The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-22

mosk.ss iabor in fufYflShihk III RI stKteiir vsmp
resort for freedmen for long distance
pUsition, and tbsssiCrs snsti mum number Be- y =
them can maiatain order in given district.
Colored troops must be kept in bodies Buff:
cient to defend themselves. t. js not tn,
thinking men who would do Violence towart
any class of troops sent among them by CHI
General Government, but the lgnDrant il
some places might, and the late slave, too
who might be imbued with the idea THAI. hs
property of his late master, should, by right,
belong to him, n least should have no protae
ton from the coiored sofdiers. There 10 dan
ess~f i eolksioa being hroug6 "A by such
NJo bservsticns lead mo to.fks eonciusiou
that the citizens Of the Southern etates are
anxious to return TO selEeovernnent within
the Union as soon as'possible; thnt whilst n.
constructing they want and rsquitS protection
from the Government They think II due
from the Government, and IL is not hun1ilis.
ting to them as citizens, and that if such a
course was pointed out they would pursue Il
in good faith. II IS to be regretted that there
cannot be greater commingling at this time
between the citizens of the Two sections, and
particularly with those entrusted with the law
making power. 44l4FE
/ did not give the operations of the Freed.
mems Buresa that attention that would have
done if more time had been at my disposal.
Conversations, however, on the subject, with
officers connected with the Bureau, led me to
think that in some Of the States is ah1kirs have
not been conducted With goad judgement OF
economy, and that the belief widely spread
among the freedmen of the SOuehern States
fhN the lands pf their former owners wiz ii
part at least, be divided among them, has
come from the sgents.of this Bureau. This
belief = Desiodsly interfering with the willing
neAs Of the freedmen to make contracts for
W ensuing year. In some form the Freed
men Bureau is an absolute necessity until
civil law is establiahed aaa enforced, securing
to the freedmen their ri4Ats and full rrotec-
ton. At present, however, it is independent
Of tie military establishment Of the country,
and see@s to be operated BY the different Of
ficers Of the bureau according to their indi-
the shle heed of tho Bureau, makes friends
by the Just and fair instructions and advice
that he gives But the complaint in South
Carolina was that when he left things went on
as before. Many, perhaps the majority Of the
agents Of the Ereedmen's Bureau, advise the
freedmen that by their cva Industry they
must e-pec. 20 i've. 10 ihi4 end they en-
deavor 70 secure employment for them, and
then both contracting parties comply with en-
gagements. In some eases, ! am sorry TO say,
the freedmen's mind does not seem 10 be dis
abused of the idea that the freedman has a right
to live without provision for the future. The
effect Of the belief in the division OF land, is
idleness and aceunulatnn IN camps. tow.
and cities. In such cases | think it will be
found that vice and disease viii tend TO the
determination or destruction of the culored
race. 1t cannot be expected that the opinions
held by men at the South for years can be
changed in day, and. therefore, the freed
men require for few years, not only laws.
but the fostering care Of .Lcse who will
give them coed COUNCIL, and on whom they
can rely. The Freedmen bureau, separated
from the military, is an establishment Of the
country, aud requires all the expense of a
separate organization. One does not neces-
sarily know what the other is doing, or what
orders they are acting under. 1t seems TO me
thai tAis eoald be- 4oAected nv regarding
every officer on duty with troops ia the South.
ern States Is ssent ef thesFreedmen's bureau
and then have all orders from, the head OF me
Bureau sent through the department com
rnanders. This would create q responsibility
that would locate uniformity ofaction through.
out the South and would insure the orders and
Instructions from the head Of the bureau be-
ing carried out, and would relieve from duty
and pay large number OF the employees o
the Government.
have the honor to be, very repct'y,
Your obedient servant,
U. s. GMSl.sl