The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-06-02
STATE RIGHTS DEMOCRAT.
THE NEGRO RUREAu--RE-Es-
OF SLAVERY.

IA BLtS lA8aENE OE SAszA Els
The following abstract of the report of
two distinguished Federal Generals, on
the working of that most infamous insti-
tuition, tho Negro Bureau, will be read
with feelings of mingled indignation.
shame and disgust by every friend OF the
Union 1t is from the dispatches OF the
Associated press:
GeneraIs Stedman and Fullerton, ap-
pointed April 7th, to inspect and report
upon the Freedman's Bureau in the
Southern States, have completed the tour
of Virginia Santi North Carolina, and re
port to the Secretary of War, under date
of Nav Sth, giving their impressions at
length, closing with a accommodation
that the services of :. the agents of the
Bureau in Virginia and North Carolina
be dispensed with, and that their duties
be performed by officers commanding the
troops in the Department They say
there are III military officers, and 200
eivifians employed as agents of the Bu-
reau in these States, and that Mother the
services rendered, nor that required, for
thes character ofsyery, many, or most ef
the agents, warrant the continuance OF
their services. In those districts where
the affairs of the Bureau have been faith
fully aud impartially administered, by q
General of sound Judgment and discre-
ton, there has been no direct conflict be-
tween agents and citizens Many of the
agents are acting in harmony with the
civil officers of the State, and are assisted
and supported by the citizens in the per
formance of their duties; but in many
places, where the agents are not men of
integrity and capacity, very bad feeling
exists. This originates IN the arbitrary,
unnecessary and offensive interference OF
agents, or others, between planters and
freedmen, These agents exercise the
widest latitude, even Judicial Functions,
and the effect produced is bitterness and
antagonism Between the whites and the
freedmen, growing prejudice against the
Government BY the planters, and expec-
tations on the part of the freedmen that
can never be realized. Prudent and in
dustrious freedmen rarely call on the Blu.
reau for advice OF assistance The idle
and worthless look to it for support alone.
These do not include the infrm aud help
less The restoration of civil law. aud
the recognition Of their civil rights, re-
main, as evidenced by the changes made
In the laws giving them the right to hold
property, sue and be sued, etc. The
freedmen IN our opinion, are perfectly
secure" The report further shows how
the agents Of the Bureau have been in.
terested In plantations, and welding their
power, in manner, to aid their own In
diyidual interests. The report says that
/" opposite Newbern, on the south bank oi
the Trent river, is settlement with an
exclusive freedman population, !, 900 in
number, whose condition is truly deplor-
able. These unfortunate people came
within our lines, and were there living IN
small huts, built by themselves from
lumber manufactured By their own hands.
The settlement was recently scourged by
the small -pox, and their condition is well
calculated to excite the deepest sympathy
for The helpleness of its inhabitants.
The decrepid among them are supported
by the Government, and the remainder
procure an uncertain and very scanty
living, from little Jobs about Newbern
from fishing in small boats, hueksterins,
etc. Fitz, formerly an Army Chaplain,
presides over this colony as the Assistant
Superintendent Of the Bureau. This
agent has exercised the most arbitrary
and despotie power, and practised revolt
ing and nnheard Of cruelties. We found
that he had IN two instances suspended
freedmen with cords around their wrists,
their feet not touching the floor, and kept
them IN this position, In one case, two,
and IN another, four hours; that he sem
teneed freedman to imprisonment for
three moRths for the trivial offence of
Wrangling with his wife and kept
another man arrested for debt. shut up IN
prison for months, while his wife and
children were reduced to ahject destitu-
ton, and died with the small -pox; that
he took him from prison under guard,
and compelled him to bury his child in
the cradle IN which it died. In one in
stance. he imprisoned six children, ten
years old, for playing in the streets on
the Sabbath He imposed hne of sixty
dollars on an aged freedman for having
told smother freedman that he was about
tes be arrested By Fitz. This poor old
man, net having the money to pay the
sne, was imprisoned until the next day.
when his son paid the fine, with three
dollars additional Jail fees. A tax was
imposed, which Superintendent Fitz says
goes 70 the support Of the Bureau, and it
Is imposed on the owner of each hut for
ground rent. IF the occupants fail to
pay this tax promptly, they are either
turned into the streets or imprisoned :;
and IN some Instances the hnts are torn
down. All business transacted By these
people Is taxed So per month uponsevery
little shop 50 on each fishing boat and
50 on each horse and cart. The failure
to pay those taxes when due, at once sub
jects the property to confscation. We
are unable to ascertain what amount Of
funds Had been collected By Superintend-
ent Eitz. OF what disposition had been
made Of it. In answer to question what
justification there was for the oppressive
burdens he had imposed upon these peo-
PIE, Geginkeudent sFitz replied that
Capt. Seely said, q must have 8 81 900
month from shat settlement He also
furnished sworn statement, which is
herewith Forwarded. in which he attempts
tos defend his conduct, By stating that he
asted il obedience to the orders Of his
superior officers IL the Bureau.
q heF. Horace james. formerly Captain
and q late Assistant Commissioner of the
hreedman's Bureau, is now operating 4
plantation II Onslow county, N. G., in