New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-01-03

Jnne IN afforded means of raising larger funds IN
that than almost any other Southern state nut
the restoration OF property is fast depriying the
Bureau Of that source of revenue.
From the reports of the Bureau OF TINS state,
IL Is believed that the system OF free lapof
is working fairly in the section of the State
where the citizens were disposed TO give IT a
fair trial, to fulfill their contracts with the
freedmen, and where tile employers were able to
nav cash al short periods. the freedmen were
found 10 work we'll. There is already in opera
ton four colonies, in which are supported the
aged and infirm. who under the old system of sla-
very, would be dependent upon their masters for
support, but now have to look to the government
for assistance. These colonies are not generally
self supporting, though farms are attached to each
that are worked by freedmen.
The schools in this State are in hourishing con-
dition most of the teachers being paid out Of the
funds Of the Bureau. To support these schools
the Commanding General of the Department OF
the Gulf, authorized the imposition of tax upon
plantations in each school district, to be collected
and turned over subject to the orders of the asss
tant commissioner of this Bureau. Between thirty |
and forty thousand dollars have been collected,
and steps have been taken to secure the collee-
ton of the balance. The assistant commissioner
reports that there are now one hundred and forty
one schools, with two hundred and sxtyh
teachers and nineteen thousand scholars, in ope-
ration and it hoped that the schools will be still
more extended over the State.
In this State as well as in Alabama, the freed |
men have the rightto sue and be sued and to give
testimony in the courts and in consequence OF this
privilege, other special courts constituted to Try
cases relating to freedmen exclusively, have been
| abolished.
/ Commissioner issued iifty-hve thousand one hun
dred and eighty six rations to refugees and freed
men.
aSome time after the organization Of the Bureau,
1 It was decided to change the Assistant Commits.
sioner, and as soon as the change was determined
4 upon, application was made to the War Depart.
ment for the assignmentsto duty in that position OF
1 Breyet Major-G General A. Baird, Y. =. W., with
| whom had been associated in the army before
i the war and afterward while he was division
commander in the Fourteenth Corps. He is a
faithful and able officer. As it was impossible for
him to proceed at once to his station on receiving
his assignment Brevet Brgadier- General Joseph s.
Fullerton, of my staff, was dispatched to New Or
leans to relieve Mr.. Conway, and temporarily. to
act as Assistant Commissioner. General Fullerton
A performed his duties in accordance with his IN.
structions and has been relieved inturn by General
q Baird, who is now Assistant Commissioner for the
State Of Louisiana. Previous to these changes,
the military and civil authorities and the agents of
the Bureau had not always been working nafmo
niously, but now am in hopes that the infence OF
all will be given to furthering the interests OF the
freedmen and planters as the only means OF regu-
lating the question Of labor in the States.
:, TEXAS.
& Brew. Brig. Gen. &. N. Gregory, Assistant
Commissioner of the Bureau for the State Of
Texas; only reached his station the twenty-irst Of
Ill anu tle VI tIhl
takes date from that period.
This officer served with credit in the Army of the
III Potomac, and was recommended by Ten. MEADE
and others for detail in the Bureau
Although the Bureau has been IN operation SO
short time in this.atate, Gen. Gregory reports
quite a favorable disposition on the part OF the
citizens to treat the freedmen WIN ialness, ana
that the freedmen are working with evident conf
arnee in their employers. Gen. Gregory is OF the
opinion that this years crops OF cotton, corn
wheat, ETC., will be secured aud saved to the inhab
,Toy1 hot In ark
of subsistence in Texas, and ought not to be much
+ suffering among the freedmen.
Gen. Gregory has succeeded in securing the CO.
operation Of the civil and military authorities, and
expresses himself as well pleased with the pros
n poets of the freedmen in his State.
4 He has called upon the freedmen and planters
to make contracts, the with the other, for the
| approaching season. and urges on the employer
\ the wisdom of paying his hands each month, as
the surest way of inducing them to comply with
n their contracts, and he hopes to obtain for the
1 freedmen the right to purchase and work home
II Esteads of their own.
II Gen. Gregory is organizing schools as fast as
possible, but complains that ne IS greatly n need
of funds to carry on his operations. lie has no
II abandoned lands in his hands, and has to depend
small tax on contracts for funds to detray his
current expenses.
MIssIssIpPI.l
Early in 1868 Gen. John Eaton, Jr., was assigned
to duty as General Superintendent of Freedmen in
"a the Mississippi valley, and continued in the dis
charge of those duties until May, 1866 when thi
bureau was organized, and the States of Mssis-
81 sippi Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas were
i, stiuted separate districts, and assistant commits
sioners assigned, under the act OF Congress- to the
supervision of freedmen's affairs in those States.
Gen. Eaton bieng relieved Col. Samuel Thomas,
a sixty fourth y. s. G; l., was appointed Assistant
Commissioner for the State Of Mississippi and
4 since the organization of the Bureau, has dis
Fl charged his duties with zeal and ability. He has
u dices to overcome, in his district and although
4 working in hearty corporation with the military
authorities, has not secured the entire cooperation
with the civil authorities.
4 Col Thomas has had quite large amount of
abandoned property in his possession, from which
he has derived sufficient revenue to carry on the
j Bureau without calling on me for funds for his
current expenses, bu as IN az the other States
/ this source of revenue is diminishing.
The desire all freedmen have to obtain homes
for themselves, and their willingness to work
/ these places, when once secured in possession Of
i them has been tested most thoroughly in Missis-
sippi, and with reference to the freedmen who
cultivating the land on their own account at the
government farms or colonies, Col THOMPSON
freedmen working land assigned them at Davis
Bend, Camp Hawley, near Vicksburg, DeSoto
Point, opposite: and at Washington, near Natchez,
are all doing we'll. These crops are maturing
number of ratons issued, and compel them to
rely on their own resources; at least ten thou
sand bales of cotton will be raised by these peo-
pie, who are conducting cotton crops, on their
own accounts. Besides this cotton they have
gardens and corn enough to furnish bread for
their families and food for their stock till harvest
time returns. A more industrious, energetic body
of citizens does not exist than can be seen at the
colonies now.
| Again, Col Thomas says with reference to
whether the freedmen will work: Il have lately
visited large portion of the State, and find it in
much better condition than / expected In the
eastern part, fine crops Of grain are growing, the
| negroes are at home working quietly; they have
contracted with their old masters at fair wages;
/ all seem to accept the change without shock"
1t will be seen, from these extracts thatthe freed
selves, and can still be depended on, When work
i ing for Others The main thing requisite to insure
their working in Mississippi, in any other of the
States is to treat them Kindly respect their rights
4 aud pay them promptly, as agreed upon in the
i contract,
! Col. Thomas reports that his schools are in a
4 good condition, and that there are in the State
4 forty-six teachers, thrty.four schools, and two