Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-04-06

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GUS policy upon the country are alread,
quite manifest. The South humbled
becomes the South arrogant. The ne
gro oasthe road to freedom and useful
ness, 10 threatened with slavery NOR,
debaslng than ever before experienced
I II our position be correct, that tn,
President is opposed to the object
4 sought for by the Civil Rights bill, It 4
Idle to argue the question with him II
convince Republicans that they ough
not to be indorsers of his in this matter
The Republican party is pledged to the
protection Of the Freedmen, and if it bt
not In favor of Equal Rights and Equal
Justice before the law it has no princi.
pies whatever; and, therefore, Republi.
4 cans cannot be otherwise than support
ers of the objects which the Civil Rights
bill was framed to aid. II any, howev-
er, will say with the President that
there is no necessity for law such as
the bill contemplates, we beg to refer
them to the present condition of the
South-to the treatment Of Freedmen
and the declarations of leading papers
and public men. We want no stronger
argument against the Presidents vetoes
of the Freedmen's Bureau bill and the
Civil Rights bill than Is contained in
the official report OF the Special Inspec-
tor of the Freedmen's Bureau for the
loyal States of Kentucky and Tennes.
see. This report has been transmitted
to Congress by Gen. Howard. Its for
chile words shall close this article:
GENERAL: In compliance with instructions
received from the Department, directing me to
proceed to the City Of Lexington, KY; to ex-
that part of the State, I have the honor to
report that | visited Lexington and vicinity,
and prosecuted my Investigation for the peri.
method: In all cases of extreme cruelty to the
freedmen, / have relied upon the best and
taken under oath. In regard to minor acts Of
cruelty, either TO persons or property, and in
reference to the economical, Social and moral
condition of the race, have been controlled
by personal observation, aided by information
received from Intelligent and trustworthy
From the dispositions taken by me and here.
with transmitted, have compiled the facts in
the more extreme cases of cruelty and outrage
parcel OF my report.
An examination of the sworn evidence, or
you ~ cases of outrage, in a limited district
and period, unparalleled In their atrocity and
fisndishness- cruelties for which, in no in.
stance, as developed by the testimony, 10 there
the least shadow OF excuse or palliation.
You will observe have been able in most
instances to give you the names Of the injured ;
in many, the names of the offenders, with
dates and localities. ..... Ut. 49,
have classified these outrages as follows:
vl,sa ,xxfy
human beating and whipping of men, 4 of
beating and shooting, of robbing and shoot.
ing, 3 OF robbing, men shot and killed, 2 shot
roasted, women assaulted and ravished,
women beaten, 2 women tied up and whip
beaten and driven from their homes and their
property destroyed, instances of burning Of
dwellings and of the inmates shot OF these
women the wives of Union soldiers.
And yet regret to say that these cases con-
ties. heard of quite number Of additional
cases, but did not succeed in obtaining the
Iroof for want OF time e. and proper facilities.-
dislike to make dispositions in these cases. for
fear of personal violence. The same reason
influences the black: he is fearful. timid and
He knows that since he has been freedman
he has not up to this time'had the protection of
either the Federal or state authorities; that
there is no way to enforce his rights or redress
his wrongs. The civil authorities will give
writing has been powerless. E.. .... IT,.
or the otienses reported there has been but
one arrest by the ciyil authorities, and tina,
on light bail. and now at large, no effort hay-
ing been made to bring him to trial
The arm OF the civil law has, however, been
brought in requ.silion quite recently to re-
lease and protect offenders. #
On the night of the 10th Of February, 1866, a
gang of white men, residents OF Bath County,
entered the house of Jos. Balls, a person who
has been freedman for several years-hum-
owner of 40 acres of land-and beat and most
horribly mangled him; his body was burst
open. his intestines protruding. -.
He lin gered two days in agony and died, At
;ue same time they set upon another old col
ored man, named Thacket who was at the
house of Balls, beating him tor some time,
putting Out an eye, and then very deliberately
placed him over the fire. roasting him first up
on one side and then upon the other. Upon
of the same gang, an attack was made upon
the huuse of Pate Burns, about four miles from
the residence OF Balls. Burns was most ex..
emplary man. and preached the gospel. and
they robbed him of his bacon, money and
clothing, shot him in the head, severely
wounding him, md there in his presence raw
ished his wife. Two other colored persons,
who were at the house OF Burns at this time,
were severely beaten. and one of them shot in
the head, Two Of the offenders were arrested
by the Agent Of the Freedmen's Bureau of
Bath County, and while renewing them for
hab S coipts was issued by Judge Hepperson Of
Montgomery County, and the men discharged
and set at liberty, he holding that the Freed
mans Bureau has no legal existence in Ken
lucky and that the writ of habeds corpus is not
suspended in this state. g.. Il. ...-...
The views are sought to be impressed upon
the people by leading men, and are the source
of much difficulty.
The fact should be Impressed upon the minds
of the people, not only that the Bureau has q
legal existing in Kentucky, but that it has also
q real one.
II does ME pleasure to report that the freed
mon exhibit an earnest desire for edu .ation-
one Of the most humane and excellent gen
tlcman OF Lexington, long resident of Ken
lucky, told me he was astonished to see such
an intense desire for Information, and that he
thought the freed chillren We're learning fast
err than the whites of the same age. Persons
at the age of 50 are learning to read and write.
In Lexington they are well provided with
schools, but sadly deficient in country places;
In some o. he counties there are organized
bands Of men called "rangers," "modera tors
"nigger killers" who have driven the freedmen
entirely out OF certain sections, and begin at
least, to threaten and intimidate unlon white
men. In the City of Lexington the freedmen
receive fair wages. and this Is the case, think,
and do portions Of counties Where they are forced
or intinidated to work as low as SO or 81 a
month. and in other counties induced to work
without stipulated price. In Jessamine
County alone are contracts to any extent
brought under the supervision of the agents of
beginning to be felt by all Interested.
rutil this system is fairly carried out, there
will continue to be great amount Of Cypress
A thorough organization of this department
In the Lexington Sub District of Kentucky is
also necessary In many parts, to protect those
truly loyal and humane>citizens who would
gladly do much to aid the freedman In his
present trying situation, but are now intimi-
dated by local prejudices or the fear of person.
slinjury.
Respecfultly submitted.
(Signed,l p. BoNESrED.
Special Inspector for Kentucky and Tennessee.
Lexington, March 5, 1866. o..
a true copy. II. >. BROWN.
Capt and Asst Adj. -Gen.
. .