Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-29

GES. IIowARD's RErORT.-Gon. Howard's
report of the operations of the Fretdmcn's
Bureau during the past year is a lengthy
document, going largely into the details OF
the subject. Toward the close, Gen. How
ard states some of the general conclusions to
W hich he has arrived. The first is as fol-
ows:
4" That free labor, notwithstanding the sud-
den emancipation, and the thousands Of causes
of disturbance incident to the war, will prove
successful but in order TO hasten this result,
every effort must be made by officers Of the
Government and sll others concerned TO secure
confidence between the holders Of property and
the freedmen, and to restore that confidence
wherever il has been impaired. On the part OF
the freedmen, they are looking for justice and
privileges with perhaps too exalted notions yet
their confidence cannot be obtained without
reasonable extension to them Of the rights and
privileges Of free men, On the part of the pro
perty holders, great complaint is made for want
Of security Of labor, the majority seeking some
compulsory process that is, some substitute
for slavery. There are so many examples of
complete success of free labor that | bring them
as an answer to such complaints, and believe
that the causes of complaint are due as much TO
the prejudice of the employer and the want OF
practical knowledge Of any other system than
the one under which he has been brought up,
as to the ignorance and suspicion of the laborer.
therefore earnestly advocate equality before
the law, trusting to time and education TO over
come prejudice and ignorance.
Gen Howard then gives ten weighty rea-
sons why the Bureau, or some substitute for
it, should he continued. His fifth ought to
be sufficient of itself, viz: Every colored
man met, of any considerable intelligence,
pleaded earnestly for the continuance the
bureau, as his only hope of justice and pri-
vIlege correspondent to the necessities of his
new position" lie further thinks that
some general system of providing for the
aged, infrm and helpless negroes, beyond
the scope of the present laws, ought to be
established. Aid should be rendered to
those who may wish to take advantage of
the homestead law. Gen. Howard's sixth
| conclusion is as follows:
{. That in order to place education on frmer
basis than it now il, it would be well to devote
those funds raised during the war, under the
Treasury laws, for the benefit Of the freedmen,
to securing sites and buildings for school pur-
poses in the different States, to be held as
United States property, until the people in turn
shall be able to purchase the same; school
buildings should not be exclusively for freed
men for any aid gwen to educate the numer-
Gus poor white children Of the South will be
most important, and conducive to the object our
Government has in view. mean the harmony,
the elevation and prosperity Of our PEOPLE ln-
dustrial schools ami orphan asylums could be
provided for in the same way. These funds
would at best be but o meagre amount for such
work, yet they would give an impulse in the
locality where expended"
Gen. Howard's report estimates that
eleven millions of dollars will be necessary
for the support of the Freedmen's Bureau
for the year 1866. He asks the appropria'
tion of this amount, three millions Of which
are for the purchase and building of site
and edi6ces for schools and asylums in ths
South for both black and white. His repor
closes With the following remark; -l