The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-06-04
al mind would faithfully perform thei. duties


tial mind, would faithfully perform theic duties
as a Fault-fnding Commission. 1t was not |
to be expected that officers wearing the United |
States uniform, however experienced in pol
tics," would dishonorobly authorize the publ
cation of grave accusations against brother |
officer, in advance of their report to the Presi-
dent
The substance of their charges may be brief
ly given as follows. General WhittleSey is
charged with being interested in the cultiva-
ton of alarge farm, with attempting to con-
ceal his interest. with giving low wages and
making the most stringent labor regulations
to the great detriment of the freedmen, and
incidentally with smothering an investigation
into the alleged murder of negro by his
partner, the Rev. Horace James, or by his
clerk Boyden. His subordinates are all, we
believe, accused of being connected with many
subsidiary offenses, including prevarication
about the facts, cheating the negroes, stealing
four barrels OF pork, exchanging white sugar
for brown land pocketing the difference, cru
ely treating the freedmen and subjecting
them to exorbitant taxes for support of the
Bureau, selling Government property for their
own use, &C., &c.
Gen. Steadman's experience in politics. is
fully indicated by the avidity with which the
| Democratic press has reproduced his scan
dalous accusations. Even in Maine, there
are Democratic papers which have not shrunk
from the meanness of reproducing these ca
L o,,I mo- them a
if they were the deliberate findings and SEN
tence of an authorized court. The public
sentiment of this community will not uphold
such political management. There is no ex-
cuse for it. Even if Gen. Whittlesey were a
liar and swindler, what would his personal
dement's prove against the plan of the Bu-
reau?
Nobody who knew anything of Gen. Whit
tleseys history did believe the story of the
two Inspectors. He has recently made full
report which effectually disposes OF their al
legations. 1t appears that on the oath April,
they spent half an hour in Gen. Whittlesey's
office. They called upon but one of the COM
missioned officers in charge of the eight sub
districts into which the Central District OF the
State was divided, and did not call upon the
superintendent OF the district at all. This
they style "a thorough and impartial investi-
. CATION" As to the accusation of cultivating
farms, Gen. Whttlesey says. after publishing
, his correspondence with Gen. Steadman on
| this point
What did deny and meant to deny, and do
still deny, is the charge which the first ques-
ton involves, that any officer connected with
the Freedmen's Bureau, is engaged in "culti-
waiting" or managing farms, in any proper
meaning of these words, or devoting his time
to any private business. The fact that an Of
, ficer has invested his money in farm or any
other business, does not prove that he is in
person managing that business. am owner
of stock in railroad in the State of Maine,
and in another in Wisconsin, but though thus
Interested" 1 am not running either of these
, roads. own a little land would be glad to
own more) United States Government stock I;
but am. not running" the United States
Treasury, though thus interested" in its man
agement. No more am l working" farm
because have invested money in the cultiva-
. ton of one, and have thus become an "inter-
ested partner" therein.
In pointof fact, Gen. Howard himself re-
commended to the officers of the Bureau to
furnish the capital so much needed at the
South, SO far as they, could, and thus make
employment for the freedmen.
The labor regulations are designed to en-
sure faithtnlness in keeping contracts, and
have rarely needed to be enforced. The pun
) ishments are by fine, Imprisonment, or invol-
g untary labor. Boyden, who shot a negro thief
J is not in Gen. Whittlesey's employ, and the
q case was fully investigated. The theft of pork
sugar frauds, &C., &C., are all examined, and
turn out to be pure scandal, hearsay picked
up by the Inspectors in the society which
they chiefly affected. The rents and taxes
) collected of the freedmen have been cheerful
X paifq and have been expended in the villa
a ernmeut property is fully accounted for. Ster
: by step the report goes through the list Of
G charges, refuting them by ample documentary
proof, and concludes with brief exposure Of
] the fault-finding disposition of the commits
sioners. "The real work of the Bureau
says Gen. Whittlesey, (Which has taxed the
, energy and the patience of all connected with
,, it to the utmost, they pass by unnoticed, and
t direct their entire efforts to the discovery OF
faults" That is the simple truth; and will
t have its weight with all honest men.
: The inculpated officers have all been reliev-
J ed and ordered to report in arrest for trial.
This is Just and proper; the opportunity form
ally to disprove the wantonly published SLAM
. ders, was due to them. In letter to the Sec
J Rotary of War, Gen. Howard says, "Allow me
to call your attention to the fact that the ma
jority Of those officers complained of are Off
GERS selected from the army, generally of ex-
celent record, and always vouched for by men
of the highest standing in the community. 1
earnestly recommend that hereafter a fair trial
| be allowed to every officer accused nrior In