New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-31

tracts by placing ball and chain upon then ana cfee
to work in ihe streets Of Wilmington" In reply ,o11S
respectfully make the following report VIZ Ils 80 NOT
bad possession, nor have seen shce AVE been in
bee rul uron TIC Chain Gang FOR ref , 3, cony Win
conrsc,s either from the plantation ~ bss ana interested
any Others have no re oIcov of having made The
explanation alluded to-" or no megion of or aluson to
chain gags or balls and chains was made BY either Of
gentlemen myself during nv examination before
want, CnD I. wIcKFRsHAM
Brt. Nal spI A. A Gen: and Asst. Snpt
a true copy ALLEN RUTH kRFoRD, Brit Col U. s. " End
Supt Southern Dist O. 49,
Official copy: Asa BIB GARDNER First Lieut. and Ad)t
Col Rutherford epilorses these papers, follows:
within PAPER @ s C S. DIsT org oin
formation With E reqas., pop. iot~srdsd
fact. The Taei'hd report Of Gem, stesdnsn and Fas
Thai freedmen bad been to wOs IN %
smons Citizens others and can hear Of no such case
"Brevet Col and Sept southern Dl:ic,.
'oh'' 'o} Pyi.t Lieut. ard Adj of7h R. c. o.
The difficulty enforcing compliance with contracts on the
part Of 10 S ms o ON the
ee; accordingly the following paragraph was Incorporated
no my Circular No Current Series dated Raleigh N c.
H. The great majority freedmen having entered into vOlun
tsry employers for the effort viii
be insure faithful discharge Of the obligations assumed
or anhind viii Be justly punished Freedmen violate
Their contracts BY leaving Their employers wilton, good cause vii be
labor upon public roads end in for Connection where
tsry manly and honorable aud compulsory labor en-
force on a
Before il was published this circular referred to the De-
parmen Commander who expressed to me in person his ap
il greatly TO the credit Of the feedme that in but very
few instances has been make arrests for VIOLA
ton Of contracts Inc only place So lar as nave oeg sa
bury in the Western District which is described In the
visit Gems Steadnan aud Fullerton might have such
gang" work upon the streets. Col CIey assures me
and that Gen stoadman expressed his entire approval.
In this connection will quote sentence from the CONVEX
sS.S@ Tl VIC e rePSSsd By M ~ L. Winston
has been named that Of The B9Tsa officer.
labor 5r them have been told that coored wond not
the ces Of Not So "NO, no. iTOm all parts Of
NI1sos1I have never heard Of one instance Ofths kind
s 3 Of G Po g@G Of ne B spSSs
ooneoures rather than facts 1t not charged bat
hned that the Assistant Commissioner has made the most
low rate of wages to the great detriment of freedmen
Were this true it would be difficult TO see how s1sn
citizens who are employing freedmen But the facts
are directly the reverse OF these hins Ihosga d"po,
of wages steadily refused TO issue any ORDERS On '
subject beyond the requirements that freedmen soosu DC
TAUGHT the nature and obligations OF contracts
The rate of wages has been constantly affirmed must De
governed BY the law supply and demand In some D G
or order would be inst to all sections alike.
As 10 the arbitrary power the Bureau" 1t need only to
IN he said that il military power which be jus
fed except upon the plea Of necessity The single Instance
arbitrary nowers adduced is the imposition Of fine SIS
freedman for stabbng another freedman. IL seems to be
nmsted that the sentence is inadequate TO the oene Inc
freedman Atkinson however appealed 10 on the ground
that the punishment wrote TO him that In
my Judgment the sentence was not unasiy severe In gen
era the report Of Gems Seadman and Fullerton does not
exhibit with any fairness the workings OF the freedmehs
Bureau In this Department.
They made neither "thoroug impartial invest.
CATION" They only six 90 Of the ortyone (i dir.
tcs and subdcts under the charge OF this Bureau They
made inquiries respecting its finances or the Government
property It's possession They nothing about more than
g. 600 900 worth abandoned lands which held for
season and restored 10 their owners. .
Trey make no mention Of than thousand 10000
cases of difficulty freedmen freedmen and whites
that have adjusted They give credit 10 the officers
found employment foT thousands OF destitute
refugees and homes many hunred OF orphans and medical
attendance and comforts for more than 10000 persons They
nothing Of the protection and assistance afforded In organ
ling and maintaining 2 schools with 52 teachers and 1906
q b lals:
The rOrk Bureau which has taxed the energy and
the patience OF ell connected with to the utmost they
by unnotced direct their eDtire efforts the discovery
OF ans-and all OF their aDced discoveries they make
10 distinct and open charges but content themselves with in
situations and ooneotures which intended TO defame
officers whose has hitherto been honorable and who In
no respect are inferior the Commissioner but In rank
AS the change recommended IN the conclusion Of the
port has already been ordered will only that earnest
desire that IL greatly increase re efficiency and use
fitness of the Freedmen's Bureau Very Iespv5.f9ly
T.. WHITTLEsEY Brevet- Brig Gen. Vols
Official: Acting. Asst. Adj General