The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-08-10
Gen. Fisk Arming the Freedmen
Of Tennessee.
Nashville Cor. of the Cincinnati Gazetie.l

Nashville Cor OF the Cincinnati GaZetfe.
THE FREEDMEN $ covRT-As TRANCE CASE.
General Fisk has established here Freed
mems Court, in which differences arising be-
tween the Freedmen and others, or between
the Freedmen themselves, are adjudieated by
officers and agents of the Bureau. except at
places where the civil courts receive the testi-
mony of the colored citizens. In these
courts the negro rights to justice before the
law shall be maintained saws the General,
and he will receive the same punishment
for crimes as the laws impose upon white
men"
On the 26th inst two slaveocrats appeared
before this court, on a summons TO answer to
complaints of wrongs committed against then
colored neighbors. One was charged with
defrauding his employees out of their wages.
He pleaded guilty, settled on the spot, and
entered into written contract with the boys
as guide to his future conduct. The other
case is one peculiar to the South. An +. +.
L. was charged by two dusky women as being
the father oftwo children to which they had re-
Gently gave birth. He frankly admitted tn.
charge to be tr7so, and made provisions for the
support of the little Freedmen. A few year.
since he would have put down those little curly
heads as handsome addition to his stock il
records of the Freedmen Court.
NOVEL ENTERPRISE.
No man about Nashville is better known
than General Harding. His plantation is on,
Of the finest in Tennessee, and he went init
the rebellion with all his soul But he hal
been subdued, has taken all the oaths, ant
seems disposed to observe them. He has OF
his plantation hundred and ten negroes
the remnant of once valuable stock owned
before the war. Yesterday, Gen. Fisk wen
out TO General Harding to talk with him. ant
the colored people, about a school. WbeI
the matter was first broached, Mr.. H. express
ed himself in strong terms against it. H,
was willing to pay for the work he obtained
but a colored school he would - never hav,
on his plantation. However, IA meeting wa
called, Gen. Harding introduced Gen. Fiske
told who he was, what was his business, sns
sat down. Then the General took the foo
and explained his views in regard to school
The scene just there and then formed a spec
tacle worthy the pencil of Raphael. Their
sat the ex-rebel planter and General, and be
fore him congregation of ex-slaves, who's,
dusky faces, when they heard of the school
were lighted up with joy better imagined
than described. One old gentleman brok'
out: " Bless de Lord, Massa General, dat il
jest what we want, exactly
After hearing the General and beholdin,
the enthusiasm of the blacks, Mr.. Hardin,
gracefully surrendered one of the most wick
ed prejudices of the South, and agreed tina
school should be opened on his planta
ton, to which he would give all possible en-
couragement! As soon as the arrangement
can be made and suitable teacher procured
school of sixty children will be opened!
General Harding pays his men eight dollar
per month, his women six dollars, clothe
and feeds them, gives them the whole o
every Saturday to themselves, and farnishe
each one truck patch free. Many of hi
hands, however, desire to rent land and man
age their own affairs. so as to getsahead il
the world. When urging this upon Genera
Fisks attention, one shrewd old man said
We will pay good rent and work hard
We is honest niggers, and we want to dea
justicely."