The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-14


From the Tribune.
We Yesterday printed a report ofthe Presidents
Bureau Inspectors, Messrs. Steedman and Fuller
ton covering the States ofSouth Carolina, Geor'
pia and Florida Althoughwe give this to our read
ers as a matter of news, we do not conceal our
opinion that the furnishing OF such a report to
the press for publication is gross impropriety,
and an inexcusabe injury to the officers whom
it assails The inquslton of Generals Steedman
and Fullerton might be proper enough had the
President in good faith desired to inform him
self concerning the Bureau. In that case their
report would have been confidential like the
proceedings of Grand Jury, and would have
been submitted to the President for his private
information. Matters OF hearsay might have
been embodied in such report and II Mr.. john
son had deemed them grave enough, he could
have ordered q court of inquiry, before which
the officers accused would have been heard in
their own defense.
If they had been found guilty they would
have been punished, and their disgrace have
been published to the world. But in this case
two officers are sent on a spy mission, Que OF
whom is q prominent supporter OF that Pres-
dental policy which assumes that the Bureau Is
q nuisance, and the other of whom proved nm
self in Louisiana a bitter enemy Of the Bureau
and of the freedmen. II there were any doubt
about 1t otherwise, the purpose OF their eXpedi-
tion might be accurately inferred from the
character OF the agents. In pursuance of that
object, the peripatetic inspectors OF Mr., johnson
collect tattle OF all sorts from halfreconstructed
Rebels, with whom they associate so exclusively
that, as a recent despatch informed us, it was
with great difficulty that any Union man could
get hearing from them.
To preserve an appearance OF Importantly,
they convene meetings OF the freedmen, whose
opinions and evidence are ignored in their re-
ports. Into these reports they crowd the SLAM
ders, the misstatements, the prejudced versions
of facts, the willul lies, which enemies of the
Bureau are only too happy to supply. No op
portunty is offered for meeting these charges,
or If any form OF investigation is gone through,
it is q form only. Then this mass of scandal is
sent North In two patches, one official report to
the President, and one unofficial TO the New
York Herald; and there Stems to be q race be-
tween these two authorities to see which shall
first get his account before the public. We need
only refer to the report from North Carolina,
and to that which we yesterday printed as evil
dence of the accuracy OF this picture.
The North Carolina report has been 80 riddled
and sifted and the answer OF Gen. Whiitlesey to
his accusers was so complete, that the Bureau
which it was meant to aDnlhtlate stands higher
than ever in public opinion. The President
made a mistake in selecting his Instruments
They are perfectly willing to do the work eX-
pected OF them, but they have made the mis-
fake Of exhibiting their willingness too openly.
They lack ability TO play the role assigned them.
We may suggest to this urn, that IN preparing
their next report tor the press, they should en-
deavor to disguise, if possible, their hatred to
the Bureau. They would have done much bet
ter had they affected an Interest in Its pros
perlty, and assumed an air of regret over such
short comings as their duty required them to
expose.
In future they should strive to conceal their
eagerness to find fault aDd their eXultation over
every petty peccaGillo they succeed in unearth
ing. If they are unable to wear such mask
perhaps their next best resourSe would be tC
avow frankly that they were sent South to pre-
pare an indictment against the Bureau, and tina
they appear al the bar as prosecuting officer
instead of sitting on the bench as Judges.
they would avow this, the pubic would under
f1nc 4inr f1Nnra
We do not intend TO examine the present re
port in detail, though it would be easy to poin
out its inconsistencies, and to comment on tn
animosity it everywhere displays towards tn
true friends of the freedmen. We leave all tha
to the officers whom it attacks, and we are con
tent to leave the report as 1t stands to the judg
ment OF its readers. They Will observe IN THIS
as in the other reports from the same source
that every officer VINO has consulted the interest
of the freedmen is denounced while every office
who has exhibited his devotion to the interest
OF the Rebels is applauded. These PreSdenta
messengers exhaust their ingenuity in Sneer
and inuendoes against General SaXton, who's
name is reverenced by the freedmen OF Sout
Carolina next to that of Abraham Lincoln
General SaXton spent about four years on III
Sea Islands. Messrs. Steedman and Fullerton
we believe, spent about four days.
From their observations during that period
hey undertake 20 pass Judgment on the Ion
career OF an officer whose fidelity to the freed
men under his charge no enemy ever ventures
TO assail, and whose only fault has been that n
refused TO acquiesce in a policy that woul
abandon to the hostility and oppression OF thei
old masters those whom the Government stoo
pledged to protect When the Government
forgot its faith General SaXton could not torgl
his, and was removed TO make way for a nor
plant tool. 1t was inevitable thai such ma
should be attacked by thee inspectors. The
were sent IN order that such men as he might b
made odious. 1t was equally inevitable tht
General I llson should be praised. That Office
has won his tile to appreciation by abolishin
the Freedmen's Courts in Georgia, conclliatin
Augusta TO strew flowers on the graves OF Unio
soldiers, and suppressing The Loyal Georgian,
journal published by the freedmen. He
almost the only Bureau officer whose coEdu
receives the unqualified commendation of Gen
rails Stcedman and Fullerton.
The European Crisis-1he Emperor NJ
pOleOn's Declaration.
From the Times.