the Bureau freed
mems affairs had dbeentntrusted.to different
officers OF Government, thereby occasioning
diversity of systems In different localities.
| a. lew Assistant Commissioners, were at
once appointed and sent to Oilifferent States
toorganize bureaus and complete tie work
already begun, and settle important utIes-
| tlons of labor. just as far as the safety of
events would allow, the Assistant Commits
sioner procured citizen or military officer
for each. district, county or parish. The
evident hostility of a portion of the citi-
zens, and their ability, In the absence of
troops and civil laws, to outrage or take
the life of an agent, hindered the extending
of operations except by occasional inspec-
tion by an officer In connection with q patrol
The LGenernl acknowledges the hearty
support of most of the Department COM
manders in organizing and carrying out
the plans of the Bureau. The tenure of the
Bureau upon abandoned property is re-
gardcd the same as that possessed by an
actual owner, except that said property
may be restored, byseompetent authority,
70 Its former owner "A comparatively In
significant amount of property is used as
quarters for teachers and officers connected
with the Bureau, and as hospitals. With
these exceptions, all property in the hands
of the Bureau is held as means of revenue,
by order of the President.
The work of restoration has progressed
very rapidly, and it Is probable that when
the war terminates little or no property will
remain, under the control of the Bureau
Bythis policy of restoration the expeeta-
tions OF the freedmen that land would be
assigned them have been disappointed, and
difficulty has arisen thereby; but it mas been
overcome with comparative ease. Much
embarrassment and actual suffering has re-
suited from restoration of property in use,
and much more will result from the cur
tallment OF the Bureau. About one five
hundredth of the entire amount of land of
the insurrectionary districts has been
held, and had the plan of assigning it to
freedmen been carried out the Bureau
would have been unable to furnish an acre
per family.
Experience has shown that as a general
rule 1t is better to leave the price of labor TO
be regulated by demand. Schools have been
established, but the hostility of the white
people to them is undisguised.
Congress, when 1t created the bureau,
made no appropriation to deiray its expens-
es. 1t has, however, received funds from
miscellaneous sources to the amount of
S47S,363. Deducting the amount held as
retained bounties, $ll5.236, and the balance
on hand Oct: 3lst 1865, available to meet
liabilities, is $3l2796. The amount held as
claimed bounties is merely held in trust for
colored soldiers or their families.
The breaking up of the old plantation
system has necessarily left the sick with
little or no medical provision. AS soon as
they earn money and become better versed
than now in the ordinary means of self
support they will doubtless secure the
necessary aid.
From Information derived from various
reports of military officers, inspectors and
assistant commissioners, Gen. Howard ar
rives at the general conclusion that free la
bor Notwithstanding the sudden emancipa-
tion and the thousands of causes of dis
turbance incident to the war, will prove
successful; that the Freedmen's Bureau, or
some substitute for it of a national charac-
ter, will have to be continued, and that the
present organization of the bureau, with
the understanding that it is not to be per-
manent, is as good as he could suggest,
except as to the subject of freedmen's
courts and the employment OF civil
agencies. Some general system for pro-
viding for the aged and infirm is nee
essary, and it would be well to devote
the funds raised during the war under
the Treasury laws for the benefit of freed |
men, to securing sites and buildings for
school purposes in different States; and
that Joint companies, whose object shall
be to aid the poor blacks and whites in
rental, purchase and settlement of land. |
should be encouraged by Government, and |
that the rights of the freedmen to rent and |
purchase real property should be guaran-
teed to them beyond question.
1t is estimated that the amount required
for expenditures of the bureau for the fis- |
cal year commencing January l, 1866, will |
be Sll, ,745,O50. : - - VI " |