The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-12-27

Major General Towards first official
, report of the Frcedmen's bureau is just
published. The extent and Importance
of the operations of the bureau may be
conceived from the statement with which
the report closes, that Sll,745. 900 will
be required for its expenses in 1866. The
bureau was separated into four divisions.
One OF lands; embracing abandoned, con-
iscated and those acquired by sale or 9TH
erwise. One of records embracing Of
fetal pets of the commissioner, touching
Labor, schools, Quartermaster and COM
mlssary supplies. Another of financial
affairs, and fourth, the medical depart
ment. To each of these divisions was
assigned an officer with the necessary
clerks, and offices were procured by re-
QUESTION on the quartermaster department.
Superlntendcnts of freedmen were appoint
ed for different locations who labored to
prevent suffering, to regulate labor, to IN
troduce and sustain schools and by the
corporation of benevolent associations
and government agencies, wonderful re-
suits were accomplished.
After a little time the work was deduced
to regularity which added greatly to
the efficiency of the bureau Gen.
Rufus Saxton was made Assistant Com
missioner Of South Carolina and Georgia
Gen &. b. Fiske, of Kentucky aud Ten
neSsee; Gen Sprague, of Missouri and
Arkansas; and the rest of the iDsurrcc-
tionary states had each an assistant com
missioner The evident hostility of a
portion of the citizens and their ability, in
the absence of troops, to outrage or take
the life of agents hlndered the extension
OF operations, except occasionally by an
inspecting officer accompanied by pa
irol. Most OF the agents were officers OF
the army because Congress omitted to
make appropriations necessary to support
them.
The Land Division had instructed to
1t by act OF Congress approved March 3,
100, the supervision and management
OF all abandoned lands, that is, lands
taken possession of by government while
their owner was absent aiding the rebel
lion. These lands were leased for term
not less than twelve months, for the ben
etit of refugees and freedmen, with the
ultimate design of dividing and assigning
the lands to them.
But soon the former owners came and
claimed the lands and the bureau gave
up at first TO such only as proved con-
tinued loyalty until the president disap-
proved this course and directed that a
pardon either by warrant or by the pro.
visions OF his amnesty entitlcdthe party par
doned TO receive the immediate restoration
OF all his property except that actually sold
uoder decree OF con6scation. However,
lands Oh which crops were growing were to
be retained until the crops were gathered.
1t Is probable that by the end of the year
no lana will remain under control of the
bureau.
Schools had been sustained by benev-
client associations previously, but the
bureau organized and protected more
uniform system Of management and
teaching. The white people quite gener-
ally were openly hostile to the education
of the blacks, though some of the more
enlightened people earnestly advocated the
Of schools and the establish
ment OF churches. As Congress made no
provision for defraying expenses, the
finances of the bureau were dependent ON
taxes, rents, &C., while expenses were
reduced by Using salaried officers detailed
Tor this work from the army. The
breaking up Of the old plantation system
necessarily left the freedmen with little or
10 provision for medical treatment except