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

his Exceency the President Of the United States he fol-
lowing Report called for by an Act Of Congress, approved
March 3, 1855.
10 compliance with General Orders No e current series
AdjutaDt Generals Office, renquished command OF the
Army OF the Tennessee aud assumed. Commissioner the
direction aud organization Of this Bureau.
The Act OF Congress- above referred TO- charges me win
"tbe supervision and management Of all subjects relating
refugees and freedmen from robel states or from any
district territory embraced within the operations Of the
army under such regulations as may be prescribed ny the
bead Of the Bureau, and approved by tho PRESIDENT
On entering upon the discharge Of these duties searat
ID the Bureau into four divisions Ono OF Lands embFac
ing abandoned confscaed and those acquired by sale, or
ohsrwise One ~ Records embracing Official acts of the
uommissi icner touching labor schools Quarermaser aud
Commissary supplies
eel Department.
To each Of these divisions assigned ocer, and So
cured the required number Of clerks by appointment and
by detail from the ranks Of the army.
You directed the building which have used for al Office,
already under rent for military purposes to be used by
Me Bureau The entire outfit procured By requiston
from the Qdartermasters Department
Prior N further action, issued Circular No. 2 Of
Nay 49, 1885, kind Of general exhibit of my purposes
under the law.
Before the organization OF the Bureau freedmcns affairs
had been iorusted Department Commanders, Treasury
Agents and other officers Of the Government. This occa
ssped diversity Of system in the different localities
fbe operations confined 10 points the sea coast
And 10 sections protected by military forces unit, the
surrender Of all the Dsurgent armies opened up The interior
the ncsrrectonary States. In fact the work Of sur
render had not been completed, when took the charge.
large aocumlatons Of negroes who had escaped from the
0emy's Ines who bad followed armies ia expe
tiODs found at Fortress Monroe, Norfolk Whining
tp Newbern, the sea Islands Of South Carolina Nashville
vSkteurg New Orleans, and at many other points In the
eouthern States.
soperinlendens Of freedmen had worked industriously
70 prevent suffering To regulate labor and 10 introduce and
schools Really wonderful results plsh
3D. through the dsierested efforts Of benevolent sssoc
working 10 conjunction with Government Agencies.
In order TO all that was being done in behalf Of
the freedmen and refugees and 10 extend the same pry
eseshroUghoui the erior Of the States, and, further
vii a a he
quickly possible deemed best to appoint theAssistaL
COMMISSIONER authorized by the law and send them, at
soce their respective fields OF duty These appointments
made by detail from the army, with the exception Of
ne Assistant Commissioner Of louisiana who had been
the army bu, whose term OF service had expired The
appointment for Texas delayed until ocis notice could
be received tho military situation in that State after
Lees and Johnson's surrenders became known.
cent, however my Circulars to the Department Com
mander he bad established his headquarters
with the request that he do yhng necessary to protect
the interests OF the freedmen t an Assistant Commissioner
abould arrive.
The app0Dtee FOR Texas General Gregory e for bis post
the latter part Of July.
10 order to coofne myself Assisan. Commissioners
accordance with the gave one, General Rufus sax
ton, 70 South Carolina and Georgia one, General {. B.
Yke to Kentucky and Tennessee, aud one, General j. W.
sprague 10 Missouri and Arkansas The rest Of the nsur
rectonary States had each Unfortunately, owing 10
sickness General SaxtOn absent for thirty days
soon After bis appointment
sone Of bis agents sent 10 Georgia. failed 10 establish any
organization In that STATE and numerous reports represent
Cd ryhmg concerning tho freedmen IN very bad con
don except at Savannah and along the coast thought
advisable diminish General ssxtOn's labor by sending
IN experienced ohcer, 10 take the immediate charge OF
Georgia.
just as far as the safety Of the agents would allow the
Assistant Commissioner procured citzon N Hilary
cfcer for each district county or parish. The 'vaent
hostility Of portion Of tne citizens and their ability In the
aSsence troops and civil law 10 outrage take the life
d an agent nlered the extending Of operations, excep'
BY occasional inspection by al officer in connection with
patrol.
