The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-12-30

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DECEMBER 80, 1865. ae.s. -
/ The Operatisnr of the Freednsen's Bareaa In.
~ f5Tg.t "f virGinia.@ 9
| Major General Howard has just received this
official report Of Colonel Brown. Assistant
Commissioner Of the Ffeedmsn's Bureau for
the State Of Virginia, relative to the opera.
tions Of the system In that State. The report
is prefaced by reference to the condition Of
society In the State when he assumed charge
of his Office: :-'fa-a i a4ts% 81, "a
The problem to be solved was how to pro-
! vide for the protection, elevation and govern
ment of nearly half q million OF people sud
denly freed from the bonds Of q rigorous con-
troll, acquainted with no law but that OF force,
! ignorant of the elementary principles OF civil
government and Of the first duties OF citizen
ship, without any provision for the future
wants of themselves and families, and enter
tanning many false and extravagant notions In
respect to the intentions of the Government
| toward them. He - 1s45t a.--.. .--r.
The citizens generally afforded no assistance
in meeting these difficulties. Stripped to
great extent of ready resources by the opera
tiOns Of the war, they were unable to allow
| these people their just dues, much less any
charitable assistance. In some sections Of the
State public meetings had been held, and the
citizens had entered into covenant not to pay
more than five dollars (e5) PEI month to able
bodied men, not to rent lands to the freedmen,
/ nor to give employment to any without
certificate from their former owners. Many
of the citizens, under the control Of tradition,
habit and education, only spllenly acquiesced
in the freedom of their former slaves They
regarded the colored population as necessarily
and appropriately servile and unfit for free
dom; and stimulated by the feeling that the
late slaves were in some way responsible for
the failure of their cause, they were wholly
disqualified from cooperating in the work OF
the bureau.
Another class, numerically small, but of the
best talent, culture, and influence, not only
accepted the situation, but with q wise fore
sight and noble patriotism were ready to CO.
operate with the overnment TOT the speedi pee H.
assist the bureau in its endeavor to bring the
highest good to all classes out OF present evils
A third, and more numerous class because
forced to acknowledge the freedom of their for
mer slaves, wished either to effect their entire
removal from the State or bind them by such
contracts as would allow them but little more
freedom than they formerly possessed.
The superintendents were further instructed
to protect the negroes in their rights as free
men, to see that they were not in any way op-
pressed by their former masters, and to cultl-
vate friendly relations between the two classes !;
! to assist in the organization and maintenance
of schools to discourage as far rs possible the
u
one locality to another, except so far as it
might be necessary for uniting members of
separated families or to find profitable EN-
plOyment. To urge upon them the impor-
; lance of making contracts for their labor, and
to fulfil the same when made; to aid them by
their advice when necessary to prevent their
being defrauded but in all other cases to
leave them free to make their own bargains.
| To furnish ratiOnS, medicine and medical
attendance for the helpless and destitute not
t provided for by their former owners; but not
| to iSSpl r0fi innS to nj 10 n
whom employment could be found.
The late slaves have been fully protected in
their rights as freedmen, and the exceptional
instances where their rights were for q time
denied are no longer heard OF. 1t is believed
that there is not within the State person
r who does not understand and successfully as
sert his rights to freedom. The extraordinary
eagerness of the freedmen for the advantages
of schools has been met as far rs the resources
of the bureau and the charitable zeal of it,
friends abroad would allow. There are abOu
D., eleven thousand five hundred pupils receiving
instruction from one hundred and ninety five
- teachers. Nunerous and urgent appeals come
J, from remote and isolated localities for teach
ers and books, to which it has been impossible
to respond for want of schoOl-rooms and suit
| able quarters for teachers. Their progress il
v learning is such as would warrant Il mucl
!, larger expenditure of money and effort
g., Many citizens, adheriQg to the ideas and Gus
toms Of the past, strongly oppose these move
, ments, while others endorse and encourag
> them. The sentiment of the community i
gradually changing in favor of educating tn
i freedmen. The irritation existing between tn
. whites and the freedmen Immediately afte
n the cessation Of hOstilities has greatly abated
> and instances of personal violence are becOm
> ing rare.-
, referring to the disposition of the freedmel
to improve their condition, the commissions
: says
/, The capacity of the freedmen of Virgins
J. to take care of themselves, even under adyers
, ern part of the State. During the war nearl,
seventy thousand were gathered here, on
: limited territory, in extreme destitutiOn, an
yet at this time only four thousand four hun
= aid, and about half of this number are o
the families of soldiers. Many have rented o
! purchased comfortable homes, some have save
: considerable sums of money, and nearly f1v
= thousand of their children, decently clad an
furnished with books of their own purchasing
!. are attending schools.
During the month of October $50, 7S6 ration
were issued to IL ,622 persons, or 1906 ration
= per day, the number of persons receiving ra
= tions being reduced from the previous mont
= There are eight hospitals, at present occupie
4 by 700 persons. The commissioner represent
Il that he has charge of 56 900 acres held as con
" fiscated or abandoned lands.
/ The rights of the freedmen in the crops an
Improvements on the land restored have bee
), secured. The result of the cultivation of thes
lands by the freedmen is not yet known, a
the crops have not been fully harvested, but i
- is believed to be satisfactory.
- The special courts organized for the freed
( | ucn are successfully accomplishing tuc oIAu
aimed at iii their establishment, and are givn
i general satisfaction. BY them justice has bee
more generally received than could have bee
d done by any other available means.
Notwithstanding the many embarrassment
under which the bureau has labOred, it is be
- lieved to have succeeded in promoting the wei
fare of the class in whose interest it was crea
= ted, and to have afforded important aid in sc
! curing good order in the State.
II II THB FATAL SxorHERISa CAsE.-The Chi
[. cagO Republican contains the particulars of tn
q case mentioned by telegraph of the smotherin
- of six men by the gas escaping in the room i
which they were sleeping. The sixth victir
J. died on Monday. The Republican says:
Il We have no disposition to indulge in com
l. ment upon this affair which shall cast censuT