New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-21

Government hrms under charge officers Of the Bureau
and those farms that had been apart or allotted accord
ing to The laws nave suoserved the purpsa Of absorbing
the surp No population.
Still, however, there authentic complaints Of idle.
ness for which no remedy seemed exist directed that
the yagant laws OF tue respective States 80 far az they
applied 10 whites be extended 10 freedmen where this
law authorized crporea punishment modified by the
/ Assistant Commissioner.
The wording OF the law establishing this Bureau. gave
rise 10 the idea that the lands OF doya owners would bo
| divided amongst the freedmen.
Soldiers cOiored and white and Others al ono time
spread and doubtless magnhed the same report, Ill the
belief became quito prevalent IN tho interior VI the South
en States that the Government intended a Christmas
| New Years 70 effect this division.
My impression that many SPECTATORS who desired TO
cheaper the lands hell ed on these stories The Freedmen
became suddenly very 10 making any contracts
agreement with the property bofor for the coming
Even tbs correction or false reports does not always pro-
willingness 10 enter into contracts. Ny agents have
disabuse the minds OF tho Freedmen of mpres
sions detrimental TO their interests urglny them W
places Of support and aiding them 10 get fair wages
My objection to the system have been obliged 10 adopt,
has been its tendency to check individuality not sufficiently
encouraging self dependency but In process OF time, as
property shall change hands, and the larger estates be
broken up the necessity for generally applying contracts
will be byiled Meanwhile education, unhindercd VIII
work wonders stimulate individual enterprise The re-
present system Of free labor will appear in my
remarks upon each state and more fully in the reports OF
the respective Assistant Commissioners.
or Schools found many schools already in existence IN
nOse localities Wltnn
lines " armies these established and maintain
ed to great extent, by benevolent associations Of the
North There however extensive Government schools
several Of tho southern states BotA classes have been
encourages and aided far possible and large
number Of sefsupportng schools, established by tho oc
and agents Of the Bureau. Under the head " Organ
zltion" gveth method OF experimenting the schools
that adopted by the Bureau 10 mary parts Of the
country the hostility OF the white people 10 the schools las
been undkgused and every effort has been made 10 get
the buildings used for school purposes, away from The
fia a.ffurpu a
the excellent self euyng school teachers met doubt
less TO which they subjected, arises, 10
part from the feelings engendered by war but II Is, mostly
due preul lice against educating the blacks, and the
ie that the teachers fostering social equality II IL
right however TO say that there are many southern men
who earnestly advocate the introduction of Schools ana
several churches established them Ia connection with
their organizations.
Of Qrsartermrser's Sp1lis-From Section 2" Of the
aw s,bhng the Bureau specific authority Il derived
for Issuing certain Qrarterm ters stores such as clothing
and fuel fO The destitute thess were furnished upon my
requis ton by the orders Of the Secretary Of War
during the war, miny ofcers Of the Qsrtermaster's
Depart detIc ed superntendens OF Freedmen
through their chief ~ the Qarternsster Gene
raj These ues were, many OF them, transferred 10 me
with the public property they had on hand.
deemed best that Qiartermas,es, detailed should
keep up connection with their own Departments as
tn Ordinance and Engineer Corps but this system
has not worked well at distance from Washington Ny
officers and ageuts have complained everywhere OF their
inability procure oes. fuel quarters stationery, ana
olhcr ST. upon their requIstos without the SPECIAL
order Of the secretary OF War THIS embarrassment mas
arisen from the absolute dependence Of this Bureau upon
other Bueaux Of the War Department, there being no
Appropriation of funds. 49,
recommended the meeting Of the wants Of the destitute
Refugees and Freedmen 10y the issue OF such Qlareras
ers stores as were hand and could be spared upon
which request based General 0rde No l3I, War De-
partmnt Current Series combining the clothing and equip
that UNIT for issue TO troops This order viii relieve
the Assistant Com nssioners Of much thculty, and anOrd
partial remedy for the great desttu,lon without special
cost The great proportion OF supplies To the destitute nave
haan f,rut phat ba
partments.
or Transporta,ioa AS coon the closed, white
Refugees from every part OF the South ousnt mmedaley
70 return 10 their former homes.
As early as May 3oth ! made provision as follows
loyal Refugees who have been driven from their homes
WILL their return, be protected from abuse and the
caantes Of their situation relieved a. far possible II
destitute they will be aided with transportation and food
when deemed eXpedienI while IN ranu returning 'c their
former homes"
This order vas approved by the President, and my
rcqlslions were honored by the Qlarerms.ers Depart
ment In consequence q abuses IL was found necessary,
subsequently, restrict the order &c cases where humanity
evidently demanded the transportation. About 2Os5
whites men, women, and children. we're transported from
different portions o the north rn states tc the SOUTH ms
work has now nearly the principle applied 10
ooored refugees The total number transported, men,
women, and children II 1913
believe Il to be matter Of economy 10 the Government
20 remove dependents when possible tc places where they
could support themselves. Upon my request, General
orders No iss Issued this will enable the ASH tant
Comm soners 20 reduce the surplus opuaon OF tne cues
villages AMI other places, where refugees aud freedmen
have gathered during the war.
Benevolent associations aided, very freely With
for teachers agents subs sence books and
stores during the progress OF tho war could md
War DEPARTMENT Orders authorizing this action and by
your advice and direction had the matter regulated by the
same General Order No l3s conrniug transportation OF
teachers and agents. To Government transports and mill
tary railroads AMI providing the manner IN which stores
and school books necessary 70 the subsistence comfort
and instruction Of the dependent refugees and freedmen
M .ght be transported
As there no military railroads. and few trans
ho NIT IN taaTk
tions "a practca ly cut on
Your attention ia called to the following tabular report
REPJRr oF TRANSFORMATION,
Furnished destitute Refugees and Freedmen and others
and OF for destitute Refugees and Freedmen trans
prted by Bureau OF refugees Freedmen, and Abandoned
lands from May 80 1865. 10 Nveniber 20, 1861 inclusive