Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-09
NEGRO TESTIMONY AGAINST THE
FREEDMEN'S BUREAU.

The following statement will show some OF
the workings Of the Freedmen's Bureau in
Mississippi. The statement is in the hand
writing of an intelligent and educated ne
gro. who was raised and educated by his
former owner, and is still, with most of the
others who formerly belonged to the same
owner, on the plantation Of the gentlemen
to whom they belonged, situated on the Mis-
sissippi river about twenty miles below
Vicksburg. The plantaaGsn was seized as
abandoned property, and has since been in
possession and control of the Freedmen's
Bureau the officers Of which seem to have
used it to the best advantage for themselves,
utterly regardless of Justice and Of the in
terests Of the negroes who remained on il:
HURRIcANE PLANTATION, DAVIS BEND,
MISSISSIPPI, June IL, 1S56.-4o the Officers
Of Gen. Woods Sidf, Present-GENTIEMEN:
As one Of the expressed objects of your visit
70 the Bend is TO inquire into the manner IN
which affairs we're conducted here during
the past year, and the cause of complaint, If
any, deem il necessary to repeat portion
OF what have, on several occasions hereto
fore stated to officers of the Bureau, express
sing at the same time, as / did to them, the
painfulness Of having to complain Of the
acts of those to whom we were instructed to
look for protection.
The freedmen made little cotton in 1864,
which was ginned and disposed of in man
ner not very satisfactory to them. In the
early part Of 1866 all Of the horses, mules,
oxen, wagons, carts, ploughs, and imple-
ments Of every kind necessary for farming,
which they (the freedmen) had obtained by
vorious means (many of the implements
having been made and repaired at the ex-
pense of the parties holding them) were, by
an order of the post commander, taken from
them. (the freedmen,) the result Of which
produced the necessity, on the part OF the
deprived parties of spending the little
means they could command, to replace the
stock and utensils so taken.
Later in the same year the colorod plan
tiers Of this part Of the Bend unanimously
petitioned for the privilege of controlling
the gin located on Hurricane Plantation,
promising at the time 10 conduct the ope-
ration of the same in workmanlike order,
and 10 very carefully observe and duly re-
spect all Government claims, offering to FUR
nish bagging, rope, etc, and perform the
work Of ginning and preparing at charge
Of 81 so per bale. The Bureau agents
charge SO.
The privilege was denied us, for several
reasons then expressed, prominent among
which was: "That we would gin the cotton
Of certain parties, and not care for the hun
dreds of poor, whose cotton should receive
the first attention. The gin referred to was
occupied in ginning the cotton Of few IA
yored parties, whites, until very late date
in November, thereby forcing many to sell
their cotton before being ginned at a great
sacrifice in price, in order TO obtain the ne
cessary supplies. White parties buying
such cotton could have it ginned without
DELAY. All parties who obtained supplies
from the commissary, being without money,
were required to make payment for the
same in unginued cotton of first picking, at
4 price but little more than half its market
value, and nothing allowed them for the
seed. which at that time was worth htty
cents per bushel on the Bend, Ia bale Of cot
ton welding about 33 bushels Of seed.) Much
complaint was made of high charges for
Government rations furnished. OF the cor
rectness Of grounds for the last named COM
plant have no knowledge personally.
Some Of the parties are still here, and can
state facts, as well as confirm the other state
ments made above.
With the highest respect, I have the honor
TO be your obedient servant,
b. T. MONrGoMERY.
PS. deem il not amiss to add further,
that when the officer in command was hav-
ing the mules and horses taken frem the
freedmen, some few Of the men, more shreWd
than the mass, sold their mules 20 white par
ties then located on the Bend at about one
fifth their real value, which white purchasers
we're allowed TO retain without question as
10 claim by the authorities here, while the
blacks were deprived in every instance, ex-
cept in possession Of bill Of purchase.
But for much exertion and some expense
on the part Of the freedmen here, there
would have been little here worth seiEing at
that time. B. L. MONTGOMERY,
The following has not been previously
stated or reported: The farming imple-
ments taken from the people were used 10
cnltivating the Government farm in 1865,
and many Of the plows sweeps, hoes, etc,
were subsequently sold back TO Ghe people
| from whom they were formerly taken.
! Some mules were sold by the freedmen 70
white man named SKINNER, extensively in
| lerested in planting on the Bend at that
time. for the small sum Of Sl2 per head.
| The purchaser was allowed 20 hold them
unmolested, and subsequently sold some Of
| them back to the freedmen at $3.50 70 $50
| per head, and in some cases higher.
| The aggrieved are here 20 confirm the
above.
| v-,,,.r 4, ,,re6,i raadfnc ~ TFrrrF Rfrr-