The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-12-28
' KEN0sHA, WISCONSIN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER ~, 1865

|. Ola not meet any one, eltner tuOSe HOll-
ing places under the Government, or citi-
zens of the Southern States who thought it
practicable to withdraw the military from
the South at present The white and black
mutually require the protection of the Gen
eraI Government. There is such universal
acquiescence in the authority Of the General
Government throughout the portions of the
country visited by me- that the mere pres
ence of military force, without regard to
numbers is sufficient to maintain order
1 The good of the country requires that the
force kept in the interior, where there are
many freedmen, should be retained These
should all be white troops. The reasons
are obvious without mentioning many of
them, The presence of black troops, lately
slaves, demoralizes labor in furnishing in
their camps resortfor the freedmen for
long distances around. White troops gen
orally excite no opposition, and therefore a
small number of them can maintain order
in given district. Colored troops must be
! kept in bodies sufficient to defend them
selves. 1t is not the thinking men who
would do violence toward any class of troops
sent among them by the general Govern
ment, but the ignorant in some places might
and the late slave too, who might be i'm
bued with the idea that the property of lis
late MASTER should by right, belong to him,
at least should have no protection from the
colored soldiers. There is danger of collis-
ion being brought on by such causes
My observations lead me to the concu-
sion that the citizens of the Southern States
are anxious to return to self government
within the Union as soon as possible; that
whilst reconstructing they want and re-
quiro protection from the Government, and it
is not Illuminating to them as citizens, and
that If such a course was pointed out they
would pursue il in good faith. 1t is to be
regretted that there cannot be a greater
comlningling at this time between the Cit
zens of the two sections, and particularly of
those intrusted with the law making power
| did not give the operations of the Freed
inens Bureau that attention woul Iii 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 its
affairs have not been conducted with good
Judgment or economy, and that the belief
widely spread among the freedmen of the
Southern States that the lands of their for
mer owners will Ill part at least. be divided
among them, has come fiom the agents of
this bureau. This belief is seriously utter
tering with the willingness of the freedmen
to make contracts for the ensuing year In
some form the Freedmens Bureau is an alb
solute necessity until civil law is establish
ed and enforced, securing to the freedmen
their rights and full protection. At present
however it is independent of the military
INl tclnf - fl,1
oe operated by the different agents of the
Bureau according to their individual notions
Everywhere Gen Howard, the able head of
the Bureau, makes friends by the just and
fair instructions and advice 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 Freedmen's Bureau. advise
and the freedmen that by their own indus
try they must expect to live. To this end
they endeavor to secure employment for
them, and then both contracting parties
comply with engagements In some cases,
lam sorry to say, the freedman's mind does
not seem to be disabused of the idea that
the freedman has the right to live without
provision for the future The effect of the
belief in the division of land is idIeness and
accumulation i'll camps, towns and cities
In such cases, think it will be found, that
vice disease will tend to the determination
or great destruction of the colored 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
to protect them, but the fostering care of
those who will give them good COUNSEL and
on whom they can rely. The freedlnens
bureau, separated from the military, is an
establishment of the country, and requires
all the expense of a separate organization.
One does not necessarily know what the
other is doing or what orders they are act
ing under. 1t seems to me that this could
be corrected, by regarding every officer on
duty with troops in the Southern States as
agent of the Freedmens Bureau, and have
all orders from the head of the bureau sent
through the department commanders This
would create responsibility that would
locate uniformity of action throughout the
South and would insure the orders and IN
structions from the head of the bureau be-
ing carried out, and would relieve from du-
ty and pay large number of the employees
of the Government
l have to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
ATrUN