The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-05-19

ana MI. James, was arrested, tried and con-
ylcted by Mr.. James. as agent of the Bureau
and was sentenced to dig bitches on their
plantation. While working out this SEN
tence he ran away, and was pursued by
James and his clerk, Boyden, who arrived at
the bank of a river while the freedman was
attempting to cross in canoe. Boyden Or
dered him to return, telling him that if he
old not he would shoot. and the freedman
dlsregarding this order, Boyden fired. Boy
den states himself that he thinks he hit him,
| ana as nothing has ever ever been heard of
the freedman since it is generally believed in
the neIgh5orhood that he was killed and
fell from the canoe into the river These
facts were stated in a letter forwarded to
Colonel Whittlesey, who returned it to Cap
tain Seeley, with the following endorsement
RALEIGH, March %, 1865.
respectfully returned as the affair seems
to have occurred at night and, as the body
OF the negro has not been discovered, it does
not appear certain that the shot took effect.
No further action in the case seems to be
called for. By order of
Col. WHITTLESEY, Asst Com'r
BEEcHER, Asst Adj't General
A number of the freedmen at Newbern ex-
pressed dissatisfaction at the manner in
which this case had been passed over with
out investigation but as the plantation is
quite remote from any public line of COM
OF time, to inquire into the matter.
AFFAIRS AT KINsToN.
On the I'd instant we left Newbern for
Goldsboro,' and on the way stopped at Kin
ston long enough to learn that Capt Wheel
er, agent for the Bureau at that point, is en-
gagged in working large plantation on his
own account and employs thereon quite a
number of freedmen.
MORE FARMING.
At Goldsboro' the Superintendent, G.. o.
CLAWS, Chaplain United States Army, is cul-
tivating farm on government account
and is interested in cultivating two farms on
his own account. This officer stated in his
examination before us that he was not inter-
ested in the cultivation of plantations, except
indirectly by loaning money to a Mr.. Brooks.
a friend of his from the North, who was en-
gagged in planting; but we ascertained from
Mr.. Carr and Mr.. Lane, citizens of the vcin-
ity of Goldsboro.' that he is interested AMI
joined with them in contracts for the cult
walton of their plantations. He and his
friend Mr.. Brooks entered into a contract
with Mr. Lane to furnish rations and pay for
forty laborers, and to provide eight good
mules. Mr.. Lane offered to furnish the land
and to superintend in person the cultivation
thereof, the crops to he equally divided one
half to Mr.. Lane and the other half to Mr.
Brooks and CLAWS. Mr. Lane states that
the enterprise failed after the freedmen had
worked over two months; they then left,
Brooks and CLAWS having failed to pay
them according to contract. The freedmen
received for their labor little clothing,
such coats pants, shoes. &c, furnished by
Chaplain CLAWS, and but little or no money
A similar contract was made by CLAWS and
Brooks with Mr.. Carr. who stated to us that
Chaplain CLAWS is paying the hands in g a
little of everything, but chiefly in clothing"
SELLING FREEDMEN's CLOTHES
We ascertained by the testimony of Messrs
Barham & Ballard. auctioneers at Colds
boro' that they had sold at auction for Chap
lain CLAWS forty blankets marked " o. s."
and a quantity of clothing that had been
sent to Goldsboro' for gratuitous distrbu-
ton to the needy by Il Freedmen's Aid Soci-
ETY. at or in the vicinity of Rochester N Y
We learned also that he had disposed of
large amount of such clothing at private sale.
The chaplain stated himself that he had re-
ceived from such sales two hundred and
sixty dollars ($26O) though subsequently he
asserted that the total cash receipts OF his
office from all sources amounted to one hun
Clred and twenty-siX dollars and fifty cents
($12G 5O.) He kept no books or even mem
oranda Of moneys received and expended.
THE WILMINGTON AGENTS.
On the 4th instant we arrived at Whining
Southern district of North Carolina, of which
Col. Rutherford is the Superintendent The
Colonel has been here but short time, and
is not yet fully acquainted with the opera
tiOns of the Bureau in his district. He was
so unwell that he was obliged to retire
while we were engaged in examining his of
flee, and we have not since conferred with
him.
Major j. c. Mann, Assistant Quartermaster
and financial aOeDt 0f flIp SOutharn district
is engaged in the cultivation of rice plant
alton il short distance from Wilmington, on
which are employed fifty five freedmen. The
Major stated that while he would not object
to making money, he engaged in this bust
ness to convince the Southern people that
the negro would work.
ONE WAY OF INDUCING INDUSTRY.
Major Charles 1. Wickersham, sub-agent
of the Bureau, whose headquarters are at
Wilmington, is also interested in the cultiva-
ton of rice plantation within his sub-dis-
trict, and he is to receive one fourth of the
crops from the same for compelling the
freedmen employed said plantation to
work faithfully. He explained the manner
in which he compelled freedmen to comply
with their contracts by stating that he put
them to work with ball and chain on the
streets of Wilmington.
EVILS OF THE SYSTEM.
Without attempting to discuss the pro-
priety of officers of the Bureau in the militia
ry service of the United States, who are paid
by the government for the performance of
their duties, engaging in private business,
and employing freedmen for such purposes
while controlling through their official po-
sitions that class of labor, we deem it our
duty to state some Of the effects produced,
both upon the officers themselves and upon
the planters with whom they come in COM
petition, by such conduct. Major Wicker
sham. in contracting to furnish forty laborers
to work rice plantation, becomes at once
interested against the laborers, whom he
compels to labor, perhaps unjustly, when I'M
fairly dealt with by the person working them
the plantations and on their refusing to
work, he inhiets upon ti.em unlawful, and,
for breach of contract unheard of punish
ment, putting them on chain gangs as if they |
were convicted criminals. Col. Whittlesey, |
or any other officer of less rank and influ-
enee ia the Bureau, who are engaged in
working plantations rented for cash or on
shares, becomes interested in securing "A low
rate OF wages and ia making the most strin-