The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-10
The Daily N ews.
THURSDAY, MORNING, MAY 10, 1865.
GenoraiB Steadman N and Ful1crton-Frccd-i
mons Rurenu md Southern Loyalty.


mems Rurenu and Southern Loyalty.
correspondent Of the New York Herald who
accompanies Generals STEADMAk and FULLERTON
on their miasion OF investigation through the
South, writes o letter to that paper from New
bern, from which we make the following extracts.
The letters Of this correspondent are generally
characterized by perfect truthfulness, and may be
considered from tho semi official relation Of the
writer to the officers Of the commission, as en-
" bodying their sentiments:
SENTIMENTS OF THE PEOPLE. ...
The general sentiment OF the people OF both
North Carolina and Virginia is strongly in favor
OF the peaceful restoration Of the Union. Durin.
the last three weeks have heard the opinions OF
some hundreds OF representative men, aud those
opiniona have been in the main most satisfactory:
They have been whipped and they know it, but
they DO not feel disposed to run af.er the man 2.
II is not In human nature that they shouid do 30.
But they accept the issue as decided by the war,
fhem into fe6eilion again. incline to think that
the only disloyaI people In these two States are
come few Of the editors and politicians, who: have
undoubtedly the officera and soldiers OF the rebel
army; - Il wn.-. l,o.
GOVERNOR HOLDEN ON THE SITUATION.
Generals steedman and Fullerton, 10 prosecut-
& mems Bureau in North Carolina, have visited
Raleigh, 20 Salisbury, Godsboro' and Newborn,
they had al interview with Governor Holden and
. the leading citizens. Governor Holden said the
? great objection to the Bureau Court was that II
WAS q ope-nsn power. Al planter might be dragged
many miles to answer soue frivolous charge pre-
ferred by q negro and this charge would be dis
OF before one bn Doe aage ana
been of advantage TO both races, but it's further
continuance would serve no useful purpose. The
relations between the two races were now on the
most satisfactory footing. There had been some
danger, q little time ago, Of an outbreak at Will
mngton, which was prevented by negro soldiers;
. gerated, had now passed away. The only disturb
ing element they dreaded nowwas further teaching
and lecturing and agitation on the subject OF so
.n,t General Steadman-so far as have seen, the
people OF the South, though opposed to negro 80
Slal equality, grant him more social privileges
8 Governor Holden.-That is 30, sir. We. who
ianow the negro, know there is no possibility Of
don't know this and can't understand it. spoke
Ito o number OF negroes the other day; found
them the quetest part Of the people, Industrious,
dociie, and hopeful for the future spoke to one
:: voting. He replied, 'T don't know how to vote;
I've never been used to i; should como to you"
the interview, intimated his concurrence in the
views OF Governor Holden.
AT SALISBURY
the citizens expressed themselves in warm terms
= Bureau had been administered, but agreed that
the necessity for its existence had passed by. N.
Boyden, lawyer OF large practice in the State,
gave conducive proof from the court records that
before, during, and since the war, there had been
strong disposition towards leniency rather than
seyee a o o9 Carolina %
was disclosed in the course Of the discussion.
There is no penitentiary in the State, consequent
punishments, and every man who is not hanged is
likely to be whipped. This applies, however,
equally to white men as to negroes. The Legisl a.
erecting penitentiary and modifying the lawa in
this respect. Mr.. Boyden, who was q thorough
Union man var assured the
by the Mayor and the e1-Mayor OF the city, that
II the Burean we're withdrawn perfect Justice
would be rendered to the negro in all the civil
courts. There Was only one instance in which he
Thought public prejudice might influence the ad-
z nainistration Of justice, apd that was in eases
sault on white woman. The feeling in this re-
spect was 80 strong that mere suspicion was too
often taken rs an evidence OF guilt
MATTERS ON THE MEND.
., Bad as matters are, however, in the old
North State they are undoubtedly improving.
There is o much greater breadth Of land in
cultivation this year than there was last and
probably make q good return. e'' The % labor osr
Virginia. There are about three hundred aud
fifty Thousand freedmen in the State as nearly as
can be calculated. Small pox and other diseases
have !attery thnned their ranks. Between five
and :eix + thousand infirm and helpless negroes,
:. relief from the Freedmens Bureau. The able
bodied negroes are working by shares and by
monthly contracts They appear to be kindly
and fairly treated by the planters, and in turn
seem disposed to live peaceable and Industrious
lives. "'7.~
THE TRANsAor1oNs OF THE BUREAU IN NORTH
. ........-- CAROLINA. .......
A closer investigation of the state Of affairs at
Newbern has revealed a condition OF affairs
q, worse than the -bitterest enemy of the Bureau
Z ever .ventured to insnuate. It appears almost
" beyond doubt that at one OF the freedmen's set
Elements here cruelties, more attrocious than
=, those for which Wirz was hanged, have been
perpetrated on the unoffending freedmen by
agents OF the Bureau established for their pro-
lection. -.
III Opposite Newbern, on the other side of the
= river, some $500 freedmen have been settled for
five years past. They were invited there by the
military, and located on little plats OF ground
= months ago, Edward 8. Fitg, a Massachusetts,
preacher, was placed in charge of the Trent river
settlement by Captain James, another New Eng
land preacher, who was then conducting the
, bureau here A system Of extortion and cruelty
was immediately inaugurated. Fifty cents month
ground rent was demanded for every plat on
which the miserable little cabins was erected
Every negro who owned boat had to paw two
dollars and a half month, or his boat was for
feited. Every darkey who kept store was taxed
1--WE dollars month. Every one who owned o
horse was taxed similar amount. Failure to pay
any one pf these exaotions was punished by the
imprisonment OF the man or his wife-preference
being given to the wife-the confiscation of all
his little property, and In many cases the tearing
down OF his house. A negro who euarrelled with
his wife was fined one hundred dolfars and sent
to prison until he paid 1t. All these oxactions was
practiced upon population stepped in the Deep
est poverty, ecourged by disease, and many OF
them wanting the common necessares of life; in