The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-24
ALA5 4 N A..


MoxTeoxERY. Ala, Dec. 10. 1855
The repon Of Msjor-Gensral Wager swayus ASSISTANT
Commissioner Of the Fssdmsn's Bureau for the District
Of Alabama which has juss been publhsd In pamphlets
form, Interesting document and eoumsnds isssif
70 theesrsfu psrusa Of these = the North who op-
posed 70 the burssu q n nssisuton ~ well those
VINO pssssnsly msrspsssent the relations existing be-
tween the whites and the backs and the essus condi
on Of the Southern states with regard 70 Law and order
ONE yEAn AGO.
General swayns commences his report BY referring to
ths 0oDdisios Of anAsr one year ego. He sys:-
~ the bsgnnins Of November lsss. martial isw
suhoFss ives IN szcluivs force In ths STATE Judges
and magisuses throaghous the susie were eonssotsd
with the Bureau b. he following ordinance q The then
rscsns Conssisuiionai Convsnnon -
ss.s:s z: = " ss = sss "
Ssos ssss.: y sss ssss SaSsr As psos,sasson q Ss
s...sss hsrsscfors ys.erss unn 'As adjoarn@sni %
ns reference here usas 10 70 prociamssoa com.
mend Ing sud enforcing N order from this Once sssng
forth the exclusive jursdcsoa Of The Assistant Commits
s,ossr IN casss involving the nghta Of freedmen and
appointing The Judiciary u The State the agents Of the
Bureau for ths administration Of justice provided they
shosld indis Aaay agniy acceptance and shoud sake
thsir method Of procedure, In every 70 whch
ssS%:o party .s' . Avs nov 10 force 70 the s...s
count of color and that Alure 70 signify acceptance
evident denial Of justics viii Be foowsd BY rsvoca.
Ton Of the appointment herein conferred and the sub
stitutton Of martial law IN the district In which shall
occur" The formal effect Of the above which included
Probate Courts, having cognxsnce OF laws regulating
marriage estates Of deceased persons and Minors ana
transfers OF real cstste, " the freedmen
the rights and privileges enjoyed by other
non-vosing Inhabi.ants.
rHr LABOR ouKsros
In relation 10 the dincuy nj nrst experienced by the
planters 10 securing labor he says:-
When IL came 70 settled labor, both parties werc at
fault To the planter the system OF wages was pro-
carioust and arbitrary innovation. And IN hrs view t
could be that CROP requiring twelve months unre
hitting care, safe with labor altogether free With.
out security in some FORM would give employ
nent requiring any outlay. slavery had been 30 tho
roughly dentncd with work. that freedmen we're not
who beicved that work no part OF free.
dom. And impression, well nigh universal that the
eonscaton Of which they had heard years would be
enforced Christmas for their benefit led them 20 De-
remptoriy refuse any engagement reaching beyond tho
holidays, or 70 work al all steadily in the meantime
TO meet the wants OF both, Labor Regu'aiions' were
from this Office providing ~ stem OF contracts
for twelve months, with mutual securities and imita-
tons TO drpel the illusion about Christmas circulars
and handbis were distributed and speeches made by
local agents OF the Bureau. Tho advice given
gradually accepted with reservation that Christmas
sneud nrst pass without tho expected dstrbuton and
the holiday week Witnessed general making Of e.
gagcmenw for the year
WHAT Was DONE ron rms room
General swayne being short Of funds wherswith 70
feed and clcth the destitute white and black alike. hit
upon happy espedcLt IL was observed that certain
property u The late eonisdsrAss government might "