Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-08-03
The Freedmen.

An important OrueT mas Deen lSSueu oJ
Major General Augur, establishing a
court in his department for the trial OF
all cases involving the rights Of colofed
persons, as follows:
"The civil courts in that portion of
Virginia within the limits of the Depart
ment of Washington having declined to
receive the testimony of colored persons,
a provost court is hereby established in
Alexandria. to have exclusive jurisdie-
ton in all cases involving the rights of
persons or property of colored persons,
resident of the district aforesaid. This
court will receive the testimony of col
ored persons, with no other limitations
tnan those now affecting the testimony
of white persons. The Provost Mar
shall General of the defences, South of
the Potomac, is charged with the exc
Cution of this order. This order will
remain in force until the Virginia courts
have brought their practice more into
harmony with the existing state Of af-
fairs. Capt NJ. P. Fisher, of the Second
District of Columbia Volunteers is ap-
pointed Provost Judge Of said court.
"A report from Gen. sprague, Assist
ant Commissioner of the Freedmen for
the States of Missouri and Arkansas,
accompanied by number of other re-
ports from officers acting under his su-
pervision, has reached Gen. Howards S
Bureau. The following extract from
Gen. Sprague's report shows the estima-
tion in which he holds the loyalty of a
large number of the people of the State
mentioned:
regret to say that even now in Mis-
souri, and Arkansas wherever the power
of the Government is not felt through
its military arm, the negroes are still
held and treated as slaves, aud it is from
these former slave owners, now violat-
ors of the law, from whom the cry con-
stantly comes that "the negro won't
work" The negro is frightened. He
fears in some way he will be cheated out
of his liberty. and it is my firm convic-
tion that it is the settled policy of a
large majority of former slave owners
to accomplish by State legislation and
by covert violation of the law what
they have failed to accomplish by the
rebellion.
In conclusion Gen. Sprague strongly
urges the policy OF leasing or selling the
lands in small quantities to the freed
men who have proved themselves capa-
BILE of the charge, by their intelligence
and industry.
The New Orleans correspondent of
the Chicago Tribune reports substantial
progress in the condition of the negro
population Of Louisiana. During the
past year, by the consent of, and indie
pendent of the restrictions of the mill
tary, the negroes have made their own
voluntary contracts with the planters,
subject only to the general rules of gov
erning freedmen. This arrangement has
worked better than assignments to places
by provost marshals. There is now In
Louisiana no restriction upon the re-
groes to prevent them from passing
from place to place. They require no
pass from the military authorities, and
are, in fact upon an equality with the
white population in this respect. This
rule, unpleasant to the prejudices of
most planters, works favorably. The
demorallzatton of the negroes, attend
ing their first introduction to a state Of
freedom, universally noted and com.
mented upon by all classes is percentI-
bly, disappearing in Louisiana, and thew
are acquiring habits of industry and
prudence.