, 1865-06-30

are addressing thcmst,. ives to their work with
yIGor and rtso4nEr.n. There has not teen
time yet to rePc..t results, for the labors are
hut just oes,,p-l. Reports and information are
coming II 20 fast, however, that the condi-
tlon o. affairs in each State will soon be fully
s:a.c, ts well as the military authorities,
(Hlo are acting in many localities to preserve
order and enforce discipline among both
white and b]ack,) are making inyestiEa-
:ioDE, md are already sending in yoiu-
mincus reports which prove. mainly
m excet diIcly difficult and arduous nature
The commissioner has already "a
several officers to different Localities fn IN.
speet the condition e1 sle in..aa;,nen. and to
...rei .a,n anu cs,ablish tie proper relations
between them and their former masters.
I4lcut. Cal. Strong, Inspector General of the
bureau, is On uur for this purpose in tue
Mississippi VALLEY; Major Stiuson has gone,
lor the came purpose, 10 Loudon and Fa1-
quitr counties, In Virginia, where the people
complain that there remain no ablt-bod!ed
are unable 10 support. This work, though
preliminary. is tIn.nently necessary, IN order
that the commissioners may have full aud
correct information from all quarters
TIE LABOR RELATIONS or THE FREEDMEN.
The settlement Of the labor relations Of
the freedmen is the 6rst question which is
encountered, and the one which demands the
Mr. immediate attention, for In May quar-
a tevs ther,. ss already considerable suffering
Tenorted. CONSEQUENT upon the disorcanizsd
state cf society. One Ct sae arst dtacntties
that the bureau meets is the disincllnau92,
on the part ofma Of the sonttcrn people,
complete. They still cling to the ghost Of
the institution, and are as devoid Of ambl-
ton or desire to establish other relations
with their former chattles as the said chat-
tells are to work without pay. The planters
being thus indiEposed to work out their own
salvation, the negro Is LET to the indulgence
Of his own e1ageesa ated Ideas Of freedom, and
decides upon Lis own rule Of action, which,
where local Or military authority Is not yet
In force, results In more or less denotallza-
ton. Unless the planters and land
owners meet their emancipated si7Ees
with liberal and commendsb'e
spirit, with no lonEings fot ths
The negro does not become willing and val
uabie laborer- In proof Of this feeling on the
rayt Of the former Shareholder, 1t May be
stated that In one county In Western Ten
nessee the inspecting officer found twenty
two Instances where new contracts had been
slares by the year, sud exercising the came
con.rol over them as heretofore. And in
RoHnt ate county; Vs., the shareholders held
meeting AID resolved that It should be con-
s.dcred social mledemtanor for any citizen
to hire q tlare without the "oTners" writ
ten consent, and that the matter Of comIen-
salion should he **lctt entirely with the
fcrner ovrtr ct master Of the siave." From
she remote districts Of South Carolina IT,
ports come that the lash Is still In vogue, as
we'll ae seyeler punishments, the severity not
abatcd In the least By the feeling TINT the
tnu1e Of The s'property Is no@ more un-
certain thar ever.
To rcncye these pre}ndices and establish
profitable relation between the two classes 1s
the first wcrk requiring attention, and the
personal Efforts Of the entire fofce Of the bu-
ftau, tocc.hcr with the aid Of the military
authority ia some localities. is nov being
given to this end. Gen. Howard, IN Circular
No. 9, under date OF May 10, thus refers to
iii. The demands for lasor are Gutsc,ent to II.
ford employment 10 nearly, II not quite ii! tho
sble-hod.ed refugees and freedmen It Will be
tjcal 81 tteme Of compensated labor; end to this
end, Ihey Will endeavor to remove the pre}uaices
Of thcis la:c uaslerB unwilling to e:opioy theis
someumee enuttalned by the 1eeducu thst ta ~
can llye without labor, and to overcome tGtt falee
pride witch renders some q tic refugees more
nf pa %e
st onld be made for the ased, lntrm snd sick. the
able e should be encouraged, and. II nects,
ss1y, compelled tolabor for their owe suppot.
COMPENSATION OF THE FREEDMEN.
