The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-05-22

them, armed with authority of sheir official posi-
tions, into competition with the citizens who are
employing freedmen"
Bureau Officers as PGatess-hopr they make
! Freedmen ,cork.--Tbey investigated some
/ charges against agents of the Bureau, beginning
with the chief in the State, Colonel r. Whit
tlesey They asked him if be knew of any per-
son 90 duty in The Bureaa ''who is or has been,
since entering upon the duties of bis Office en-
gagged or interested, either directly or indirectly,
in the cultivation of any lands within the de-
partment." The Colonel answered "No," but
on being pressed with subsequent interrogato-
ries, disclosed the factthat he was interested as
an equal partner with the Rev Horace James,
of Ma husetts, formerly Captain and Acting
! Quartermaster Freedmen's Bureau, and with
Mr.. Winthrop Tappan, of Maine, in the cult.
walton of large farm in Pitt county, North
Carolina. He also stated that Captain f.
A. Seeley, Superintendent of the Bureau for
the Eastern District North Carolina, is interest
! ed 10 the cultivation Of plantation in Wayne
county, North Carolina, with Mr. Potter, aud
that Captain Rosekranz, Commssary Subsis-
tence, is interested with Mr. Brooks in the
cultivation Of plantation in Pitt county, North
Carolina.
They also found on investigation that Cap
tain i. \. Seeley, Superintendent of the Bareau
of the Eastern District of North Carolina Capt.
Rosekraaz, sub-agent of the Bureau at New bern,
were extensively engaged III planting, lumber
getting, &c, and that rations were disposed of
wholesale in very irregular and suspicious
manner. In Godsboro they found that the
superintendent, G. 0. Glaris, chaplain United
States Army, cultivating one tarN on Gov
ernment account, and was interested IN cGltiva-
ting t1CO on his own account; and that he soid
freedmen's clothing, such as blankets, and Kept
| no account of the money received therefor. At
Wilmington they found Major j. q. Mann,
Assistant Quartermaser and financial agent Of
the Southern District engaged in the cultva-
ton of a rice plantation, employing fifty five
freedmen. The Maj or said he engaged in the
business to convince tie Southern people ''that
the negro would work" Major Wickersbam,
at the same place, is also engaged in Guilt
waiting rice plantation, he to receive one fourth
of the crop for compelling the negro to work.
He explained the manner in which he com
PEELED freedmen to comply with their contracts
by stating that he put them to work with ball
and chain on the streets of Wilmington.
arbitrary power Of the Burcnu.-The arbi-
trary power exercised by some of the officers
and agents Of the Bureau in making arrests,
imposing fines and inficting punish ments, disre-
gardiHg the local laws and especially the statute
Of limitations, creates pre- judice against the gov
errment.. If the officers were all honest and in.
teliisent, with even limited legal information,
it might be safe to trust them with this.exraor-
binary power, out in many instances the officers
do not possess the slightest knowledge Of law.
The commissioners close their report by re-
peating their recommendation that the services
Of the officers of the Bureau be dispensed with.
The North Carolina freedmen, we should think,
would willingly dispense with them. We must
add that they make honorable mention of Major
Clinton ~, Ciley's administration in the West
ern district, and speak at length Of its good
effects. This is the only exception they men
ton in the State.