New-York tribune., 1866-12-29

Al
GENERAL: In accordance with your Instructions L
have the honor submit the following summary report Of is
operations Of this Bureau my District embracing the Is
cd from reports September 30 1866 Az the former He
the inrscton Of the Assistant Commissioner Of The Ihst
OF Columbia included the District Of Columbia me Count =,
Prince George St. Marys Charles CalfefI nu p.i' H.
Arundel Maryland and the Counties Of Alexandria I1'"A,
On he assignment Of NhlorGen schofeld. as A. is
tant Commissioner Of Virginia August 10 lsCt Loa"h
County detached from this District H., J.. 49,.
Brcie Brig Gen. John Eaton, r, was relieved " be'es
Brig Gen j. ) Fullerton December D. sI1 Inc ,'.ol wa"
relieved February lo ana 4 ~Ss eo 20 uy of RssesJ
Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
AGENT--The frequent complaint OF ourages against feeI.
men and disregard Of their rights TOm the coel's .,
Maryland included this District and rom fa.fiaA anu
Louaon Counties, Virginia induced an appicao t ~ d,a,,
officers after my assignment and as soon as lhs ds %
could be made competent officer was lp ~ Sna 81 % s
county There have been also oilceFs ana asess Wbo~
follows One Local Superintendent or the ciies on NH.Hs
ton and Georgetown; Oncera Feelmens Flsse ao ~
charge OF the aIm at Arlington Ea ana an onceI % ~ I
5 r. Lee the three ( counties OF virginia VIII hs ~
quarters al Alexandria
Apprentice Law Coloed children have generally been Iod
Without the consent Of their parents Pn5 SPo Hom grtes
Nd, few days after the Emancipation Consn'u,on
went into effect was the practice 10 take the ehu's on
farm before the Orphans Court and have them apprene"l" '"
the owner Instances mentioned where Tue ch-
In another children after being brought into court on
abea corpus and delivered to their friends were he9 oul 10y
their parents clearly showing they were not hke 70 be-
come county charge hut they were aferward rie'nea
by the thus dertiug their earnings rom tneT p"'l'
be repot further estimated that there sir hVada
of1,,t o,yatieiag m Cdlre,t and many us
,,Li and tfe .,ue pr,etre has prevailed
ten in other counties The agents Of this Bureau have gwen
attention TO s subject and apprentices have he re-
leased b b,ea eofpus n each ease OF nnawfulappontce-
ship must be- brought separately before the IouII 10
having vet been made OF law enacted which op'at's
generally for the release O parties unlusy ana Illegally %
tced so children are known TO have been apprentice" "o
| the enactment OF the Civil Rights Law
In say ast Of brutal and unpr9yosed assault gro.
Hillary Powell coSTed by d. a. IL pPSr, S NV s1yes ~
Montgomery county Mar!tIu was fPV V ~. ,,tt,
Agests This ease finally before Judge Bowie 'he
Justice Of the Court oi ApIeals aa 3 iS % m 4 ,as
Civil Rights Law was questioned ana ag.ea ny cou % @
Bowie rendered decision July lsoo iyonng tne 'omp
tency OF coored witnesses and sustaining the consiu'ohy
of the Civil Rights Law relates 10 this point
Since that decision some Magistrates have unhesatingiy
anotor practical difficulty arises from refusal Of consas 10
make arrests OF whites when freedmen ore inl9seu AN" ~
subpenas for colored witnesses sill another ii"n 10
y du , webt 10 rbe testimony Of coored persons
Instance Of tie latter the OF William shannon of Calvert
County may BE- given, reported 1y he Agent oil u.