Bureau 90 much military officers from the omission
the part Of Congress TO make any specific appropriation
70 carry out the objects OF the law The manner IN which
certain expenses have been met shown under the head o
finances.
establishing aud aiding schools, often overlapping each
other, and sometimes conflicting that resolved, Tor Tue
benefit Of the freedmen 10 appoint single school supern
pden for each state who should be aoder the supervision
and direction Of the Assistant Commissioner
Owing 70 the muster ou f Of the volunteer army
have Dot been able TO secure the services c A. many officers
kf agents necessary and frequently an ofcer
tec would be but few days On duty before he Lad 70
BE replaced
Assl many officers have had the care Of their company
detachment, other military duty imposed besides that
my department..
Acst M the Department Commanders have rendered me
bAr support and given every possible military aid In
every STATE except one the Headquarters OF the Assistant
Commissioner and Department Commander are at the came
pace Thus will be seen that the Assistant Commissioner
be centre Of tie system for each state Through NE
srers and agents he dissemnaes his orders instructions
abd assistance the freedmen and refugees a. Well ss h
ESisrs property holders connected with hon Appha
DIVISION.
Under ths head cannot do better than quote from the
uphei report Of Major Fowler who has the immediate
sh4rge u the Land Division.
waar PROPERTY Is USpEa THg CONTROL ~ Tie BUREAU
he ACT q Congress- approved March 3. 1870, which
0.kBbes the Bureau ntr1ss IL with The EuprVislOn ana
n4a men o. all abandoned lands lands taken ny the
6cs vhle their lawful owner voluntarily absent
h'sn them engaged in AIMS, or Otherwise III a'ops VI
tb,opfafing the rebe lion. -
TIE OF June the President ordered all officers Of the
eoEerDeut having property oi the character speched m
@ as 70 turn u over this Bureau. In comps ce win
Nj order the Secretary Of the Treasury, on the z'tn o.
yHe ened Circular directing his suDordinstes who had
,be possession under their CONTROL any abandoned
oonascable lands houses, or tenements 10 transfer
Ds.n 70 some duly authorized officer OF tbs Bureau
TIE greater portion of abandoned property IN tue insur
n.ionary districts held BY Treasury Agents ana as
Ne result Of this ORDER the Bureau came into possession not
@y sbandoned lands but Oi ali abandoned real property
s.ep sich as was held by military authorities Tor strictly
nDiiafy purposes.
lslrr1E OF Ias CONTROL OF THE BUREAU ABANDONED
PROPERTY.
respect 20 abandoned lands 1t was the evident nten-
ta = the Act Of March 9 70 gige the Bureau o0ntro
~ ior the purpose Of assigning, leasing or selling them
bf gees and freedmen II inpfacticable however,
pt "a and assign them Immediately. great proportion
a. Nbds aready under lease, given by the Treasury
1g and good policy, we'll az the necessities Of
Ne eau, for which appropriation had been made,
ea u that all should be made hnmedilt-ly refUl, aud
"a e shoud remain unused, and unprodociiVe. 10 al
& the leases made by the Treasury oiciat otheis
ve de by the Bureau which did not connne Itself In
e ns Of tenants to the classes Tor whose Ieel tne pu
M orgaDzei With respect 10 lne eOahaoheu houses
40 naunents turned over BY the Ife5sufy DeP ePl'ncA,
" rsau had no choice except 10 follow the course which
u had marked out for that department, nahey "
es age Of aud lease such property for peroos not ef
ecfst Twelve nOaths In determining ils power, over
eaeosad property the Bureau has considered therefore,
Sny he provisions Of the act Of March 3 which gave
lsnce but OF such other acts az have gwen agents o
e1Stasary and other departments who have transferred
tFery, control IT, These acts are regarded ss gig
hihe Bureau every right 10 abandoned property which
sctss owner could have except perhaps, the right OF
ftfl nd