The question Of compensation is one which
Is arncng the first 10 be settled At present
Gen. Howard la disincllned to fix MY rate
for the government Of the employer and em.
ploycd. Uc dtt ms II matter that must he
regulated by the question Of demand and
Eurp!y, or tic ability Of the labo.er. Yet he
Ees directed his assistants to see that the
labo5er is not imposed upon By the prejadlces
OF c.uftiress OF the employer md he thinks
t,'an;ere in some localities, at 500 per year
and food for able-bodied men, as alto
gethe1 too low, especially In con-
k!derst1ou Of tie fhct TINT the old rites
for slaves hired ont by the year were three
| or four times Sc great The scarcity Of mon
| money wages in most localities, and an ar.
rangcment for the freedmen to take certain
| stare OF the crops will have to be made In
1nc6. cases. This is already being dome, and
| the proportion Of the crop allowed to the
| freedman tor his labor yaries from one-hali
bcl1g perhaps one;qusr1er, which is far less,
| II will be noticed, than is allowed 1t the
North for working farms "on ehares." Ii
| r. gard t. the privileges Of the negroes and
! their contracts With employers, Gen. Huw.
AID, In Circular No. S. under date Of May
I viii. Negroes must bs fee to choose theh
ewn employers, and te pad for their labor
Agreements should be free, bona .fqde, up
! pioytd By proper u1Iicers, and their inyioln
| b.iity Gnfurcd on both partics- The old
s,stcm Of oye1eeers. tending to compulsory
| III paid labor md acts Of cruelty and oppres
siuu, is prohibited. The unity Of families
| he carefully guarded. In places where tht
| LEGAL statutes make no provision for the mar
| Rage OF persune Of color, thr assistant com
| 1pissioneIB are authorized to designate ch
Gers who sLau keep record Of marriages.
which may be solemnized by any ordained
minister Of the gospel, who shall make q re
1u1u Of the same, with such items as may b
n oul1e ed for registration, at places de6ignatet
bv the assistant commissioner. Registration
made by United States officers Will be care
fully preserved. -..
| srrroaT CT TIE DEPENDENT
| The Government still finds Itself tn
n1mcncr Of ch1rity to q large number OF des
titrce refugees and freedmen. The matte
comes directly under thc management OF thl
burtau, and the demand npon the Govern
ment Is so great that measures are bein!
taken to lessen 1t at once, and eyentualIy t,
render It entirely unnecessary. The act Q
Congress establishing this bureau prpyfdes-
'4That the Secretary oi War aay direct eucl
issues OPP eSisiohs, esoihing and fuel, .. he M
1 tGt6n0F3f
ehtlteT snd supply Of destitute and suffering X
tugees aLd !rx edmen and their wises md childfef
| under inch rules and regulations as be mar d
1tct-"
In accordance Herewith General Howard
in Circular No. Z, dsted June IS. request
tlat
"The Assistant Commissioners Of this Burc.
will ut once mske careful eetln 1iea Of tpcb ano1u
OF proytstons, clothing, &C., ~ may be nesdt
for the prfEent q1srtcr. fot The tupp'y Of sns
| c'ass Of peftone az may be within their re*pe
| TIVE tepar'meDta, and they will hereafter qua
tefly, make like eatimltes. all e.tiuates mu
be approved by the Comc.ieeionc1 Of the Buse:
ps.ot to 1seut-"
This action, however. is not intended I
| Eupercede the work Of relief rs carried On
the yarlous benevolent organizations.
Cnculsr No. 2, the Commissioner eays:
"lI, But it ie Eot the intention OF coyernme
hat thle bureau shal Euper.edc the - 'loua b
Etyclrnt organisations In the wotk o! admin
urinr relief This must ek1l1 be afforded by q
| bent Violence Of the people through theis vo!u
| txty eocaedes. no governmental appropr11tto
having been mnde for this pufpose. The v.Fio
commissioners will look to the Aseot1AtloC8 lahe
! trg IN their respective Districts 70 proride
here o1ort for the wants Of these destitute peop
u invite. therefore. The continuance and tQ-opea