Sold Shannon lcoloedJ attacked by mob Of white men,
led by constable while At church He ran was PuIseu ~"
eIa shots fired at him W0unding him In the mp no
lie finally oyctaken carried before magistrate who nd
ye his capto 10 take him TO the woods ana hang nm Ut
ne was taken TO jail ana altgWaIu inuieses @ lor @ ~
the t which concluded sept leo hye witnesses Nio
sworn for The prosecution all Of them parties TO The 9seL
Twelve colored WITNESSES were sworn io ~" GeIe ~
fying Of facts directly contrary TO the witnesses 1r
lLe prosecution, lIe ys y % ~ 56ig,,gIfer Ms ,erlct
a compromise jurors being in fayof OF rlyw m"ne
Shannon has been sent 10 State Prison or hye yn lho
Assistant Commissioner the ureau has laid the case before
the Governor with recommendation OF Executive ecmeny
land against tho negro epecay in the county laws ForeS
ample Ann Arundel and Somerset Counties licenses !" deal
in merchandise De obtained by unless Ieeom-
mendd by certain number Of respectable freeholdes wL
bcens and h white man employ colored clerk penalty
$50 IN Prince George County negroes are not 10 assemble
rndr penee public worship except on certain days r~ned
Generally it appears that the organic law Of the State noe
such as 10 yeuea dsertiahoq against ne uJhs "' g"
| By co,9,iy Of other local authorities. -
The following summary shows the number OF acres of laGd
nOminay possession the Bureau this District ohd no
number Of restored 10 owners Tor the time stated
N@Ss 81 oSrSs ON @ ssnd AaS Aug 81 , @ IN IN M7Ians
Number Of pieces Of unknown quantity on hand IN Vir
Saaber Of pieces tow property on hand in virgnia ~
Number Of acres restored from October 81 1903 to Au-
Number restored from October 81, 1865 to Au.
Nsmber Of piece. town property restored om October
The land In Virginia reported above wa, taken up rs oonfs
ote5 b, ,he ss ~ fo fscs,ion never having be.o cam,
peted by The land has been source OF revenue Tue
land in Maryland all 70 be restored III November lett ahd
The report then gives the details Of the Medical Department
and sanitary measures OF the schools II says .-,
Whole number Of schools a. teachers l32; scholars f:52
0fthese 799 in the alphabet the remainder al having
learned TO read The night schools have not been ij re-
! ported Average number about lj
Average number OF scholars 500 Sabbath Schools moi con
neccl with coOred churches 90 number Of scholars .4
The continued zeal and diligence Of the Rev John kimbh
highly comnendabe The general good conduct and nPd
progress in scholarship have been such surprise and aii
their sanguine ieu The whole lumber Of Iads,isi
bureau Three OF these almost entirely sustained by liz B.IssG
These schools afford employment and instruction J
men They also made repaired and distributed large
R4ToysWhoe number Of ration issued from Jan oct
lst6 66 For the month of September the issues we're ~
follows Hospital Washington c. dncludng the to
the sick at hch homes and to the Orphan Ayums No. Oi
hospital at Fredmens Village 607g hospital at Alexandria
lncung Home for lnirm), ll9i0: Home tor Aged acd la
h at Pgeca@ea S9se @ SlS ,So I5G haa sales fa
taken BY this Bureau last Winter and Spring roWB
coored population in Washington OF 2s7 in Georc'own,
during the year leaves sin upward Of 60do-s much satsr
number than can be employed here at adequate wages A. The
future support OF many OF these people as wen as 10 give itn
all the benefits OF Independence and vastly improve tine con
don may remain their removal 20 oh' States,
where labor is in demand has been encouraged IN every
possible way by this Bureau Transportation has OF late een
their attention wholly this work meetings Of freed
people been held and various other resor 20 in
Orer 10 induce them 70 go but the call for labore u sl
much greater than the supply There seems TO be great
the part Of the majority 10 leave the miserable
homes they have established here and start forth 10 pf Of
Gen Howard then gives the statistics Of the appropriation ot
nained unexpouded Oct l.
The receipts of the Refugees and Freedmens fund mo Nov
ssl Fs sS' p 10 sept ~ ''' "''' '''''' '' h'"''''
In the limits to which this report must be confined orly
injustice 10 me freedmen "a ne Courts particularly in Maryland
the prev ang indifference their interests among the
dent citizens the freedmen generally pOwerless obtain
redress for wrongs against person or property unless sifd
by agents Of this Bureau. In Maryland, while
Judge sustains the Civil Rights by his decision
snotber decides il unconstitutional The same is iIno
IN Virginia aud until this point be hnally settled that
Act ,cR be u hri practical ardd 10 the freedmen In Virginia
still occasion Of the military
forces y virtue OF General Orders No Headquarters Of the
Army Constsbes refuse ar neglect 20 serve Srs AGAINST
parties charged with otrages upon freedmen The numerous
instances OF abuses under the apprentice law in Maand cs
for action Of the Legislature of that state oer
competent authority Justice slowly by taxing Up
hundreds Of separately and getting notion
the Courts by the writ Of habea corpus In s Dis
trict Columbia the great desidrdtum Is to reduce ito
number OF freed people They cougregaed here Hg
the and since until there thousands than
find employment adequate to the proper support Of rsr
families