New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-04-17
THE WANTS OF THE FREEDMEN.

| WASHINGTON, April 12.-Gen Howard has writ.
ten long letter to Mr. Eliot, chairman of the
House Select Committee on Freedmens Affairs,
urging legislation with respect to his bureau. The
points which he makes in that behalf are briefly
as follows:
First, the period of the continuance of the
bureau should be definitely fixed by law, so that
all parties interested may know just when its
| operations cease.
Second, it should be declared by Congress
whether Maryland and Kentucky are or are not
| included within the limits where the bureau is to
exercise supervision.
| Third, the existing law does not allow the off
| GERS of the bureau to furnish medical supplies,
they being given out now under orders from the
war department.
| Fourth, some measures should be taken to pro-
mote industry by setting apart lands for sale on
favorable terms to the freedmen.
Fifth, the Sea Island question should be settled,
because the freedmen who have grants thereon
thoroughly believe that the land belongs to them.
| Sixth, the President should be authorized to re-
tain officers of volunteers in the service after the
muster out of the regiments to which they belong,
| for the bureau is losing some of the best of its
| agents and assistants, who would remain on duty
if they were allowed to retain their official rank in
the army.
Seventh, something should be done to foster
education. The commissioner believes that it
would be matter of real economy to make prov
sion for schools, industrial and otherwise, and he
suggests that public lands have often been granted
| for educational purposes when the need was not
| near so urgent as in the present case
| Eighth, the duties of the officers and agents of
the bureau should be more clearly defined by law,
so that the people among whom they labor may
| know what they are.
Ninth, a bill signed by the executive will give
| great moral power to the bureau, as its enemies
believe, or pretend to believe, that the govern
ment is opposed to its operations.
| General Howard, in addition to writing this
comprehensive letter, has conferred recently with
the members of the select committee, and given
them his views in detail. He holds that the pow
ers of the bureau do not so much need enlarge
ment as definition. 1t was well enough, perhaps,
he says, to leave them to military adjustment du-
ring the war, but hereafter its operations should
be in pursuance of actual law.
The force of this view thus urged by Gen
Howard and others, is very strongly felt by the
committee, and almost from the day of the loss of
the original several weeks ago, the chairman. Mr..
Eliot has been earnest in his endeavors to frame
bill that will command the support of all
branches of the government. The bill upon which
the committee will probably agree retains many
features of the old BILL but is so drawn as to obvi
ate many of the objections urged against that.
The clause in respect to division of the districts
into subdistricts. and the appointment of agents,
ETC., is left out and the commissioner, under the
direction of the President, is simply empowered to
appoint such agents as may be necessary for the
efficient and economical administration of the
affairs of the bureau. The provision authorizing
the employment of clerks is stricken out. The
issue OF tmedical stores is authorized.
Three million acres of land in Florida, Missis-
|
served from SALE TO be rented in forty tracts
and atterward sold to the freedmen and refugees.
The Sea Island question is disposed of by author
izng the commissioner to purchase lands at not
, exceeding SO per acre, to sell easy terms al
not less than cost price, to such freedmen occupy
/ ing plantations as are willing to make the ex
change. 1t is believed that the provision will be
entirely satisfactory to the freedmen who availet
, themselves of Gen. Sherman's order The com
, missioner is authorized to furnish sites and build
: ings for schools, whenever teachers and means o
= = instruction are provided by benevolent associa
tions or otherwise.
The passage of the civil rights bill has dom
= away with many of the former provisions in res
pect to military jurisdiction, but it is to be con
tnued tlll the civil courts are restored, and freed
men are admitted to them on terms of equality
and the States are represented in Congress.
, MARTIAL LAW NOT TERMINATED BY THE PREs1DENTs
| PROCLAMATION.
Judge Peabody, counsel for 7. G. H. Dexter
late Treasury Agent at Mobile, who was tried and
ance III office, called on the President to-day to
procure the release Of his client.
Application had been previously made to Judge
Busteed at Mobile, for his release on writ Of
habeas corpus, on the ground that the Presidents
recent peace proclamation terminated martial
law, hut Mr.. johnson interposed and ordered Cen
eral Wood to disregard the writ. The President
Informed Judge Peabody that his proclamation
was simply declaration of his policy, and was
not intended to declare termination of martial
law in the late insurgent States.
CoLoRED RESERVATION IN TEXAS.
The nsolent and vindictve spirit lately mani
Tested in the Texas convention, exctes much
comment here. 1t is suggested by many leading
men in Congress and elsewhere, that the govern.
ment shall exercise the right of eminent domain,
and appropriate an area of Northern Texas fully
equal to the Indian Territory Immediately adjacent
on the north bank of the Red River as a military
reservation for the location of homesteads by the
! colored soldiers who served in the war for the
Union aud to other citizens of African descent
who may desire to secure homes under national
J protection. OF course a territorial government,
with full political franchise, would be an essential
} part of the measure.
Texas being excluded from the peace proclanla.
ton, the President having frequently indicated
such provision for the security and progress OF
the colored race, it is thought Mr.. Johnson again
assuming the roll of Moses. might concur with
Congress in designating o promised land for that
portion of the colored race whose interests or
feelings would prompt them to such q settlement
in Northern Texas.
NEW PARTY IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Senator Cowan, who boasts that he controls the
executive patronage in Pennsylvania, is husiy EN-.
gagged in getting up "mddle party" in that
ton Of Gen. Geary, the Union nominee for gov.
ernor The most prominent feature of the scheme
is to turn radical men out of office and to supply
their places with men who have served in the
army.
LIQUOR PROHIBITED AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
The temperance question got into the House to
day. When the prohibiting resolution passed yes.
terday by the Senate, was taken up. Mr.. Went
worth moved to make it apply to all public build
ngs and grounds, including the arsenal, the White
House, and the var GUS department buildings.
debate of about twenty minutes ensued, during
which several of the members INDUCED N sharE
wittcism, particularly in regard to the application
OF the amendment to the White House. Mr. Went
worth's amendment was finally adopted and the
resolution 'hen passed.
AFFAIRS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
The Raleigh Standard, Governor Holden's paper
says that the Presidents policy i'll Norsn Car Ina
is complete failure that ultra -secessionists now
fill every Office in the State, from the highest tt
the lowest, and that the secession leaders are de
termined that Union men shall never govern the
State. 1t adds: - The course of restoration la
been suddenly arrested. The State has been Sc
t back to the point it occupied when the work wa
commenced, and no can foresee when thu
) work will be completed.
s The generosity OF the President has been 'rifet
with aud the good he intended to do This peopl
: has been neuturalized by these leaders WIN hav.
} been actuated solely by the love OF money an
, office. How long will it be before they ar
} rebuked as they should be, and made to know
their places?"
BOLD ROBBERY.
A very bold robbery occurred in the sub .treasur
! building yesterday. Mr.. Condell, messenger q
: the Bank of America, presented gold ce, tiicat
for $4,000, and about $4D0 in curr ney at the casi
ier's desk. He then went to another part of tn
building to see another clerk but not findng hin
proceeded to the postoffice to put som. letters
the mail, and on his way back to the bank stoppe
| at the snh treasnrv agajn :