New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-29
THE VIRGINIA FREEDMEN
Eepoyt Of Col. Erown-PrescBt Condition
oftho Nesroes-A Marked Improvement
-Fnc,s and Figurcs-Thc Labsr Ques-
Special Dispatch to The N. y. Tribune
WARRINGTON, Thursday, Dec. :

Gen. Howard to-day received from Col.
Brown Assistant Commissioner Of the Treedmens Bu.
reau for tho State Of Virginia interesting report Of
bis ations sgen! Of the Bureau since June
- last Col Brown states that in the neighbofhoods
of Norfolk Fortress Monroe and Yorktown abou! 70Oo
freedmen bad been collected during tho war. From
among these from 5000 to TO- 600 recruits for the army
had been enlisted Many other Of the able bodied men
had found employment ia the different staff DEPART
pents OF the army, leaving their families in this dis
tTict partially dependent on the Government.
In other districts thousands Of freedmen
ing cbout without settled employment and without
homes In localities least disturbed by the presence or
conflict Of armies and where the average OF land was
under cultivation tho crops were suffering from want
Of proper attention the planter being unwilling to ac
knowledge his late slave freeman by.becoming part
nor with him TO contract and the freedman conscious
thar sa urther service was due" from him. and wish
ing 70 satisfy himself that he really free by exer'
oising lis liberty to leave his own master.
TIE late slaves have beon fully protected In their
rights az freedmen and the exceptional instances where
their rights were for time denied longer heard
of Its believed that there s Lot within the state
eson who does no. understand and successfully assert
lis rio yhts TO freedom The extraordinary eagerness OF
,he freedmen for the advantages Of schools has been
met "a far as the resources Of the Bureau aud the char
itobls zeal OF its friends abroad would allow There
are AZ proscnt about eleven thousand five hundred
prpjls receiving instruction from ono hundred and
ninety.hve teachers.
Numerous urgent appeals have come from remote
aud ieolaed localities for teachers and books TO which
il has been impossible TO respond, for want oil school
roons and suitable quarters for teachers. Their pro-
cress in learning is such ns would warrant much
larger ornepdure In money and effort Many citizens.
adbornc 70 the ideas and customs Of the past strongly
onnose these movements while others indose and en-
eonrace them The sentimenti.of the community Is
gradually changing in favor Of educating the freedmen
The irritation exsting between the whites ana tbc
freedmen Immediately after the cessation OF bostiliies
has greatly sbated aud instances OF personal violence
are becoming more rare.
The capacity OF the freedmen OF virginia 10 tako
care Of themselves nnder adverse circumstances
il best shown in the southeastern Part OF the state.
Drjng the war nearly 10000 were gathered here on
limited terrltory In extreme detitution aud yet at this
time only 4.4l2 ara receiving Government aid ana
about one.haf Of tlls number are OF the families oi
soldiers
During The month Of October there were is'sed
g $50 ratons 10 H. 62! persons, or 1900 ratons per
dav the number OF persons receiving fauous peinB
reduced from the previous month 80 per cent. lhc
reapiremeuts Of the freedmen for medicines ana
medical attendance, have been met, as Tar as inc
limited resources Of the Bureau wonld allow. Eight
HOSPITALS have been organized and 10 medical oihcers
er ooved and In addition. much valuable voluntary
assistance has been rendered in treating Inc SICK
nv medical officers Of the army and by ci'izen phy
sicisns. .,
The total number Of refugees and freedmen treeteo
has boon aboct 1890. The number at present under
hs,uens is about 100 OF unrestored property In tho
posse lion of the BGreau, there are at present ~iln
tho she 81 900 acres. The result Of the cultivation o.
these apas BY the freedmen is not yet known as the
crops hove not been fully harvested but 1t Is believed
to be satisfactory
The Assstant Commissioner, in closing, makes the
following debstable assertion, that "t Is impossoie io
the employers with the beat intention 10 give s 'h'
laboros such wages helr support and thai OIL ihe
families require II is believed that this evii cannot o'
wholly remedied without the emigration from the s'si'
Of st Least 1000 irsednen."