Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-01-01
THE FREEDMEN OF VIRGINIA.

OF Freedmen, &C, in Virginia, made a repor q
which accompanied General Hovard,. r~-,r,
| 70 Congress. In reference 70 the chaared rr,,-
tons existing between whites and blacks In TIE
State of Virginia the report says.
THE larger portion of the STATE having baen
so recently oyerrun by contfnding arrsiSz the
usual business ayocations were almost on t,r.ay v
/ suspended, aud large numbers of the lu bo-ins
| population were collected in camps or located
on abandoned farms, or obtained a pr-carIous
SUBSISTENCE on charity and the fruits of irrcy,1
Unemployment In the neigh borhoofs OF Nor
iolk, fortress Monroe, and Yorktown. a6out
the war, from among these from eight % ten
thousand recruits for The army had ,.-pn on ltst
ed, many other of the able bodied men had
partments Of the army, leaving their families
in this District partially dependent ON the
Goyernment. In other districts, thousands OF
| freedmen were roaming about without setfla,
employment and without homes. In localiues
least disturbed by the presence or CON fiirt- 90
armies, and where the average amount OF land
was under cultivation, the crops were suffering
| from want of proper attention-the Plante be-.
| ing unwilling 20 acknowiedge his late slave A
freeman, by becoming partner with hiIn 70 a
contract, and the Freedman conscious that no
further service was 'sdnen from him, aud wish
ing TO satisfy himself that he really free nv
| .A,rc,sing his liberty 10 leave his old master.
| Elgbty- five thousand, SIX hundred and forty-
seven lS5,6i7l acres Of land We're held in the
State, exclusive Of that in the counties Of
Loudon and Fairfax, for the henefit OF freed
| th6 m on shares, some by Government, the
| freedmen being paid wages: some even rented
TO them, some were occupied as homes for
| those who were unable TO pay rent OF support
themselves, while others on account OF their
location were unoccupied.
| The problem TO be solved WAS, how 20 pro-
vide for the protection, elevation and govern
ment Of nearly half a million Of peonlp sud-
\ denly freed from the bonds Of rigorous con-
| trol, acquainted with no law but that OF force,
| ignorant OF the elementary principles Of civil
government and of the first duties Of citfzsu
| ship, without any provision for the future
wants OF themselves and families, and enter
tanning many false and eXtraVagant notions in
| respect to the intentions Of the Government
towards them.
The citizens, generally, afforded no assistance
In meeting these difficulties. Stripped 10 a
great extent Of ready resources, by the opera
tions of the war, they were unable TO
allow these people their just dues. much less
/ any charitable assistance. In some sections of
the State public meetings had been held and
the citizens had entered into covenant not 70
| pay more than fiye dollars TS5l per month 10
able-bOdied men, not TO rent lands TO the freed
men, nor to give employment to any withouta a
| certificate from their former owners. Many of
the citizens under the control OF tradition habit
and education only sullenly acc uiesced Ia the
| freedom Of their former slaves. They regarded
| the colored population as necessarily and ap-
propriately seryile and unfit for freedom, and
| stimulated by the feeling that the late slaves
| were in some way responsible for the failure of
their cause, they were wholly disqualified from
| cooperating in the work of the Bureau.
AnOlDtT uuuerlCallN small. but of the
| best talent, culture and influence not only ac-
| cepted the situation, but with a wise foresight
| and noble patriotism We're ready to cooperate
with the Government for the speediest restora-
ton Of tranquility and law, and TO assist the
Bureau in its eRdeayor TO bring the highest
| good 10 all classes, out Of present evils.
| third and more numerous class because forced
| 10 ackno Wedge the freedom Of their former
| slaves, wished either 20 effect their entire re-
meval from the State, or bind them by such
contracts as would allow them but little more
| Freedom than they formprlN
| The Superintendents were further instructed
10 protect the negroes in their rights as fr. e.
men, TO see that they were noT in any way op-
| pressed by their former masters, aud TO cuIti-
yate friendly relations between the two classes:
to assist in the organization and maintenance
| OF schools TO discourage as far as possible the
| disposition Of the freedmen 10 remove from
| cne locality TO another, except so far as IL
| might be necessary for uniting members OF Sc
parated families, or TO find profitable employ
ment. To urge upon them the importance OF
making contracts for their labor. and TO fulfil
the same when made, 10 aid them by their ad-
vice when necessary to prevent their being
| defTauded; but in all other cases TO leave them
| free 10 make their own bargains.
To furnish rations, medicines, and medical
attendance for the helpless and destitute not
| provided for by their former owners; bnt not
| 10 issue rations TO persons able to work, for
whom employ ment could be found.
To require assistant superintendents 10 keep
| registers of all colOred persons in their sub
districts, and 10 aid such in finding remunera-
| tive labor. If when labor was found for such
ptIsOues lDtY ntGleGNtO 10 aNall tDtmstlNeS OF
1t, they were 10 be treated IS vagrants Super
lnttndents were ordered, either themselves or
through their assistants, 10 adludcate upsn all
cases arising between the freedmen themselves
or between freedmen and whites, including
crimes committed by the freedmen, in which
the penalty should not exceed imprisonment
at hard labor for period OF three months, or
iii Of enc hundred dollars. All other cases
were % be referred 10 competent military au-
| thUrlty. subsequently, the assistant superin-
tendents were ordered 10 invite the whites and
the fTeeGhen of their respective sub-districts.
each class 10 select fer itself suitable person
TO assist IN the performance of this duty.
From the want Of funds 10 employ civilians,
the Bureau has been obliged TO depend, for the
management of its affairs, almost exclusively,
upon details of officers and men from the army.
Some of these officers have been eminen'ly
successful in the discharge OF their duties,
which are often very delicate and difficult.
But many of these details have been ofpersous
who had little sympathy with the duties TO
which they were assigned. The duties of the
BuTeau being peculiar, and requiring eXper-
ence for their proper performance, injurious
results have followed the constant changes in
its officers, made necessary by the mastering
out of troops. But few Assistant Supernten-
dents have occupied their positions for three
consecutive months, while in many sub-dis-
tricts, the changes have been more frequ quent
Notwithstanding these obstacles 10 a uniform
and efficient administration OF the affairs Of the
Bureau, important progress has been made in
the work undertaken.
The irritation existing between the white and
the freedmen Immediately after the cessation
of personal violence are becoming more rare.
There is, however, much for the ciuzens TO
learn in regard 70 the best management of free
labor, and much for the late slaves 10 learn in
regard 10 their duties as freedmen. The attempt
10 Introduce the contract systeu so essential 10
the reorganization OF the labor OF the States is
embarrassed by many difficulties. The master
has been unaccustomed TO sustain TO the Ia
borer the relation which this system implies,
and seeks to retain by contract much Of the
power " hich the slave formally gave him. and
the freedman has vet 20 learn properly 70
appreciate the obligations which he assumes in
making contract. A further embarrassment
is found in the excess OF laboring population
over the supply of profitable labor. II is i'm
possible Tor the employees, given with the best
intention, 10 give all the laborers sucn wages
as their support and that OF their families
require. 1t is believed that this evil cannot be
wholly remedied without the emigration from
the State OF at least fifty thousand freedmen
The disposition TO roam from place 10 place,
and especially 10 leave the country for towns
and camps is almost entirely corrected: there
is very little changing Of location, except when
necessary 10 provide the means Of subsistence.
They are generally contented with such ar
rangements for their services as can be made,
and on seeking homes and rrplo,-toapt thai