The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-12-27

anxious to return 10 self.sovernment
within the Union as soon as possible, and
whilst reconstructing they want and re.
quire protection from the Government
that is not as humiliating to them as col.
onies, and if such course was pointed
out they would pursue i in good faith,
1t is to be regretted that there cannot be
great comminRling at this time between
the citizens Of the two sections, and par
ticularly Of those entrusted with the law
making. power. W..
| did not give the operations Of the
FreOdmen's Bureau that attention would
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 con-
Quoted with good judgment or economy,
ADD that the belief is widely spread
among the freedmen Of the Southern
States that the lands of their former own.
ers will in part, at least, be divided among
them, has come from the agents of this
bureau. This belief is seriously intcrfer.
ling with the willingness Of the freedmen
ITO make contracts for the coming year.
/ In some form the Freodmen's Bureau
Is an absolute necessity until the civil
law is established and enforced, securing
10 freedmen their rights and full protec
ticn. At rre'ent, however, it is inde.
pendent Of tile military establishment Of
the country, and seems to be operated by
the different agents OF the Bureau accord
| ling to, their individual notions. Every
where General Howard, the able head of
the Bureau, made friends by the just
and fair instructions and tho advice he
gave, but the complaint in South Carroll.
La was that when he left, things went on
as before. Many, perhaps the majority,
of the agents of the Freedmen's bureau
advise tho freedmen lhat by their own
industry they must expecttolive to this
end they endeayor to secure employment
for them, and to see both contracting
parties comply with their engagement.
In some cases l am sorry the freed
mems minds do not seem to be disAbuscd
of the idea that the freedman silss the
rightto live without care or provision for
the future. The effect Of this belief in
the division Of lands isidleness and &c
cumulation in camps, towns and cities.-
In such cases L think it will be found
that vice and disease will tend to the ex
termination Of or great destruction of the
Ecolored race. 1t cannot be expected that
the opinions held by men at the South for
years can be changed in day. Therefore
the freedmen require for al few years not
only laws protect them, but the foster.
Ting care Of these who will give them good
counsel and on whom they can rely.
The Freedmeh's Bureau being scpara.
ted from tho military establishment Of
the country, requires all the expense of a
separate organization One does not ne.
cessarily know what the other is doing
or what orders they are acting under. Il
seems to me this could be corrected by
regarding every officer on duty with
troops in the Southern States as an agent
of the Freedmen's Bureau, and then have
all orders from the head of the Bureau
sent through department commanders
This would create responsibility that
would create uniformity of action through
out the South, would ensure orders and
instructions from the head of the Bureau
being carried out, and would relieve from
duty and pay large number of employ.
ees of the government.
| have the honor to be, very respect.
fully, your obedient servant.
U. S. GRANT, Lieut., Gen.
After the reading of Gen. Grants re-
port Mr.. SUMNER asked that the re.
| port of Gen, Scburz should be read. Sew
eral Senators objected on the ground that
Schurz's report was too long.
Mr.. SUMNER asked that they should
begin reading it as it was very impor-
tant document He instanced the fact
that the full report of affairs in Kansas
was read in the Senate, and that the pres
ent report .was much more important than
that lie said the message OF President
johnson, was like the white washing mes.
sage of Franklin Pierce, on Kansas af,
fairs. s.----....-.-..le
! 7 Mr., JOHNSON denied that there was
any white washing in this report, which
was a plain stateme mt Of facts. -lE
The Clerk commenced reading Schurz's
report, when Mr. SHERMAN moved to
priht it. .------
Mr.. SUMNER argued that it should
be read, declaring that Schurz was sent
on mission by the President, and had
made a visit occupying time and extend
log through different States, and had Civ
en- truthful report. --0s l.i4H
Mr.. SHERMAN admitted that the re.
port might be able and inter, sting, but
he would rather read it than hear it read
Mr.. D0O1ITTLE thought Mr.. Sum
ner ought to qualify the statement that
the message was intended to whitewash
affairs that are worse than those of Kan.
sas 10 the days of Franklin Pierce. HG
though Mr.. Sumner could not mean that
the affairs of the South were worse than
those Of Kansas, ...--. 81 'r
Mr. SUNNER said he had nothing To
qualify, and reiterated his statement.
Mr.. DIXON denied there was any at.
tcmpt in the message to wbitewash the