Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-07-04


ing condition of the freedmen in the
smallpox hospital, and was told on
each occasion that the General could
not be seen, as he was absent attend
ing to his plantations. This neglect
Of duty by General Ely was complain
cd of in letter written by Beverly
Nash, and published in Charleston
paper devoted TO the interests of the
freedmen. After the publication of
this letter, General Ely told Nash he
did not like such statements made
about him, and wished the freedmen
to get up some resolutions denying
the truth of the allegations published,
which they refused to do.
We examined contract between a
planter and freedmen, which is on file
in General Ely's Office, and herewith
forward copy marked "a" If this
contract is to be regarded as evidence
of the condition of the freedmen under
the charge OF General Ely, they are
certainly very little better off than
they were while in slavery. The
system established by this contract is
at best but system of peonage.
From Columbia we proceeded 10
Charleston, the headquarters Of the
Bureau for South Carolina, where we
met Srigadier-General r. X. Scott,
the Assistant Commissioner. We found
him to be an energetic and competent
officer laboring TO correct the mistakes
and blunders of his predecessors. AL
though he has been on duty IN this
department but short time, he has
produced a marked change for the
better in the administration of the
affairs of the Bureau. We called al
, his Office for the purpose of examining
the records of the Bureau, but were
informed that all the books, papers
records, and documents pertaining ia
the affairs of the freedmen prior to
+, the establishment of the Bureau and
all the records relating to the admin
= istration OF the Bureau for the organ
ization to the time of General Scott
I assuming charge Of the affairs, hac
: been carried off by General Saxton
= who had left only file Of his owr
! general orders in the Office. Genera
J, Saxton gave as reason for this pro
: ceedng, that it was necessary for hin
:. to have the books and records "to MAKE
him all right at Washington" In th'
u absence of official documents we were
u of course, unable to institute any clos
q examination into the conduct of th'
/ officers of the Bureau who had beeI
K on duty in South Carolina prior t.
Q General Scott's administration. w
6 could only judge of their conduct b,
!: the condition in which we found th
l. freedmen in those places where th
/ policy Ct General Saxton had beel
l. fully carried out, and where its effect
l. were still apparent. Reasoning iron
If these data, We are convinced that tn
e effect of the operations OF the Bureau
a on the freedmen in respect TO thei
D. habits and disposition to labor ant
Ie support themselves under the admin
" istration OF Gen Saxton was exceed
is ingly pernicious, especially on th
ia Sea Islands, to which we.wlll allud
is further IN our account fthe frcemcn
Of settlements on the seaboard.
is Chaplain NJ. French, U. S. G.
ie Bureau Missionary and Superintcnt
or ent of Marriage Relations, and Liel
tenant L J. Lott Superintendent A
&c slstant Commissioner, having chare
IN of freedman's camp at Charleston
n are in partnership with Mrs. Hanehai
Mt Of Charleston, in cultivating plant
n ton on Edisto Island. They furnisl
ut cd 81, 500 in money 10 carry on Il
m plantation and to receive one-halfoftl
id net profits of the undertaking. The
Sc purchase supplies in Charleston, AT
nd forward them to the plantation
Y, Chaplain French explained to us tn
y, in making the agreement with MI
&c. Hanehan he was actuatcd solely by
en- desire to assist her, and furnish lab,
,p- for the poor freedmen; but with eve
ad an ordinary crop he viii not recei'
he less than 25O or 800 per cent. of Il
money advanced.
Sc When we called the attention
at General Scott to the planting opcr
ms tion Of General Ely, Chaplain Frenc
on and Lieutenant Lott, he avowed |
so disapprobation of the action of the
ms officers.
Under the guidcnce of Gener
lat Scott, the condition of the frcedm
en-, in Charleston has been very mu
Dm improved, and the bad feeling whi
me had grown up between the whites al
ty- blacks under the former administr
or, ton is gradually wearing away. Nc
ov- of the freedmen are now at work, al
yht receiving good wages.
res We visited Edgefeld Court Hou'
raj near the centre Of the district of viii
ith Lieutenant Colonel Devereaux b
I'M, charge, the headquarters of which q
put at Hamburg, on the Savannah rive
Of onpoqita tha Citx- of Anouefo (rpOrO