The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1865-12-27

Uy Tire CoVernMents auu Is not numliiAt
ing to them as citizens, and that il sucl
a course is pointed out they would pursu
it in good faith.
I Itis to be regretted that there can no
be a greater commingling at this TIM
4 between the citizens of the two sections
and particularly those intrusted with the
law making power. ~ "
'I"~ldid not give the operations, OF the
Freedmen'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,
and that the belief, widely spread among
the Freedmen of the Southern States,
that the lands of the former owner will at
least in part be divided among them, has
come from the agent ofthe Bureau. This
belief Is seriously interfering with the viii
lingness OF the freedmen to make con
tracts for the coming year. 10 some form
the Freednen's Bureau is an absolute ne
cessity until civil law, is established and
enfored, securing to the freedmen their
rights and full protection. At present.
however, it is independent of the military
establishment Of the country. and seems
to be operated by the different agents Of
the Bureau according to their individual
notions everywhere. tiaa jg.u
General Howard, the able head Of the
Bureau, made friends by the Just and
fair instructions and advice he gave. but
the complaint in South Carolina was that
when he left things went on as before.
Many, perhaps the m jority. Of the agents
Of the Freedmen's Bureau. advise the
freedmen that BY their own indu try they
must expect to live. To this end they
endeavor TO secure employment Tor them,
and to see that both contracting parties
comply with their engagements.
In some cases, / am sorry to say, the
treedman's mind does not seem to be dis
abused Of the idea that the freedmen have
ths right to live without care or provision
for the future. The effect of the belief in
the division of land is idleness and accu-
mutation in camps. towns and cities. In
such cases think it will be found that
vice and disease will tend to the extermi-
nation or destruction of the colored race.
1t can not be expected that the opinions
held by men at the South fer years can
be changed in day, and therefore, the
freedmen require for a few years not only
laws to protect them. but tho fostering
care Of those who will give them good
counsel and on whom they can rely. The
Freedman's Bureau being separated from
the military establishment OF the country
requires all the expense of a separate Or
ganiSation. One does not necessarily
know what the other is doing, or what
orders they are scting under. 1t seems
to me this could be corrected by regard
ing every officer on duty with troops in
the Southern States, as agents of the
Freedmen's Bureau. and then have all
orders for the head of the Bureau sent
through the department commanders.
This would create q responsibility that
would produce uniformity Of action
throughout the South, and would insure
the orders and instr uctions from the head
of the Bureau being carried out, and
would relieve from duty and pay large
number Of employees Of the Government.
/ have the honor to be, very respect
fully, your obedient servant. .#
[signed.l U. s. GRANT,
Lieutenant General