New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-22
THE FRERDMEN's BUREAU.
Speech Of Gen. How"rd-Or'
ganixation Of the Bureau.
From The Kennetec (Maine) journal, Aug II.

meeting OF the Name frcedinen h'i0'
Society was held at Meonan Hall on Sunday afternoon
In the absence of the President Gov Cony VINO soon
after arrived the meeting was called 10 oider ny 'nc
Hon. T. Flint Secretary Of the SOCIETY," ana inc ie''
d. s King General AGENT of the Society was called to
the chair. Three little children formerly slaves IN
louisiana who accompany Mr.. King, sung the song;
Mine eve hive seen the glory the coming Of tie Loid
The Rev. Mr. McKenzie then offered prayer.
MaiOr-Gen. Howard was cabeu upon anu slohe III
substance as follows; -,
informed me that ii lis purpose TO hold meeting
In behalf of the Freedmen III this place. today, ana
wished me 10 address IL. In travelling hither and
thther through the country, have found that nearly
every more or less Interested In this great WORK
of the freedmen. Each one questions me-wants Ia
know what the Government proposes TO do, and now
II intends 10 go TO work 10 accomplish the results SO
much desired. Ii is great deal Of work TO answer
individuals concerning these matters; and, tnonph
have come here to escape hard work at Washington
and to get little rest and retreshment, II mas poo
my intention to prepare for publication ast, 1nnI
the purposes Of the Government have not ye.
time prepare such statement and nave III n
10 come here without special preparation " srai,v
little to you hoping TO answer the ques'b hat is ne
propounded to me, so as TO let You know We" rSen
duty of every Christian patriot towru 'n ar nature
AS much of the subject partakes OF tI S1hbat6
IL would seem better not 10 useu nt Ienovoert OBJ
day; but as il IS 80 great extent ,,i,,s tLe,e
iect and connected with duty as Christians, 'eio
Is propriety in speaking Of il at the present Ine
Tla
a.; {, DEMONSTRATIONS decreed that all slaves within
certain insur7rconary States should De free, ai9
pledged the faith of the entire ha,o. tna my S
fnrever remain free. The object IN tne NJ
ngtbo FreeJmen's Bureau was mainly 10 ad the uoS-
eminent in keeping that piedge. c,,,, ;.h
When arrived at Richmond from Go'dsporousn WIN
A., any Of The Tennessee received telegram from
washington directing me 10 report at once TO the
Secretary of War. went from the command OF tha'
army without knowing why was ordered 10 Wn hn
inrton. on the way thither officer suggested that
the Government wished put me IN charge OF the ne"
bureau l thought the matter over during the remain
der of the Journey and came to tie conclusion lnat
that was the intention Of tde Department ii was ny
dny TO assume the charge On my first interview WIN
the Secretary of War he remarked that MT. Lincoln
had been good deal peTpeAed as 70 the proper
tion Of the law and the proper officer 10 De paceu at
The head of the Bureau. He wished me TO assume Inc
duties of the office With little reflection, ana without
even having read the law, consented TO do so.
| found that the Bureau had no building no CLERKS
no ORGANIZATIONS and. reading the law iouud tDat
the duties of the office were IN great ceEree leIt 10
The judgement OF the Secretary Of War aud the Comms
sioner of the Bureau. The force allowed was com
missioner ten clerks and ten
There were a few words about Abandoned lanuS a lew
words about refugees ana lew Wous aooul Ieiicl cs
tahlishments All the rest was left for organization
by the Commissioner First the Secretary OF war as,
signed me building. Next secured oiiicers ana
clerks by detail from the army Tor iound lna' lheIe
was appropriation OF money TO ana IN the Work;
Thus / had law to execute. without the specified
means TO execute H. But as they bad placed the Blu
reau in the War Department, was enabled 10 secure
officers by detail from the army without increase OF
paw as provided in the law In the selection OF these
agents looked the army and selected the best
could find | took generally those who had been long
in the work-men who had been Successful and WHO
were earnest IN securing the rights of the freedmen.
