The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-12
n issued as follows;-

sS$$H55 $issS .3$5 @ &, si 5jj si55
The same reasons that exist for issuing rations to
the IT. edmen of Virginia, and the necessity for the
North carolina,
CONDUCT OF THE AGENTS.
We have investigated some of the charges made
AGAINST agents of the Bureau, and in pursuing our
inquiries on this point commenced with the ASSIST
ami Comm soneI of the state, Colonel Il. White
sey, to whom addressed the interroga ory:-"Do
you know OF any person in the military service now
on duty with the FIeedmens Bureau in this depart
ment who is or has been slnce entering upon the
duties OF his office, engaged or interested either di-
recty indirectly, the cultivation of any lands
within the department." He answered. "No.
Subsequently he addressed Us a note IN which he
stated that III order TO assist the planters hiring
freeomen and trying fairly the experiment of free
labor, he and some other officers of the Bureau mad
loaned money, and thus indirectly had an interest
IN cultiyaiing farms On receiving this note we ad-
dressed Colonel Wh,ttesey further mterrogations
TO which he leplied III a communication disclosing
the tact that no Is interested as an equal partner with
the Rev. Horace James, OF Massachusetts, formerly
Captain and Acting Quartelmastel Of the Freed.
mems Bureau, and with Mr.. Winthrop Tappaii, Of
Maine IN the cultivation of large farm In Pitt
county, n. c.
be also stated therein that Captain F A. Seeley.
superintendent of the Bureau for the Eastern Dis.
trict n. c., is interested in the cultivation OF q plan
tation in Wayne county, N. c., with AR Potter
and that Captain Isaac Rosekrauz, COmmisSary of
Subsistence, is interested with MIR. Brooks 10 the
cultivation OF plantation in Pitt county, N. c.,
From Raleigh we proceeded to Salisbury, where
we found Major Clinton AJCiley Superlptafdent in
the Bureau, having charge Of The Western District,
embracing ttty.One counties of the State This eff.
cient and competent officer has administered the
affairs OF the Bureau within his dis rict with much
ability and lmpariality. We conferred with the
leading white citizens, embracing both those who
had formerly been Rebels ana those VINO had been
Union mon, aSd also with delegation OF intelligent
colored people representing tue freedmen, ali of
whom agSaed in the statement that the freedmen
were at work were perfectly satisfied, and that good
tCehpg and harmony prevailed between the whites
and blacks throughout the district.
THE WILMINGTON AGENTS.
On the 4th instant we arrived at TIfIr,inctor .h0
headquarters OF the Bureau 'tor the Southern dis
trict Of North Carolina, OF which Colonel Rpt6eT.
ere but shOr. rne, and is not vet fully acoTainted
with the operations OF the Bureau in his district
He was go unwel that he obliged to retire
while we were engaged in examining his office and
we have not since conferred with him.
Major j. Z Mann, Assistant QuarLermaster, ard
financial agent OF the Southern District, in engaged
IN the cultivation OF rice plantation a short dis
tance from Wilmington on which are employed
fifty five freedmen. 1he Major sta,ed that while he
would not OUiect to making money, he engaged in
this business to convi, the Southern people that
the negro would work.
ONE WAY OF INDUCING INDUSTRY.
Major Charles l. Wickersham suo-agent of the
Bureau, whose headquarterf are at wilmington is
also interested III the cultivation OF a rice planta
uOn within mis- snct and he is to receive one
fourth OF the crops from the same for compelling
lhe freedmen employed on said plantation to work
compelled freedmen TO cOpAply WIN their contracts
by stating that he put hem to work with ball and
cham on the streets OF Wilmington.
EVILS OF THE SYSTEM.
Without attempting 10 discuss the propriety of
Officers ot the Bureau IN che military OF the
United states, who are pald by the Government tor
the performance OF Jher duties, engaging IN private
business, and employing freedmen for such pur-
poses while controlling through their official posi-
Ilons, that class OF labor, we deem It our duty
state some OF the effects produced both upon the
officers themselves and upon the planters with whom
they come IN compen lOu by such conduct Major
Wickersham, in contracting to furnish forty labor.
ers to work rice plantation, becomes at once inter-
ested against the abOrers whom he compels to labor
perhaps unIustly, when unfairly dealt with bv the
person working them on the plantation; and on their
refusing to work he intiicts upon them unlawful
and, for a breach or contract, unheard-of punish
ments, putting them chain gangs, II they were
convicted crimlnas. Colonel Whttlesey or anV
other officer OF less rank and influence in the Bu-
reau, VINO are engaged in working plantations
rented lOr cash or on shares becomes interested in
securing low rate OF wages, and in making the
most stringent labor IegulatiOns TO the great detri
ment of the freedmen. They thereby give the sano-
ton OF the Government TO the estab lshment of
wages far below what the labor IS really worth
Officers OF the Quaftermaster's and Commissary
Departments who are thus engaged are subjected to
the temptation or appropriatlng TO their own use
quarteTmasters stores and Tatons 10 supply and nav
their own labOreTs. Complaints have been made t0
me by the planters that these agents OF the Bureau
the power Of their positions 10 Obtain and con-
tTOl the REST LABOR IN the state There is no doubt
that some of the i'll feelng manifested towards the
Bureau the part Of the planters attributable to
this tact
ARBITRARY POWER OF THE BUREAU.
The arbitrary power exercised by some oftbe Off.
GERS ana agents of the Bureau in making arrests
imposing fines, and inhictng punshments dsre-
gaFdnP the local laws and especially the statute of
limitations creates pr, iudice against the Govern
ment. IL the officers were all honest and intelli.
gent, with even limited legal information, II might
be safe 10 lust them with this extraordinary power;
instances N