Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-28

We present that part Of Gen. Howard
report. as Commissioner Of the Bureau o
Refugees, Freedmen, and Ahandone,
Lands, which relates 10 the work of tn
assistant commissioners in the differen
states, together with hls rec0mmenda
tions for the future conduct of tn
Bureau. The remainder Of the report i
devoted 20 a detailed history of the or
gsnization and character Of the Bureau
together with statistics of the work ac
complished since its organization. W.
inay have occasion 10 refer 10 this here
after What we publish to-day, how
ever. viii be found interesting 10 the gen
eral reader, being concise statement o
what has actually been done, and Of tn,
present condition and future prospects O
the affairs OF the Bureau in the severa
states 10 which its operations extend.
Miscellaneous.
Of .yitstice-As all matters relating L
refugees and freedmen were committed
10 my supervision and management by
the law, and as the old civil codes in the
several insurrecti0nary States had be-
come practically null and void. 50 far as
they related TO the Gegro, il became nee
essary 10 lay Gown some general rule for
the officers Of the Bureau concerning the
administration Of fjustice. Atfirst, l con-
fined myselfto the following instructions
a'NI. Simple good faith for which We
hope on all hands from those concerned
in the passing gay OF slavery, will es-
peciauy relieve the Assistant Commits
sioners in he discharge cf their duties
towards the freedmen, as well as pro-
mote the general welfare. The Assis-
tant Commissioners viii, everywhere,
declare and protect their freedom, as set
forth ia the Proclamation Of the Presi-
dent and the laws Of Congress.
wi. In al places where there Is an
interruption Of civil law, or in which
local courts, by reason Of old codes, in
violation Of the freedom guaranteed By
the Proclamation Of the President and
the laws OF Congress, disregard the ne
cro's right to justice before the laws, in
not allowing him to give testimony, the
control Of all subjects relating 10 Refu-
gees and Freedmen being committed TO
this Bureau, the Assistant Commissioner
viii adjudicate, either themselves or
through officers Of their appointment, all
difficulties arising between negroes them
selves, and between negrOes and whites
or Indians, except those in military ser
vice, 30 far a. recognizable by military
authority, and not taken cognizance Of
b. other tribunals, civil or military, Of
the United States"
On the latter paragraph was based the
reference OF freedmen's cases to provost
and freedmen's courts.
The provost courts were established
generally by the Department COmman-
der, and eases passed through him for
revision. In the great majority Of in
stances that have come to my knowl-
edge, these courts have decided fairly,
but there are some exceptions, where
officers composing them, having the ir-
fectioUs prejudice against the negTD,
have discriminated very much against
his interest, and meted out to those who
abuse him either by yeXtortion or violence,
punishments in no way commensurate
with the ofienses.
The freedmen's courts have been con-
stituted wholly or partially, Of officers
Of the Bureau. il was impossible 10
multiply such courts, on account of the
scarcity Of officers. ] therefore resorted
70 the practice OF assOciating civilians
with these officers for the settlement of
minor cases, and with limited powers e.
10 punishment, in no case exceeding one
hundred dollars fine, or thirty days i'm
prisonment
the Assistant Commissioner to the Pro-
visional Governor TO make OF the civil
courts Of his appointments, freedmen's
courts, provided the judges would accept
such recognition. Nearly all in the State
did so. approved Of this action believ-
ing il 20 be necessary to test the civil
judges a. 10 their disposition to do justice
TO the freedmen. The agents Of the
Bureau were required TO act as far a.
possible as the advocates Of the freedmen
in these courts and the right tOwithdraw
recognition was in the hands Of the As
sistant Commissioner.
Favorable reports have come from
nearly every quarter Of this State, vet
grave abuses have been complained OF
from the courts in the northern sections
bordering upon Tennessee and Georgia.
BY the means referred to the freedmen
have been allowed suits and testimony
in Alabema. A similar course was pur-
iued in Mississippi, but with partial sue
cess. In Louisiana suits and testimony
were already allowed under the State
Government and the civil courts have
been tried 10 some extent in that State
Recently civil magistrates have received
recognition by the Assistant Commits
sioner ia Georgia with similar directions
a
South Carolina the Military Division
Comman Ter, Gen. Meade, took the
matter out Of my hands making an ar
rangement with the Provisional Cover
nor that freedmen's cases should be
brought before provost courts. In the
other States, action has been much the
same as IN Alabama and Mississippi,
excepting I'm Virginia where the
State officials could not under
their State Constitution serve as United
states officers. ] would call your
special attention 10 these cclirts in the
several insuTreetionary Stztas called into
existence by the pressure ofnecessitya and
easily transferable 10 State tribunals as
soon as the States shall have met the re-
Quirements Of the General Government,
and become prepared TO administer equal
Justice. II would seem best, however, %
have some provision Of law extending
United States jurisdiction 10 the freed
men. while they remain wards of the
Government. Freedmeu's United States
Courts % exist for a term Of yeaIs, would
be very effective instrument 20 relieve
these people from the injustice incident
% d forced emancipation; ! mean on the
part of those vino have fought against
emancipation and are too full Of preju-
dices aud ignorance TO believe In free
dom.
have inte-fered as little as possible
with subjects like marriage, paupers, Ap-
premiership Of orphan minors, etc, yet
have directed the Assistant Commission
en- 20 extend the State laws made for the
Rhlies, as far a. practicable 10 the freed
men. ID fact i Is the easiest and best
way possible to solve every troublesome
problem proposed, relating TO negroes,
by the time hOnored rules established by
wise legislation for other people Mar
riages have been carefully registered IL
every state, ard quite large number of
i,rplaus have teen apTrenticed in differ
ant parts ofthe Unired S,atss. 20 neople
IN good character, snd under humane and
ifsseral reslilari 0us. Should the care of
All lie pauyefs Of iIeedlnen he thrown
upon the General Government, It will i.e
necessary to use some OF the public lands
for relief farms, and 10 rent or purchase
5arras ID the counties OF districts inhah-
tied by the frsedmen- EYentAaliy. the
fres.A,nen themselves viii be able % sus-
tain this expense, Dlt hot now. With
out doubt tie property Of the district,
county or town, should by some means
te made 10 defray il. urge atte2ilon %
ilis subject, especially as there Is daflgef
that during the coming winter a large
number Of dependents, old men, women
and children, may be left by former mas
tiers 70 shift for themselves, and unless
Silowed 10 suffer, become a tax TO the
General Government.
bermit lne n1E 10 give q brief synOpsis
IL iAe work Of each Assistant Commis-
sioner, r6Ss-riing 70 his own reports for
more extended Information.
District Of COInmbia.
District OF Columbia Including Alexandria
EairfGE and London counties, Ia Virginia, and
also q general supervision Of freedmen Is afiairz
IN Ma.s-and.l
As soon rs the Bureau was organized,
I called 10 Washington Col. John Eaton.
ir.. from the Mississippi Valley, where
ne had been acting for two or three years
as Superintendent of Freedmen, and
where he acquired the full confidence of
fhe War Department. and gave him
charge of the district above described.
He has aided me materially, also, 10y his
practical views upon matters connected
with lhe general neld. Several benevo-
lent associations, including the Wash