Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-15
Practical Examples Of its workings.
ondence Cincinnati Commercially

Correspondence Cincinnati CommerclsLl
K~ScEvLLE, TESN., March 8.
The branch Of the Freednen's Bureau
in this city Is under the control Of q cit
izen, and one who no doubt administers
it in accordance with his views Of right.
He has 10 knowledge Of the law, and eX-
ercises his powers with a view to secure
full protection for those under his
charge.
The following examples viii show how
arbitrary are his powers. BY the statute
laws Of Tennessee it requires eleven days
10 eject a tenant by suit for unlawful de-
tainer. A negro rents a house. one room
Of which is occupied by . white family.
Their lease has expired, and 10y law they
might remain for eleven DAYS before they
could be elected. The negro goes 90 the
Freedmen's Bureau, makes his com-
plant, and in . few hours is rid Of his
tenant. AspeedF way Of administering
laws-prOftable toone party, but ruinOus
for the other.
An old prominent Union man ne8rthis
city, some time ago, rented q farm from
the Bureau, for n year, paying his
rent-sOme seventy-fye dOllars-in ad-
vanR. He took possession, and made
some improvements, and Preparations
for seeding and harvesting. Some days
ago he received an order from the Chief
Of the Bureau for Tennessee, by which
be was summaTily elected has not re-
ceived his money advanced On rent, nor
remuneration for Improvements made
or work done.
An estate belonging to a Northern
family, thoroughly loyal, never having
been South, was seized, and is now inthe
possession of the Bureau, or is leased out
for the present year, and lands leased TO
freedmen, by order of the War Depart
ment, cannot be taken from them until
crops put q are gathered. The agent
for this estate must apply for theselands,
make proof Of title, show proof of loy-
alty, and comply with sundry other re-
quirements too numerous 10 mention,
before thai estate will be restored 10 him.
A few days ago a negro was fined
thirty dollars and costs for speaking dis
respectfully Of tie ggy the Bureau tCds
managed.
Briefly stated, the above cases will
illustrate in what way and in what class
Of cases this arbitrary power is used. IL
may be desirable th~attenants unlawfully
holding should be speedily elected but
Is il night TO invest such power IN q court
exercising il for the benefit OF one class
or comforting upon the blacks, or even
any class Of whites, a power in direct
conflict with the known, established
statute law Of a Stateo
II may be desirable 10 nuIlify a con
tract but should any temporary tribunal
have the power 10 elect a lessee from.
lands upon which advance PAYMENTS Of
rent and Improvements had been made?
There can be no need for the Bureau in
States that have made statute provisions
permitting negroes to testify in the
courts. For its ayoWed object IS 10 exact
Justice. If they have tie means for ex-
acting that in the judicial tribunals Of
the several States, there can be no eX.
cuse for the expenditures and the injUs-
tee that this organization, under the
most iudiclous management must entail.
In Tennessee and North Carolina the
Legislatures have enacted laws By which
the blacks have ample redress for every
wrong inflicted upon them. These pe0-
pie having acted in good faith, having
accepted the new condition Of the blacks
a. one of the results Of the war, having
given them, in their State courts, The
to sue and to testify, should be
freed from every unnecessary inconveni-
ence and have Their laws respected by
the Federal Government. During the
term of the Knox county court, lust
there were some twenty blacks
tried for larceny and other crimes
Here, where the antipathy against
them IS as strong as any where else
in the South, I bear willing tes-
timony that full and impartial jus
tee has been done them, and that, in
every case, juries have been very leni-
emit and their sentences have in none Of
the eases been as sever as those passed
upon b whites indicted for similar Of /
lenses. The records Of the Court win
me out in this assertion. OBSERVE
lion further proves that the blacks them
selves when they have q choice, prefer
10 liti0ate in the State Courts. These
are not assertions made after passing Oh
sefvaUon, bat conclusions formed after
months Of careful investigation aud ex-
perience. In view Of these facts, / main
that Tennessee should be freed from
any future legislation in this respect.