Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-01-04
crx. HowAnD.s FREranEN EEPoHT.

J eaEN. HON AttD y r EhlEsfRia-<2~ = - =
On entering upon the duties OF his
! Office, six months ago, the SupeflnteR-
dent informs Us that be divided tne Bu-
reau into four divisions-yiz; one o.
| lands, q second Of recOnisi third q
financial affairs, while the fourth consul
tuted the medical department. Eacn
! one q these divisions are suceesslEsiy
/ taken up and treated in the report. The
act OF Congress approved March, eigh-
/ teen hundred and sixty-five, which es-
/ tahlished the Bureau, provided that II
should have the supervision and man.
i agement OF abandoned lands-that Is,
! isnds deserted by their owners or eoniis-
Gated by the GRernment
There are now, we are told, in possess
sion of the Bureau seven hundred ana
/ sixtv-eight thousand and fourty acres oil
such lands; one hundred and sixty-one
thousand three hundred and thirty-one
acres are cultivated by the freedmen one
1 hundred and fOurty-three thousand two
| hundred and nineteen are upeultivsted1
while four hundred and siXty-fOur thou
sand and fourty acres have not as yet
been classified. Believing it to be not
only just policy, but the policy decided
upon by the Government, Gen. Howard
refused 20 return any estates 70 owners
who could not show a constant loyalty,
past and present-a loyalty which could
not be established by the mere produc-
ton Of an oath Of allegiance or amnesty"
This course did not meet with the ap-
provaI of the President, who gave notice
that pardon, either by special warrant
or the provisions of his amnesty prOcla-
nation, entitled the party pardoned to
demand and receive immediate restora-
ton Of all his property, except such as
had been actually sold under decree Of
coniiscatiOn.
In accordance with these orders the
Sea Islands along the coast Of South Car
olina and Georgia, which had peen espe-
cially set apart for the freedmen by Gen.
sherman, were restored 70 their owner.
The total number Of acres thus far sur
rendered, amounts to lightweight thou
sand one hundred and seventy. In New
Orleans, property TO the value Of eight
hundred thousand dollars has been re-
stored. while one third Of all that Is held
in North Carolina has been given up.
Under the head of Records, Gen. How
ard states that the ratiOns were ISSUED by
the Bureau. in August last, to ffty-seven
thousand thres hundred and sixty
whites, ninety thousand, six hundred
and thfrty-seven blacks, and onehundred
and twenty-three Indians; total one
hundred and forty-eight thousand one
hundred and twenty. The whole num-
Der Of rations issued during the mouth Of
September were one million four hundred
thousand six hundred and forty-three.
The expenditures Of the Bureau have
amounted to four hundred and seventy
eight thousand three hundred and sixty
three dollars and seventeen cents. The
total amount received, including funds
on hand January first, is nine hundred
and seven thousand three hundred and
Dinety-six dollars and twenty-eight
cents, leaving a balance on hand of three
hundred and thirteen thousand seven
hundred and ninety-six dollarsa and sixty
two cents. This, however, includes q
large amount Of funds held in trust for
coiored soldiers, which is to be returned
to them. It is estimated that the
amount required for the expenditures
Of the Bureau for the fiscal year COM
mencing January, eighteen hundred and
siXty-six, will be eleven million seven
hundred and forty-five thousand and
fifty dollars.
Some three million of this estimated
sum is put down tn the head of 'sites for
school houses and asylums." Now, al
though it would be most desirable 10 have
the freed negroes educated, the General
Government cannot take upon itself the
labor and expense Of giving them all a
schooling Under the head Of "Jus-
tice," the General continues: "It would
seem best to have some provision Of law
extending the United States jurisdiction
10 the freedmen, while they re-
main wards of the Government. Freed
mems United States Courts, to exist for
a term of years, would be q very
effective instrument to relieve these peo-
pie from the injustice incident to forced
emancipation; | mean on the part Of
those who have fought against emanci-
patton, and are too full Of prejudices and
Ignorance to believe in freedom"
In his concluding remarks Gen. How
ard makes numerous suggestions, and
expresses the hope that the Bureau viii
still be continued.
The letter of Gen. Grant to the Presi
dent on the temperofthe South, suggests,
as an economical measure, that every
officer on duty with troops in the South
ern States be made agents Of the Freed
mems Bureau, and thus save the expense
Of separate salaried agents.