New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-07-02
NORTH CAROLINA.
THE FREEDMBN's BUREAU OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
DAYS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. oP HENRY MUTT.

The PRBRDMBN's BUREAU COURT-MARTIAL-sEyENTH
DAYS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. oP HENRY MUTT.
From Our Special Correspondent.
RALEIGH, n. c.. Thursday June 2s 1906
The Bureau Court met this morning, but the prose
cutting witness Holmes arrived BY consent OF Court
and desire OF accused and witness present the testimony OF
Henry Mutt for the defense allowed He sta ted he had
sided at Wilmington little So years. born and
raised there's did slaves the condition Of feeling
among freed people regard to working for their former
last Spring very unsatisfactory AT that time
the town Wilmington seemed be crowded with
idle and turbulent and far could things
could not be made workto labor farms particularly
Myself with some others tried offer them inducements
labor hundred would take hold and work
We could induce them to do IT, II they agreed to work
there reliance to be placed them Upon one OF
remain on the farm but ius in the midst Of my crops
or 10 Of them left and in conse9unOe a portion OF
sss sv: S to a
Of tSe Bureau talked With him aud addressed note sog
20 % employ s1 on o@s Of he uuoscped
order f give many OF the land holder. and
srnmsn Of considerable expense 10 feeding these idle negroes
urged that witt all the power c:c!d command sfs.n
i SsOi hut @ would Involve them n any dou
Of there being any eTiDinsy IN the mattel. IN
Piled that be nobirs in bis Instructions from the
authorities which prevented bic renting heSe lands ths sn
10 De paydOe IN rOrtiOn OF tDe prOuuctt
dsa: mater us1 and though, doing asy eooa I
c cfh II did not see Neither gentlemen
psd I. ne TO gvs any EVIDENCE In thi. met..f or old IN
ibis trial thought It ny duty to undo eny btsadcL In
f fSsso s4 sd s
n s and u .Rs s
making beginning gave II up Mr. ThoIs. AeaIs Tor one
With IL S ssS
again. and be told the negroes would not ana be had
abandon the whole scheme As sng ins rans
doned all hope Of culvstng their farms and many OF the
most valuable farms abandoned in consequsnos. A.
would not WORK for tssf but
feared them or loved them do not know but very
that they were not disposed to work FOR their former
think the difficulty grew out Of false ideas taught BY
persons who oame there teachers and preaohrt
could not enjoy their long they remained
with their former masters The expression was They mnst
among the negroes that they be supported BY the Gov
eminent they not disposed to work at all though
negroes did work and worked very vel The
plantations the river cant think about 90 There
this year by Souhrons and four cultivated
by Northern There others where little patches Of
Of these plantations are under cultivation. There many
particular when neglect OF rice or cotton
crop for only three days would lose the whole yield Hence
the difficulty Of ouvsting rice with untrusworthy
labor No experenced planter win undertake without be
me to 20 and cultivate my place. and said that
he would all the influence his office gave bin to
compel the aborers TO comply with their contracts
He cautioned making engagements with negroes
to make written and they gave written forms
make oonraea and that any contract made with
negroes they would their 10 compel them to
comply with. He did this with Others think be used his
influence induce the planters to to work and promised
them such they could afford by their Office 40
know Of land near Wilmington Ia possession Of the
Freedmens Bureau abandoned land unless Is down at
Fort Anderson and Fort St Philip; there little colonies
and back Of WILMINGTON where they quarter the negroes
them OF the community.
BY Cour-You you we're told that the teachers and
had used their influence 10 unwngness
OF the negroes 10 work for their former owners
sufficient knowledge the subject form an intel
gent opinion whether that unwngnes really due
teachers and preachers influence whether 1t eI
listed portions the State where there no teachers or
preacherst A. have not, sir.
The Court then adjourned.
Mr. Mutt owned formerly 100 slaves and two plantations
cotton and tho other cotton and rice he nov
hands atng cotton and portions OF his farms rented
former slaves he furnishing rations and receiving one
third OF the Having been connected with the Rbsel
be declined to take the oath required when the
position Of Collector Of the Port Of Wilmington rendered
10 bin BY President johnson six weeks since He stated
10 Col Mansfield and myself in conversation after tbe 3D.