The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-08-21
THE FREEDMEN's BUREAU.

5 r Z
Hicial Report Of Generals Seadman and
: FuNerton-THe BureoH Rotten Throughout
and a Curse to Both Whites and Negroes.
The Commissioners, Major General Steadman
Id Brigadier General Fullerton, appointed by
lie War Department to investigate the condi-
on and working of the Freedmen's Bureau:
abe, on Thursday, the Gnal report of their
bors. The report is long and very interesting
wing full account of the inspections made III
o States of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
ouisiaua and Texas. We give some condensed
tracts from the report:
Georgia. ....
The Bureau in Georgia, under the manage
cut Of the present able and efficient assistant
,mmissiooer, Brepet Major General Tilson, has
cen honestly administered, and has accom-
.isheG all the good of which the system is
pable. 1t has been assisted by the Governor,
J the judges Of the Supreme Court, by the
vii authorities, aud to some extent by the citi-
rs. The amended laws of Georgia are fully
liberal as those of any Northern State, and
ace The negro in AL respects on perfect
quality with the white man as to his civil
.shts. ... ...
r -AiaGunsa.
In this State Major General Wager Swayne,
Q assistant commissioner, has pursued dis
eet aud enlightened policy in administering
6 affairs of the bureau, laborng on all occa-
pms to secure the co operation of the civil au
critics and to obtain from the judicial ma
inery of the State recognition of the rights
sental to the ccurity and we'll being Of the
led people: This policy of General Swaync
5 produced much more kindly feeling to-
.rds Che bureau than exists where lis agents
We assumed to exercise judicial powers.
Though the administration at headquarters
ss been satisfactory, subordinate agents have
Fen guilty of considerable irregularities. The
mes of several engaged in planting are given
Mssissirpi-Hcnry Stealing.
The control of the freedmen's affairs in this
ate is ia the hands of Major General Wood,
it'll the exception of some localities, the ne
oss are working industriously, and rule
ikindiy treated and doing well. 10 this, as
others we have visited, the officers Of the bu-
III formerly imposed and collected fines and
ny kept no records. We found marked
lance of this kind at Grenada, where former
ent of the bureau, Chaplain livermore, did
living business In the way Of collecting fines,
ling rations and Government horses and mules.
is officer seems not only to have collected
IS ranging from fifty cents to five dollars,
M the freedmen for marrying them, but also
empted to exact fees from resident white
aisters for giving them permission to marry
cdmen.
10 cases where the negroes where unable to
the sum dema ndcd of them for approving
ir contracts or marrying them, the chaplain
led on their personal property, in one case
Hng Negroes empty wallet and jack knife
q balance of fifty cents. This close driving
,rnbably to be accounted for by the fact that
rpain Llvermore openly expressed his IN
ton to return to Illinois with ten thousand
lars in his pocket. After he had been re-
we'd from his post offered military officer
dollars for bis Influence TO retain him III his
ition. Chaplain Livermore left no official
ers behind to show the disposition he had
lie of the funds received. a large amount
money was also collected by the first two
hts at. Columbus in the shape of fees and
: S, and so far as we could learn no account
ever rendered of it. This class of officers
e lately been mustered out, or have disap-
red. Under the present administration the
nts exercise no judicial powers.
, Lpuisiana- Wholesale Pundeying.
he bureau in this department is more in
4 Va lClicuCnutuI dHu IeIolH lbdu III any
n State we have visited More money. has
. collected, and more money has been sguan-
ID in Louisiana than 10 any other three
thcrn States The expenses of the bureau,
ccounted for for the fiscal year ending the
of June, 1866, were over three hundred
lsand dollars. TO meet this expenditure
e were collected in taxes and rents the fol
ng amounts
For school purposes, s9G,387 So
sFrom rents, 92,43l 90
From poll tax, 1896 IL
Srom Corps d. Antique tax, $4,000 90 :.
: From fines, .: 673 10
+, Total, S523,44S Al :.
/ carios deficit of s60,057 33 to be paid
of the rational treasury. These expenses
{ III addition to the transportation, rations
/ quartcrmaster's supplies furnished by the
+, ,rnmcnt. 1t is difficult to determina:e to
, suse the vast amount OF property held by
(, bureau has been applied. At the very low
! .stimate, the property taken of as couf,cated /
! oandoned amounted in value to ten millions
! ,llars, and the rents returned as above maa-
I I'd are less than one per cent on the entire
4 @.
/ he expenditures Of the bureau, under the
/ ent administration, for agents, civilian
] . sud employees about its headquarters
:. a&aoant to not less than $40, 23G year,