Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-08-11
PUBLIC LEDGER.
THE NEW SYSTEM OF SLAVERY,

The report of STEADMAN and FULLER
TON is published at Washington. 1t will
make profound sensation in political
circles, as it charges, by implication,
that the Freedmen's Bureau is but an
other system of negro slavery. The re-
port is lengthy, and we regret that our
space will admit of but an extract or
two. After stating that after the cessa-
ton of hostilities, the Bureau did good,
they say:
Before the close of 1865, there was an
entire revolution in the sentiments OF the
people of the South with regard TO ne
gro labor A feeling of kindness sprung
M towards the freedmen, resulting, per
haps mainly from the conviction that
his labor was desirable and profitable,
and the only labor TO be had. The ne
cessity of the Bureau there ceased.
Since then, while it has been beneficial
in some localities, it has been productive
in the aggregate of more harm than
good. II has occasioue1 and will per-
petuate discord so long as 1t exists,
though administered by the wisest men OF
the nation.
Every man in the South knows that it
will perpetuate dscord, and that is
precisely what the authors Of the late bill
expect it to do. This is the truth in
nut she'll:
The freedmen regard its presence as
evidence that they would be unsafe with
out it; and the white people consider IT
an imputation upon their integrity, an
espionage upon the official action of all
their courts and magistrates. as well as
upon the private conduct OF their citizens:
Both races are thus made suspicious and
bitter by an agency which, in the present |
disorganized condition of civil govern
ment and society in the Southern States,
is powerless to advance the interests of |
either.
II the following passage does not make
out case of slavery, we cannot compre-
bend the meaning of language:
The best protection the freedman has
in the South is the value Of his labor in
the market, and if he is left free to dis
nose of this at all times TO the highest
bidder, unshacked by contracts made for
him by Bureau officers, no apprehensions
need be felt for his safety OF his success.
If the freedman could at this moment
demand the wages which the high price
of the products OF the South would JUS
tify, one dollar per day and board would
be the ruling wages, instead OF ten or
twelve dollars per month, the prices now
paid. But they cannot take advantage
Of the demand for their labor. They
are bound By contracts and enStdred for
t,celee months through the agency and
influence Of the Freedmens Bureau.
After the boast aud Qualification over
the abolition Of slavery, is it not strange
that the negro is not free TO act for him
self, but must submit to whatever dispo-
sitiou the Bureau may make Of his per-
SOM
They say in conclusion that if the
freedman leaves for the North to seek en-
ployment at better wages, he is arrested
as a vagrant by order Of the Freedmen's
Bureau, and put 10 labor on the roads
with ball and chain, as is provided by an
order recently issued by General ScoTr,
Assistant Commissioner for Sonth Caro-
lima. If fatigued from oyerwork he de-
sires to rest for day, il he leaves the
plantation 70 visit relative or friend, it
is made penal offense and a fine Of $50
IS imposed: ifhe refuses to contract he
is arrested by the Bureau pforost mar
shal and sold for a far dollars 10 the
nearest planter The coerciye policy
adopted by the Bureau in this and other
respects, has been made justification
for the discriminating legislation Of
some Of the Southern States