The New York herald., 1866-05-08

same agony that in her own case they all
helped to make more terrible.
Revelations About the Operations OF the
Freedmen's bureau.
The information we published on Wednes-
day from one Of our correspondents in the
South relative to the working Of the Freed
mems Bureau and additional facts given to-
day show the infamous character of that pet
radical institution and fully justiAes President
Johnson in vetoing the bill to perpetuate and
enlarge its powers. The statements made by
our correspondent are not his individual opin-
ions, but are facts obtained through official in
vestgations, and are entitled to the fullest
credit as such. Generals Steedman and Fuller
ton have been appointed to make these investi-
cations, and looking at the high character, sa-
gacity and impartiality Of these gentlemen we
suppose no unprejudiced person will doubt the
accuracy of what they have developed and
what our correspondent reports.
Writing from Newbern, April 80, our corre-
spondent says -
closer investigation OF the state Of affairs at New
bern has revealed condition worse than the bitter
est enemy of the Bureau ventured TO insnuate
appears almost beyond doubt that at Of the freed
mems settlements here cruelties more atrocous than
those for which Wrz hanged have been perpetrated
the unonending freedmen by agents OF the Bureau
es abshed for their protection
Opposite Newbern, the other side OF the river
two thousand five hundred freedmen have been settled
for Ave years past They were invited there by the mill
tary and located on little pats of ground which they
were allowed To cultivate Eight months ago Edward
8. Fitz Massachusetts, preacher was placed in charge
of the Trent settlement by Captain James another
New England preacher who was then conducting the
Bureau here system OF extorton and cruelty i'm
medatey inaugurated Fifty cents month ground rent
was demanded for every plot on which & the miserable
boat had to pay two dollars and half month, his
boat forfeited Every daIky who kept store was
taxed five dollars month. Every one who owned
horse taxed similar amount. Failure TO pay any
of these exactons punished by the Imprisonment Of
Wife-the conflscation Of all his little property aud In
many the tearing down of his house. negro who
quarrelled with his wife was fined ono hundred dollars
and mt to prison until no paid it. ALI these extortions
practised upon population STEPPED in the deepest
poverty scourged by disease and many of them wanting
the common nccessares Of life, and In this manner an
income of at least eight hundred dollars month was
derived by tho Bureau
These charges, revolving as they are, were
substantiated in almost every particular upon
an official examination. Much more was
brought out Of the same or worse character,
which it is unnecessary to recite here, as it has
been published in the correspondence and
is given in our despatch OF to-day. Gene
rails Steedmau and Fullerton had an interview
with Governor Holden and the leading citizens
at Raleigh. The Governor said, "the great OBJ
lection to the Bureau Court was that it was Q
one man power. A planter might be dragged
many miles TO answer some frivolous charge
preferred by negro, and this charge would be
disposed of before one man, who was both
Judge and jurors. In the past he believed the
Bureau had been of advantage to both races,
but its further continuance would serve no
useful purpose"
We learn that the Bureau agents Throughout,
most Of North Carolina have been guilty Of
fraudulent practices in one way Or another,
and pretty generally in farming operations.
We may expect within short time some
startling revelations from Commissioners Steed.
man and Fullerton, not only about what ls
going on in North Carolina, but from Charles
ton and other places to which they are pro-
ceeding.
Everywhere and from every one similar
testimony as the above was given about
the uselessness, tyranny, cupidity, frauds
and general evil consequences of the Bu-
reau. In fact there appears to be but
one opinion on the subject throughout the
South, apart from the prejudiced and inter-
ested opinions expressed by agents of the es-
tablishment and radical emissaries. On the
other hand, there il abundant evidence to show
that "lhe relations between the two races are
now on the most satisfactory footng;' that the
negroes are "fairly and kindly treated by the
planters, and in turn seem disposed to live
peaceable and industrious lives" While, as
general rule, they spoke fairly of kindness re-
ceived from their former masters, and seemed
to have a just understanding Of the respons;.
bilties Of their altered position, they had many
complaints to make of the administration of the
Freedmens Court AL tbis demonstrates the
miscbievous character and operation of the
Bureau, and how much better il would be for
both blacks and whites 10 leave them to settle
their own affairs and adjust their new relations
to each other by the operation OF their own
laws and the natural laws regulating labor and
capital.
We have over aud over again, in our COM
ments on the Freedmens Bureau bill. while that
measure was before Congress and when the Pre-
sdent vetoed it, pointed out the evils which
Generals Steedman and Fullerton have shown to
exist and our correspondent, describes. II was
evident that the agents. selected for the most part
from the canting preachers, schoolmasters and
hypocritical fanatics of the Tribune and New
England school, would both oppress and rob
the poor negroes. This set have no real sym
patty with the colored people; they do not
understand them, have never before been in
contact with them, and now that they are placed
in authority over them they use their power
mercilcssly TO make money. The Southern
people, who have been brought up with the
negroes, played with them when children
together, and have an interest in their well
fare, naturally have sympathy for them; but