The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-05-30

others who are determined TO make the
Government and its agents all the trouble
they can. There are large number of
Forests old gang of outlaws and despera-
does, scattered all through the country in
this vicinity, and as during the war moth
ing was too bad for them to do, so it is
now. They commit all the depreiations
they dare to do on The poor freedmen,
when they think they can escape detec-
ton. Twice since have been here a
band OF these despcradoes BACKED them
selves Tor smultcd their faces rs the color
cd people call iD and then in the night
went about in the country robbing and
matreating the freedmen in every possible
way, compelling them to submit to any
thing required Of them by firing guns and
pistols about them, and shot one man
but did not wound him very severely.
Being. BACKED and taking the night it
was impossible to get evidence enough to
prove any thing against them. l have
detectives after them, who | think will
ferret them out. They have threatened
me with almost everything but good treat
ment. Some of them have been kind
emo 'gh to call on me and inform me
had better leave the place, intimatng
that my life was in danger. / simply
told these Southern friends of mine those
who were 50 anxious 10 relieve me from
my duty here that calculated to fight it
out on this line, and should not surrender
unless compcllclIto, and that should not
be the only one killed, for | had a good
revolver and should not hesitate to use it
when occasion required. | have not re-
ceived their friendly call yet and do not
expect it, for there is too much smoke to
be large amount of fire. The freedmen
assure me Of their assistance. They tell
me all the white people care for is to get
rid OF me and they can abuse them as
much as they please, us they did before
came, they tell me ''it appears ike a
new place since you came, for the viii C
people do a heap better by u.s." | have
been amused many a time ms | been pass
ing around among the shaniies OF the
freedmen, TO hear them cry out, "tlar 60
de feedum bureau, Gas they almost invar-
iably call me,) may de good Lord brcss
him." In fact nearly all the white pco-
pie here in speaking of ME call me the
Freedmcn's Bureau. l was asked a
number Of times when first came here
by whose orders was sent and what was
my authority. | told them l was Sent
here by the orders Of the Secretary Of
War. But sail they your authority ex-
ceeds the authority OF the state. | re-
piled yea, the laws of the United States
supercede state laws and have my or
ders and requirements aud must and shall
carry them out. They replied they could
not see why the government should send
her officers into Kentucky to rule over
them for Kentucky had never gone out Of
the Union and therefore retained all her
rights and privileges the same as any
Northern state. said no sir large
share of the men of Kentucky went into
the rebel army, and in this part of the
state nearly all, Gas is the fac) and ir
doing that you forfeited all privileges Of
United States citizenship. But they
thought as Kentucky, rs a state did not
scccdc she should be left to manage her
own affairs unmolested !; but to-day, !
believe Kentucky is the worst state to
control in the whole south, for she ncith-
or seeded nor staid in the Union, and
can assure you my position here has been
no enviable one, as, of all the South, Ky
is the worst, so of all Kentucky, the west
ern is the bittcrest, and they will browbeat
and crush an agent of the Bureau if pos
sible. AS Gen. Fisk said in Nashville,
nothing but shoulder straps will do in the
Freelmen's Department in Ky, and a:
Col. York, agent Of the Bureau in Padu-
cab, told mo when on my way to this
place: You will have uphill business for
while, and so | have found it. have
lad to be judge, jury, and prosecuting
attorney, all in one, with the whole com
munity watching to pick flaws with my
operations, aGd Il there arc any to be
found, make it tell against me all in their
power, but l have becI re'Y fortunate
thus far by applying myself very closely to
the laws both of Ky. and the u. S. More
anon. Very Respectfully, J.r.B