The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-18
Important Testimony of n Federal Officer In
Regard TO the State of Affairs i'm North Caro-

| FROM the National lntelllgencer.
The author of the following letter is an
original and consistent abolitionist, brother
law of Chief Justice Pierpoint of Yer
mont, and brother of Judge Lawrence, of the
Supreme Court of Illinois, and is conse-
quently entitled 10 credit for the candid expo
| siuon contained therein
FAYETTEVILLE, n. c., December ii, 1865.
Dear Sir,-After my transfer to the Bureau
| of Refugees, Freedmen, &c, / was ordered TO
| this State, and assigned to duty in charge of
Warren and Franklin counties. Warren, in
proportion 10 its extent and population, was
formerly one of the most wealthy counties in
| the State-its white population equal i'll intel
ligence and refinement 10 any of which have
ever had observation. The slave population
was proportionably more numerous, believe,
| than in any other county. The people had
| been almost unanimously i'll favor OF secession.
The county had rather bad reputation II the
State Burcau Headquarters when | was sent
| there, as regards the disposition of the people,
and their treatment OF the blacks. There had
been many reports in the Northern newspapers
OF gross OutrageS upon the BLACKS. FRANKLIN
county is much like Warren, having many
characteristics of the latter in a less degree.
l went 10 my district with my mind unfaVor-
ably pre- possessed towards the people. / re-
mained there nearly three months, when |
was ordered to this place. In that interval, l
think met, personally, at least three fourths
of the planters and other citizens OF warren,
and large, though less number, in Franklin.
The proportion of the freed people who sought
my office in Warrenton, and whom | sought
and talked to on the plantations, could hardly
have been less. My office was rarely free from
the presence of some of both classes. Having
my own horses, l travelled about my district
4 great deal to investigate the situation of af-
fairs, assist in making just settlements, and
try to inform the minds of the negroes as TO
their rights and responsibilities | talked TO
them in Il body on each plantation l visited,
n /
accepted only such spitalities-lavishly ten
dered-as were needful when travelling. The
people, almost invariably, are kind and gene
rOuS TO the negroes TO degree that the
North will, | fear, be slow 10 credit They
do not vet ask TO be placed upon the
footing of employers, and to do only what Is
Just to the freedmen as laborers. They are for
bearing and indulgent to their ineXperience
and ignorance BY the regulation of the
Bureau, the freed people are considered en-
titled to pay for labor from the 9th OF April
last and one fourth of the main articles OF the
crop was fixed upon by Colonel Whittlesey rs
their inst share in that district, where no con
tract or definite understanding existed as to
payment. The laborers also had, cf course,
their rationS, houses, fuel, &c Most had also
| II think nineteen in twenty their OWL private
patches of corn, producing ten 10 thirty
bushelS-pOtatoeS, melons, peas, &c. ; ana uSu-
ally chickens and hogs, from one 10 four or five
in many instances. livery soon learned TO tell,
unurringy, which We're the negroes hogs upon
d
spoken of was given 10 those who did the labor.
They were held liable to support their own
families, remburSing the planter from their
own shares of the crop, If sufficient Ot course
there We're numbers on nearly every planta-
tion-far more than the usual proportion, so
many of the men had left-who We're wholly
a charge upon the planter-the old, the
Young, the sick and helpless, who had no
one whose labor was justly chargcable for
their support. Medical attendance could sell
dom be had except at the planters expense.
They are sadly impoverished; yet, in the large
majority of cases, they voluntarily give to the
laborers mare than the Bureau required, while
recognizing and meeting the heavy claims
upon their humanity in behalf OF the sick
and helpless. Very few cases of hardship
came TO my knowledge from helpless persons
having been driven Off before went there or
during my stay, and IN most Of those there
seemed palliatiug circumstances, in the mis-
conduct of the blacks or the deStltutlon OF the
whites: and so many cases of unselfish kind
ness and real sclf-sacritiCing generosity came
TO my notice that | confess these late bitter
rebels make me think better OF human nature
than did before and do not know but my
rcsppct and regard for them make me Il rather
TOO favorable witness. They certainly feel no
bitterness or manifest none, towards the black
race for the change that has, without their
instrumentality, been wrought III their condl-
ton, and for which they justly consider them
10 bc in way resp OnSlbie.
Now. rs to the negroes. They are ignorant
and degraded far below what had supposed.
| speak of the plantation hands, rs class.
Had they more Of intelligence and moral cul-
tiyation | should say they We're vicious i'll the
extreme. But they are so lacking in that which
is the basis of moral accountability that 1t
may not be just TO term them so. Ihey are 50
far removed from their savage ancestry OF one,
two, or three generations back, rs the lnilu-
ences of a system directed chiefly to their rapid
increase and the most profitable use of their
mere muscular capacity, as its prime results
would naturally bring about, being themselves
strongly initiative and brought III slight con-
tact with civilization. | think they possess the
characteristics of tropical races that they are
iudolpnt, sensual, false, and, when aroused,
cruel. They are cXcitable, imaginative, and,
bv nature, brave. III few years they Will be
the ittpSt material for q religious fanatic the
world possesses: and another Nlahomet may,
perhaps, arise, who will cndeavor, at least, to
marshal and lead them 10 conquest. But TINS
Is all speculation. | sat down TO try and give
YOU facts. | Will remark, however, that II Brig
ham Young wants more converts, here - ms
field with this people, TO whom polNgamN -
native ! wish hc would lead them beyond
the Caribbean sea. They have expected that
the Government would give them land here,
taking II away from the rebel owners. lhc OF
iicers of the Bureau have lahorrd diligently 10
disabu>e their minds of this error but with
l. ...a success An have ioli them IN speeches,
plaIu4N. ,,...t #iHl" WH>Hff@. II, a.u 81 ~ 'hf'
have .pld. when thr speaker had hI shed
Gwu,"3 Howard a> welt t> ' e'"- h"
YluK. dat ulSt some rrh urE dressed up III
blue clothes aud brought um here 10 lie 10 us.
Those who are convinced they VIII not haE"
land for their own, insist they must have II 4 =
tenants 10 hc furnished with teams and al
necessary appliances, aud food TO live upon,
aud thrn give Il very small allowance To TIA"
owners There is universal demand for labor
at fair prlces-large prices. indeed, considering
what this poor soil produces and what the
labor il likely be ami made very effort |
knew how to induce the negroes TO hire
for next year. Being farmer myself
think | know what j. a fair bargain. do
not think Hfty had hired IN my former district
when | left it, TWO weeks ago. They are ontr"d
cash wages and shares IN The crops III lh"E
make a bargain ,us some viii for short time,i
chances are five 10 one that they VIII not nj
here 10 il They IRE offered better shares oi
the rrous than It's farmers ever give IN limos.
Meanwhile they are stealing enormously.
know many plantations ~ warren ana RANK
lin whore thrre-uuarters Of the hogs ana shtrp
have been stolen since last June, ana ta' az
uIrtion j. stIll going on. Cattle also are killed.,
but not IN such numbers. | doubt II yer
hence there Will be hali fogs enough 10 mas
1n,It for the people IL j. very dIIheuit 10
urocurr testimony from one negro aealHs.
another foI theft. They seem TO consider lha'
a proper spelling Of the Egyptians don
know how they can bc prevented from steal
ing 10 such degree as 10 make II srllVus G,l