The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-01-05

]
/ think it practicable TO withdraw the
military from the South at present
The white and the black mutually re-
quire the protection of the General
/ Government. There il such universal
acquieScencein in ntheauthority of the Gen
eral Government throughout the por-
1 ton of the country visited by me, that
| the mere presence Of a military force
without regard tonumbers, Is sufficient
to maintain order.
The good Of the country, and econO-
mys require the force kept in the inte-
rior where there are many freedmen.
| Elsewhere in the Southern States than
/ at forts upon the sea coast no force is
necessary They should be all white
/ troops. The reasons for this are Obvi-
Gus, s,Withoutmentioningmanyo them.
( The presence of black troops, lately
I slaves, demoraliZeS labor both by their
advice and furnishing in their camps a
resort for the freedmen for long diStan-
ces around. White troops generally
/ excite no opposition, and, therefore, a
/ small numhpr0f them canmaintain or
der in a given district. C0lored troops
must be kept in bodies sufficient to de
endthemselves. tits not the thinking
norton who would use violence to-
wards any class OF troops sent among
them bv the General Government, but
the ignorant in some places might, and
the late slave seems to be imbued with
the idea that the property of his late
master should By right belong to him !;
at least should nave no protection from
the c0lored soldier. There is danger Of
collision being brought on by such eau
SeS.
NV observations lead me TO the con-
clusion that the citizens Of the South
ern States are anxious TO return to self
government within the Union a. soon
a. possible. That whilst re-c0nstruc-
ting they want and require the prOtec-
ton from the government that they
think is required by the government
not humiliating TO them ascitiZenS, and
that if such a course was pointed out
they would pursue it in good faith. 1t
. j. to be regretted that there cannot be
a greater rcOmmingling at this time be-
tween the citizens Of the two sections,
and Dartfcularlyof those entrusted with
the iaw-making power.
did not give the operations Of the
/ Freedmcn's Bureau that attention [
/ would have done if more time had
been at my disposal. Conversations on
the subject, however, with officers con-
nected with the bureau, Iedme to think
that in some Of the States its affairs
. have not been conducted with good
Judgment or economy, and the belief
widely spread among the freedmen Of
! the Southern States, that the lands Of
/ their former owner will, at least in part,
be divided among them, has come from
among the agents Of this bureau. This
/ belief is seriously interfering with the
/ willingness Of the freedmen to make
contracts for the comingyear.
In some form the freedmen's Bureau
/ is an absolute necessity until civil law
/ IS established and enforced, securing to
/ the freedmen their rights and full pro-
lection. At present, however, it is in
/ dependent of the military establish
mcnt of the country, and seems TO be
/ operated by the different agents Of the
bureau according to their individual
notions. Everywhere General Howard,
/ the able head Of the bureau, made
I friends by the just and fair instructions
and advice he gave; but the complaint
in South Carolina was, that when he
I left, things went on a before. Many,
/ perhaps the majority, Of the agents Of
! the FTeedmen's Bureau advise thefreed-
men that by their own industry they
/ must eXpef, live. To this end they
/ fRGdgqqfa.NIfhiid to see that both contracting
. parties comply with their engagements.
In some instances, | am sorry to say,
the freedmen's mind does not seem to
be disabused of the idea that the freed
man has the right to live without care
or provision for the future. The effect
Of the belief in the division of lands IS
idleneSS and accumulation in camps,
towns and cities. In such cases think
it will be found that vice and disease
will tend to the determination or great
reduction of the cOIOred race. 1t can
not be expected that the opinions held
by men at the South for years can be
changed in a day, and therefore the
freedmen require for few years not
only laws to protect them, but the tOs-
tering care Of those WhoWlll give them
good council, and on whom they rely.
The Freedmen's Bureau being separa-
ted from the military establishment OF
the country, requires all the expense OF
! a separate organization. One does not
necessarily know what the otilef Is 90
ing. or what order they are acting un-
der.
1t seems tome this could be corrected
by regarding every officer on duty with
troops in the Southern States a agents
of the Freedmen's Bureau, and then
have all orders from the head of the
bureau sent through Department Conn
manders. This would create 4 respon-
.ibility that would secure uniformity
of action throughout the South, would
ensure the orders and instructions from
the head Of the bureau being carried
out, and would relieve from duty and
paya large genumberof employeesof the
government. / have the honor to be,
very respectfully, your ohedient ser
want.
L. :. GRANT, Lieut.. Gen.
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