Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-05-18
originates in the arbitrary unnecessary and

offensive interference of the agents Of the
Bureau 1vlth the relations between the plant
7 ers ala tier, hired freedmen, causing yexa-
tlous delays IN the prosecution Of labor. and
imposing expense and costs In suits before
themselves about trivial matters that could
readily be adjusted by the friendly advice Of
sensible man. The effect produced by the
action OF this class of agents is bitterness and
antagonlsm between the whites and freedmen,s
growing prejudice against the government
among the planters and expectations On the
part OF the freedmen that can never be real
lied. Where there has been no such inter-
terence oHsbad advice given to the freedmen
by the agents of the Bureau there is a grow
ing feelingso Of Kindness between the races,
and good order and harmony prevail
SPECIMEN OF THE DECISIONS. OF THE BUREAU
8: AS. an evidence Of the manner in which
this arbitrary power is exercised, we would
state that'an agent of the Bureau, presiding
IN freedmen's courtin Accomac comfy, de-
cided question Of title to land as follows;
A colored man, who was freed twenty years
ago by his master, and who was. permitted
through. the kindness Of his master to make
his home on the plantation wherever he chose,
set up claim to ten acres thereof around a
cabin IN which he had lived for ten years
The agent decided that the .colored man had
acquired title to the ten acres by adverse pos.
session, and forbade the owners Of the plan
tatlon from bringing the question again be-
fore his court, or any other court on pain of
imprisonment 5s f e
A NEGRO DIVORCE CASE.
g These agents exert the widest latitude
IN the exercise Of their judicial functions,
trying questions involving title to real estate
contracts, crimes and even actions effecting
the marital relations We witnessed the tri-
al of divorce case before the sub-agent at
Charlottesville. The trial occupied about
ten minutes, and resulted in decree of d.
vorce"
THE BUREAU NOT NEEDED.
The report recommends that the services
Of the officers Of the Bureau in Virginia be
dispensed with, and that the duties be per-
formed by the officers commanding the troops
In the department, and state that the recog-
milton Of the civil rights of the freedmen. as
ey;aancela by the changes made by the Leg
isiature in the laws Of Virginia, render the
freedmen perfectly secure. if left to the care
Of the law and the protection of the troops.
WHAT NEGROES LOOK TO THE BUREAU.
On the subject Of the influence of the Blu
reau, the report says:
In our judgment the affect produced has
depended wholly on the character of the Off
GERS. Prudent and industrious freedmen
rarely call upon the Bureau for advice or as
sistance. It is the idle and. worthless who
look to it for support. Among these, how
ever, we do not mean to include the infrm
and helpless. The mass Of the freedmen
have an idea that the Bureau possesses some
mysterious power to serve them, and that if
they fail to secure such a livelihood as they
desire they can fall back upon it with Ger
tanty Of support. These ideas, it will be
readily seen, lessen their efforts to procure
employment and to support themselves and
their families. They also regard the exis-
tence Of the Bureau as evidence that the
Government looks upon the white people of
the South as their enemies, which is calcula-
ted to excite suspicion and bad feeling on
their part"
CONDUCT OF THE OFFICERS
The Commissioners commend Gen. Brown
for " laboring faithfully and zealously to har-
monte and protect the interests of both IA
ces, and conclude by stating that they made
no investigation into the conduct Of officers of
the Bureau in Virginia, outside Of their Of
fetal duties.
ARRIVAL OF GENERAL BEABREeARD.--
General G. I. Beauregard arrived at Bar
NUNS Hotel, in this city, yesterday morning,
on his way to Europe. He will leave in the
steamer from New York for Liverpool on
Wednesday next, General Beauregard Wis
its Elrnna as nresidnnt of the Nau Orlna,,a