When was compelled TO go beyohd tins class, took
those whom knew 10 be men O. integrity ana wlth
Christian hearts.
I formed a committee Of assistant commissioners
who met in Washington. To them j submitted tht
subject wished them 10 consider. They laid betor,
me plans which revised, and the whole was published
as Circular No. g. Upon that circular the transaction
Of the bureau thus far founded II was found tina
ten assistant commissioners. winch allowed ohN on
10 a whole State and in some c1ses only one 10 TWO
three States were entirely insufficient lhey mus
have medical officers and sub-agenis TO see that u
freedmen are protected in their rights. me result
ali the reflection and advice the bureau could comman
was that il was determined 10 make use OF the mhtdr
governments obtaining in the South SuD-agehts "ef
secured military officers detailed Tor the palp3.
Jurisdiction his respective district lne limlts
The suDdistrict are regulated IN tne saine manner
sSe military sub-districts of the department. Ihus
sufficient number Of officers were secured to render u
execution of the law more easy.
AS before remarked, the main object OF the esta
lshment of this bureau was 70 afford practical oppc
tunity for the realization TO the freedmen OF The prom
made to them oy the Government IN MI; Llnco ~
Ia 10 be accomplished. That IL the question that
Cured to me- and II IS a very difficult problem 70 s0v
However l had some information which was Of use
me 10 the decision OF the question. Before The war
had spent nearly a year in a Southern State. b'
been Somewhat in DOUBT before | went 20 the Sou
whether Slavery right or wrong. CONSIDERED a
stracty. Many had told NE that the evils OF whiC
complaint had been made were not necessarily par
of the system but merely addenda-eyils not inherei
in the principle OF Slavery. II was said IN
similar objections might be raised against inst
tuOns undoubtedly good and that 1t was TIE abuse al
not the of the Institution which rendered II obno
jous 10 cesure studied the character Of the system
and concluded that If certain features which were
parent in the system were necessarily attendanf upI
It, that there something rotten, radically eVii,
the whole system. have not Yet seen any reason
change my opinion. / at that time noticed diherenc
IN the management and methods OF business OF siav
owners. During the past four years 1t has been
lot 10 be in the Southern States most of q
time. We have had hundreds of freedmen aroni
camp every day. We have been IN constant inte
course with them. We have been on the abandon
plantations. We have been through the States OF Vi
gnia. Kentucky Tennessee. Alabama. Georgia Sou
Carolina and North Carolina and from these MAJ
opportunities have become pretty familiar with Slave
IN its various forms as 1t has appeared IL It's pra
fical workings. Hence on assuming the charge oil u
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Land
did not feel quito ignorant of the matters vii
which had 10 deal as the planters and people oil u
South seemed 10 think was. They came TO ne an
advised me concerning many matters; they wrote II
letters asking what intended 10 do and telling III
that must not do this that, or that must do SON
thing else. | also had letters from the North eac
proposing a plan for the settlement of the entii
question, sometimes hased experience in the We:
Indies. sometimes drawn from the case OF remot
island in the ocean. sometimes from few mouth
experience teacher in the South. Thus had
variety Of plsns from all parts Of ire country, ever
one proposing complete settlement of all question,
looked them all over, examined them thoroughly
and i believe prayerfuIy. l wished simply to hav
tho best plan f0' eecug the desired object. The Wa
Department placed everything. lettcrs. documents
recommendations, &c, in my lands L. was dliiicul
task, and will tell you bow l set about the work
The first business was t( regulate labor There wa
q varety of plaas Tor the accomplishment Of this
One proposed that every fermer slave skoud leave hi
former owner and that they should flock into villa
by themselves where they might live separated IRON
rhe white and form community Another waniet
Northern men 10 cTligrate - the Sonth aud cmpio,
the freedmen in cn.tvaing the soil 'Another wshaf
10 have them set al work the Pacific Railroad. Still
another thoughs they could ne most preiiably en-