The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-02
THE FREEDMEN
General Pillows Experience with tho
=, Tenne ssee and Arkansas Freedmen.

General Pillows Experience with tho
q TenDe sseo and Arkansas Freedmen.
The Rebel General Pillow has been doing ad-
mirable service in the difficult work of sys-
tematizing labor in Tennessee and Arkansas,
and the following letters from him and the Com
missioner of Freedmen, General Fisk, in Ten
nessee, give the present status of the freedmen
and the labor questionin that region:-
LETTER FROM GENERAL PILLOW.
NASHVILLE Tenn. Dec 22 1865. - Major
General o. o. Howard, Commissioner, ETC., etc,
Washington, ID. Cit affords me pleasure to
inform you that have been successful beyond
my most sangulne expectations in engaging
labor for all my plantations IN Arkansas and
Tennessee. have already engaged about four
hundred freedmen and have full confidence in
making success OF the work. have given, in
all cases. the freedmen part OF the crop of cot
tom and allow them land for the cultivation
Of vegetables and corn for their own use with.
out charge therefor. | could have engaged one
thousand laboreTs If | had needed chat num-
Der. My brother, who adoDted nay plan
of work, succeeded in engaging laborers
for three places he is working. | have put one
large plantation under white laborers from the
North, upon precisely the same terms on which
l engaged freedmen. feel anxious to try the
system of white labor OF that character for the
plantation. Knowing the interest you feel in
| the success OF the system of the freedmen, and
feeling grateful for your kindness to me, feel it
q duty to communicate the result OF my work
thus far.
With assurances of my personal regard and
respect, am, General, very respectfully,
GIDEON j. PILLOW.
(NDoRsEMENT.)
BUREAU r. L. AND A l.. HEADQU ARTERs NASH
VILE, December 25, lS65.-RespPctfull for
warded TO Maior-General o. o. Howard, commits
sioner. l have abundant testimony OF similar
character from intelligent wealthy planters,
who accept the 'logic of events" aud are CO.
operating with me in adjusting the new relations
on the basis OF 'impart al Justice" regret that
there are many in the South who do not accept
the conclusions OF the strife, and who yet fail to
recognize the fact that the country is in earnest
in asking guarantees of freedmen. But the
cause may be set down as marching on"
CLINTON b. FISK,
Brevet MajorGen., Assistant Commissioner.
The SupervisIOn of tne Freedmen's Bu.
reau Extended Over kentucky.
BUREAU REFUGEES FREEDMEN, AND ABAN-
DoNED LANDS, NASHVILLE, Tenn, December 26
| lS65-The ratification OF the Constitutional
Amendment, forever abolishing and prohibiting
slavery in the United States, having been Off.
| cially announced to the country by the Secre-
| tary of State by proclamation dated December
| 18, 1865, this Bureau extends its supervision
over persons recently held as slaves in the State
of Kentucky.
The Assistant Commissioner earnestly invites
| the cordial and hearty cooperation of the civil
authorities and all good citizens in the State OF
Kentucky in the important work OF adjusting the
new relations arising from the total abolition of
| slavery. On the basis OF impartial justice this
| Bureau will promote industry, advance the cause
| of education, and aid in permanently establish
ing peace, and secure prosperity to the State
agencies.
Agencies of this Bureau will be established at
points easy of access to the citizens, and while
| agents will be cautioned against Supervising
"too much, j." their energies will be directed to a
fair adjustment of the labor question. They will
| see that contracts are equitable, and that both
| parties, employer and employees" comply in
| good faith with their agreements
No fixed rates of wages will be prescribed to
| the official agents of this Bureau, nor will any
| community or combination of people be per-
mitted to fix rates. Let labor be free to compete
| with other commodities in an open market.
| Parties can make any agreement or trade that is
| satisfactory to themselves, and so long as ad-
vantage is not taken of the ignorance Of the
freed people to deprive them of fair and reason.
| able compensation for their lator, either In
monthly wages or in share OF products, there
| will be no interference. Until the enactment and
| enforcement of State laws guaranteeing to freed
| men ample protection to person and property,
! freedmen's courts will be established for the ad-
| judication of cases in which freedmen are in
| voved, and in which they are by the civil
| CODE" py reason of color, disqualified as wit.
! nesses. Aged and infrm freedmen who have no
| means of support, nor any relatives whom
they can rightfuly look to for the same, will be
| provided for by the Commissioner of the Poor"
| in the county where they properly belong. The
| principle to be adhered to in regard to all pau
| pers is that each city and county shall provide
| for its own poor.
| Officers and agents of this Bureau are regarded
| as guardians OF orphans or abandoned widows OF
| freedmen within their respective districts, and
th" laws of the State in regard to apprenticeship
| will be recognized, provided they make no dis
| tinction on account of color, in case they do,
| the same laws applying to white children will
| be extended to the colored.
| CLINTON B. FISK,
| Brevet MaiorGen. Assistant Commissioner.
|
New Years Day at the White House.