The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-01-03

ptueHlS ltoH' Irwin these Wl0 QppUSe(!
lbem IN the 6e'daud in tile cause.
-Four years of war, during which law was
executed only ut the point oftihe bsyonet
throughout Abe States III rebellion, have
|seit tic people, possibly,in condition moi
to yicd that ready obedience To civil ai.-
thori'y The American people have generally
been in Tie habit Of yielding. This would
render the presence Of small garrisons
throughout those States necessary until sucl.
time as labor returns to its proper chanael
aud civil authority is lnly established.
90 not meet any one, either these no ding
|places Huder the Government or citizcus d
(tbe United States. who think il practicable
TO withdraw the military from the sonsi, al
|pryseEt. ThelNiiiie and He Back metnaisr
require tie pratectiouo OF the General Gov
eminent.
There is such universal aeqnlpscence in
tie authority Of the General Government
throughout The portions Of ,Eecoun'ts yisi.
led by me, that'the mere presence Of a mill
tary force, without regs'id to numbers, is
Isn.iieient 10 naiatainorder. 'ihefgood ut
the country, ard economy, require thatthe
force kept inthe Interior where there are
many freedmen (elseWhereiin the Southern
Siates. than ut forts upon The sea.coast, no
force is necessary should oil be whiw
troops. The reasons for this ars obvious,
without mentioning any Of them Tie pres
|eucc OF black loops, lately slaves. delneial.
rs labor, both by their advice and by fur,
nislilag i'll their camps u resot for the freed
men Tor long distances around, White
troops generally excite no opposition, and
therefore assnla!l number of,hemtcan niai,,-
tain order in - given district. Coio.ed
troops must be kept III bodies sufficient 10
defend themselves. Itis rot the thinking
mn who would use violence towards Any
class OF troops sent among them by tis
General Government, sbet the ignorant liz
some places might and the laic slave seems
10 be iAbued with the idea that the pro
Eperty Of lsis late MASTER should BIZ right be.
long 10 hin,--at least, shoald laye no pro
lection from the coloted soldieisi There is
danger ofcollisious beiag brought on BY
Isuch causes. Wa 4. M, IA $50 j sslsig
Nj observations lead me to the conclu-
sion that the citizens OF the Southern
States ara, anxious to return to sell.goyerllr
ment within the Union, as soou as ,,pssi-
bic; that whilst reconsigucting, they want
and require protection from the Govern
nent; that they are in earnest in wishing TO
do what jtheythink is required BY the Cox
|ernment--not humiliating to them as eiti-
and that il such course was point
led cut they would pursue it III good iaitit
tits to, be regretted that there cannot be d
greater comn,ingiing at, this tine between
the citizens Of the two sections, aud par
'ticnlariy, ,oftLose entrusted with the law
making power.
Lid Not give the operations Of The Freed
|rnen's Bureau that attention wouId have
done ifnlore time had baessa MY disposal.
Conversations on the subject. however, with
Officers connected with the bureau, lead
me to think that in some Of the States It's
affairs have not been conducted with jalg-
lnent or economy, aud that the belief, vide
lily spread among the frefdnlensof The South
|ern States, that The lads Of their former
Owners vi, at least il raft be divided
among them, has come from the agents pt
this bureau. This belief Is seriously inter
ferins With the Willingness Of the freedmen
to make contracts for the coming year. il,
some form the Freedalens Bureau is on
absolute necessity until civil Law is estab-
|lished and enforced, securing to tie freed
men their rights and full protection. at
present, however, us independent OF the
military establishment Of tie country, and
seems to be operated By the diffrent agents
Of the Bureau, according to their indiyidu-
alnotiGns. Everywhere, General Howard
u IL a i.s head Ct Che Bureau, made friends
by Tie just and ADMINISTRATIONS and advice
he gave; but the complaint in South Caro-,
Ina was, when he left things went on As
before. Many, perhaps the majority Of the
gents ofthe Freedmen's Bureau, advise
the freedmen that by their oEil industry
they must expect to live. TO this end
they. endeavor tonsecure employment toi
them, and TO see that both contracting par.
ties comply with their eagagealents. Iii
some instances, I am sorry to say, the freed.
mans mind does notsseeni I'd be disabuset
of the idea that the freedman has . right
ito 1--we without care or provisions for the
future. The effect Of the belief hi division
Eof land is idlancss and accumulation in
camps, towns and cities. In such cases /
think it will De found that vice and disease
will tend to tie extermination or great re-
iauction Of the colored race. It cannot be
expected chat thelopinieas heldhy the men
at the South for years can, be changed in a
day. and therefore The freedmen require foF
Il few years not only laws to protect them,
but the fostering care Of those who will
give them good counsel and in whom they
rely: - ~ d \ sss.' !.
aRhe Freedmell's Bureau, being separated
from the military establishment of the
country, acquires all the expenses Of sepe-
rate organization. One does not know
necessarily whatthe other is doing, Or whit
order they are acting nnder Il seems to
me This could becDrrected by regarding
every officer on duty with troops in the
Southern States as agents Of the Freed
meii's Bureau, and then have all the orders
from the head Of tho Bureau sent through
the department commanders. This would
create q responsibility that would secure
uniformity of faction throughout the South,
would insure the orders and Instructions
from the head OF the Bureau being carried
out, and, would relieve from duty andIpay
. large number Of the employees OF tho Gov
ernment. Isl .,9.i:t.5, <,4 s;sl h.
I - n