Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-11-16
Gen. Howard in Mississippi.

y We find IN the WssS1Ssapptdn OF tho t2tn,
.' the following summary of the address OF
u the Chief Commissioner of Freedmen ut
the capital of Mississippi:
He commenced by saying that the Pres
Iidsnt had equested him to visit the vnri
Qua agencies OF the bureau, investigate
theis eondiE on, correct abuses, and pro-
duce harm ony between the freedmen and
their former masters. ?
lie regretted that many abuses had orept
into the administration of the bureau ) it
y was his purpose and that Of the President
to avoid these unfortunate occurrences,
arising from various causes incident to the
n / presentnovel condition of the country, the
emancipation of slaves, and the misguided
zeal Of incompetent agents of the bureau.
He said many bad men had advised the
negroes that they were to have division
of the lands of their former masters; that
the negro Was to be the landlord and the
white man his servant this W as mistake
W. the abandoned lands and tenements
temporarily held by the Bureau would be
returned to the proper owners the Coy
ernments had no lands TO bestow on the
negroes they must rely on their labor and
-theit Freedom, for a support the Bureau
did not intend to make paupers of the ne
groes but to lend them temporary aid until
. they could procure places TO labor and sus-
tain themselves. Freedom did not mean
idleness or crime butindustrious and honest
toll they were ut liberty to make contracts
{ for their labor, and those contracts must
be- faithfully performed ; il they we're in
dustrious, honest and true to their obliga-
tons; theirfreedom would be great bless
ing: but If the reverse, it might prove
great curse with proper care and frugal
ity, they might become intelligent and
happy in the enjoyment of all the privil-
eyes accorded TO freedmen much has been
said about eGuality-this was nil idle talk;
there was no national equality-all men
Ind their appropriate spheres, but. they
were widely different-each man must
seek by his energy, toll and virtue, to pur-
ity and elevate himself toll was the lot
az MI men and he advised all freedmen to
ryrocure places 10 w ork at once, and com
.1nsnee life an ew the Federal Government
and State Governments would protect
them in their persons and property, but
the rest they must work out themselves !;
4 thew rr,ust not combine against the whites,
nor treat them with incivility in any res
pect if they we're polite and obedient as
slaves they must be more so as freedmen
there was no reason why they should not ;
rude and insulting conduct to their former
m asters would result in calamity to them;
they were dependent on the white race.
the property owners, for employment and
support /; their true in forest was to culti-
vate harmony and good will-to live In
peace and prosperity, and make the State
of Mississippi blossom as the rose,
Cen. Howard incidently touched upon
the question Of testimony -said freedmen
ywere entitled to bear witness in court, and
nd had no doubt it would be granted to
them this was part of their protection,
without which no freedman could be So
cure.
As Gen. Howard is the immediate re-
preventative oftho President, and acts I'M
der his instruction and reports to him, we
may regard his declarations as those OF the
President.
Let the Legislature and the people act in
! harmony with the President, and our la
] nor system will be immediately re-estsb-
~ i;shad. the new condition of society pro-
tssted By law, and peace, with ell its thou
sand blessings, restored.