The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-16
T'he Truth Coming Out.

inu ClltierCOn Is puD1SneO IN 1ull IN
the New York Herald The report
states that the Assistant Commissions
er in Virginia, and his subordinate
officers, have administered affairs in
that State pretty we'll, but the Gene
rails argue:
THAT, as the criminal business of
the Bureau has been for some weeks
past turned over to the civil authori-
ties, and as the civil business is about
to follow suit, the necessity for the
continuance of the agency, except Us
a means of affording relief to the aged
and helpless, no longer exists. The
Commissioners point out that these
duties could lie equally as we'll per-
formed by the officers commanding
the military posts-thus avoiding the
great expense of the double organiZa-
tion. The Bureau would be power
less without the military, but the
military can do everything now done
by the Bureau. They therefore re-
commend that the Bureau be with
drawn from Virginia, and the duty of
distributing lations and clothing be
discharged in future by the military.
''With regard to North Carolina,
Generals Steedman and Fullerton
condemn, III strong terms, the farm
ing operations Of Assistant Commis-
sioner Whittlesey, and S,lperintend-
ents Seeley, James, &C., and the cru
elites of Fitz, at Newbern, particulars
of which have already been made
public, and repeat the recommends
ton, so faras respects North Carolina,
which they had previously made with
regard to Virginia, namely: That the
officers Of the Bureau should be with
drawn, and their powers transferred
to the military
Again, some time ago, the President
| appointed Benjamin G. Truman, Esq.
OF New York, to visit the Southern
| States. He came South about the
| first of September last. and remained
nearly seven months, visiting all the
cotton States. His report is very
voluminous and comprehensive. and
is candid and truthful, showing that
he was close and unprejudiced OBJ
server OF the condition of affairs
throughout every State. Tha, he
discharged his duty faithfully may he
seen by the following extract from his
report:
II visited all of the large and i'm :
- Al
frequent and extended stops upon
many OF the largest plantations.
II passed over nearly all of the
railroads in the above named States.
was upon all of the navigable rivers,
and Travelled seven hundred and odd
miles in stage coaches.
81 called upon all Of the general
officers commanding posts. districts,
departments, &c. in the States above
mentioned, and also upon all of the
commissioners of freedmen Except
General Fisk, and many other officers
connected with the Freedmens Bu-
reau. also conversed with at least
one-third OF the ex-generals of the
late Confederate army, and large
numbers Of Southern politicians, and
Southern people generally. intending
ministers Of the Gospel, editors of
newspapers and others in profession-
! al capacities
After this honest and close investi-
cation, Mr. Truman says
That the South-the great, sub
stantial and prevailing element is
more loyal now than it was at the end
Of the war-more loyal to-day than
yesterday and that it will be more
loyal tomorrow than to-day. 1t
would he almost impossible to pre-
sent the numerous and scattered evi-
dences upon which base this belief;
but entertain it in all sincerity, and
believe it to be consonant with the
facts. No revolution ever goes back
ward, is 4 convenient but shallow
truism: OF. rather, expressive of no
truth whatever; since every revolu-
ton has its ultimate revulsion par
tally, at least; and, just as certainly
as for four years the mass of popular
sentiment in the South was slowly
soidifying and strengthening in favor
OF the Confederacy, just SO certain is
it that, from the date OF it's downfall.
that opinion has been slowly retmr..
ing to its old attachments
He contra3icts. in emphatic terms,
the stories circulated ut the North as
to the bitter treatment Northern men
raSpivp NJ tho hands nt Al. CC,tbarp