The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-05-16
Correspondence of the New York 1oran. /

Some rich developments are coming to
light concerning the operations of the Freed
mems Bureau in the Southern States. The
record of its officers is likely to be one long
black list of peryersion of official position
for the subserviency of private ends. Nearly
every one is engaged in private speculations,
and the rumors reaching us from all parts
concerning their official malfeasance are so
well authenticated as to no longer be sub
ject of doubt. The principal officers of the
Freedmens Bureau in the State of North
Carolina, for instance, are khown.to to be en-
gagged in cultivating plantations or in some
other occupation tending TO their private
emolument Dozens of instances could be
cited, but Il few will suffice Col. Whittle-
sey, the Assistant Commissioner controlling
the State, is running one of thc-6aest cot
ton plantations in North Carolina. in connec
ton with the Rev. Horace James, formerly
Massachusetts, army chaplain. This farm is
situated in Pitt county. The following lit
tie circumstance will show how official posi-
tion is prostituted to private gain A dar
XIV was discovered stealing from James
store. He was brought before James, who
acts as an agent of the Bureau without pay
in the county in which he is planting, was
convicted and sentenced to dig bitches on
James farm. While undergoing the sentence
he managed to escape and made for the river.
James called to him to surrender, and as he
did not do so he fired at him. The man
dropped out of his canoe and has never been
seen since. The case was referred to Colonel
Whittlesey, James partver, and the Assistant
Commissioner of the State who replied that
as the affair took place at night. and as the
body of the man had never been found, it
was not certain the shot took effect. There
fore no further action was called for. Capt.
F. A. Seeley, Superintendent of the Eastern
District, is cultivating farm in Wayne
county. Captain Rosecranz, Commissary of
subsistence at Newbern, is a partner in a
firm in which Mr. Brooks, of Mass, is u
leading member, and which firm is running
at least half dozen plantations in the South.
1t has also been found that commissary stores
have been removed from the commissary
buildings before the usual hours of business.
In one instance, four barrels of pork were ta-
ken in this way and conveyed to a grocery
store in the town. brother of Captain
Rosencranz, who, acted as commissary SER
geant, stated. when detection was unavoida-
BILE, that the pork hail been carried to the
grocery by mistake, and that the mistake
had been Immediately rectifed. The gro
Ger, on being questioned, stated he had the
four barrels of pork in his possession, and
that Captain Rosencranz had been to him
that day to ask its return. He also stated
that Captain Rosencranz had exchanged at
least two barrels of white sugar for two of
brown, for which he paid the captain six
cents q pound in exchange. The fact is well
Established that at Goldsboro' large quanti-
ties of clothing sent from the North for graf
u t4listKibution has been sold privately
and at auction Captain CLAWS, a Bureau
superintendent for this district, is running
two plantations on his own account and one
for the Bureau. At Wilmington Maj. Mann
and Maj. Wickersbam, permanent officers of
the Bureau, are both interested in rice plan
tations. Maj. Wickersham, by his contract,
is bound to see that the freedmen work; if
they do not they are placed in the chain
panos. The effect of the system is to enable
the agents of the Bureau to control the best
labor in the State for their private interests.
The most singular feature of the whole is
that the worst cases of malfesance are found
at the doors of New England philanthropists.
Several arrests are reported TO have been
made, and Others are expected to follow.
- We publish the above without vouching
for its correctness We see no objection to
officers of the Bureau cutiyating. cotton
farms, provided they do so in just and hon
est way, and do not, to any extent. neglect
their duties. When we say just and honest,
we mean Justice to both white and black,
and integrity in theu Of government stores.
--< -e,--------- ~ .s75 y.
Attention is invited to the advertisement
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Company in to-day's paper. This Express
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eral encouragement accorded to it, has been
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country. ~
Its business here will be promptly and eff
fcientIy conducted by the local Agent, Mr.
James A. Moore.