The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-05-19
FROM WASHINGTON.
FREEDMEN'S AFFAIRS IN
F.sf TEXAS.
Coinage of Fyve Cent Pieces.
CONFIRMATIONs, sc.

WASHINGTON, May IS.
A. nj. De Zea is recognized as Consul for
Spain, at Portland, NIe. E
1revet Brigadier Gen. Gregory Assistant
Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau for
Texas, has forwarded to Maj. Gen. Howard a
report Of the operations of che Bureau in
that State, dated April 18th, he says he has
just returned from a tour OF inspection of
many hundreds of miles in extent, through
Western Texas, and everywhere found the la
bOrers steadily at worl. in the field. and well
and profitaby employed. Misunderstanding
between. them and their employers are be-
coming quite untrequent. He says the tree
dom OF the negroes has become recognized as
a palpable fact in most Of Texas, and proper
ty holders are disposed to treat his claims
with an increasing degree of fairness, but he
adds e
During March and up to date, instances of
maltreatment and violent abuse have percept-
ably increased IN some portions of the State.
These can be readily traced to the very con-
siderable reduction of the military force and
to the increasing excitement on the grave ma
tional questions now agitating our Govern
ment 1t is feared by loyal residents that the
withdrawal of the troops from the interior will
be followed by much harshness towards the
freedmen, and that these cruelties will increase
ina ratio prOportonate to the army reduction.
The conduct of Southern freedmen has been
in every way loyal and commen6able Antag-
onism between the races they clearly see will
result to their detriment The same influence
that urged the freedmen to labor will operate
to make them faithful to their contracts in this
State. The rate of wages has not been fixed,
either as to maximum or minimum by any
regulations fom this Office. Under such ar
rangements the planters and farmers of Texas
havp nIIti lap0 of 4
wheat.
1 have heard the opinion that if season con-
tinues as favorable as at present, more cotton
will be made than was ever made for MANY a
year before. The health of the State is good
The freedmen's schools are tlourishing there
being AZ day schools and IS Sunday schools,
with total attendance of 1880 children ana
1,760 adults. Besides these there are eighteen
or twenty private schools. The freedmen's
schools in many parts of the State are pas
slvely accepted, and in many instances recog-
nized and welcomed They are wholly self
sustaining" .ss.
The President has approved the bill author
izing the coinage Of five cent pieces. This coin
is to be a legal tender in payment to the
amount of one dollar. There is to be no new
issues of fractional notes OF less denomination
than ten cents.
The President has approved the bill provid-
ing that on and after the 10th inst, there shall
be levied, collected and paid on all horses,
mules and cattle, sheep, hogs, and other live
ANIMALS imported from foreign cOuntries,a "a duty
OF 20 per cent. advalorem. 1t provides that
any such animals now bonifedly owned by cit
liens of the United States, and now in any of
the British Provinces, may be admitted into
the United States free until the 9th of May.
The President has also approved the bill to
allow the Vice Admiral a Secretary with the
rank, sea pay and allowance of a Lieutenant
in the Navy.
The President has also approved the joint
resolution sending greeting to the Emperor
OF Russia, and cOngratulating him ON his es-
cape from the hands of the assassin. q -
The President has also approved the joint
resolution relative to the U. S. Courts and
Post Office in the city of New York.
The Senate to-day confirmed the following:
David Gould, of New York, Consul at Leith,
vice Neil McLochlan, recalled; G. H. Heap,
Of Pennsylvania, Consul at Amsterdam, vice
Joseph Marks, recalled. Also, large num-
bef OF brevet appointments for gallantry and
meritorous services, among them the follow
ing: To be Maj Generals by brevet, Brig.
Generals Osborn, Green Clay Smith, Morrows,
Connor, Tibbetts, James Wood, Jr., Mindall,
Henry d. Washburne and Parsons. To be
Brig. Generals by brevet, Colonels Ordway,
Paltrey and Waste, of Massachusetts, and
others. The Senate also confirmed about Is
Captains to be Majors by brevet, 40 Lieut..
Colonels to be Colonels by brevet and so or
GO Majors to be Lieut.. Colonels by brevet, al
so number of 1st Lieutenants to be Cap
tains by brevet. A number OF ex-volunteer
soldiers, some of whom had served as Lieut..
COlOnels, Majors and Captains, were confirm
ed as I'd LieutenantS in the regular service.