Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-01-06

Is to be regretted that there cannot be great
er commingling at this time between the citi-
zons Of the two sections, and particularly Of
those entrusted with the aw.making power
I did not give the operations of the Freed
mems Bureau that attention [ would have
done if more time had been ct my disposal
Conversations on the subject, however, with
officers connected with the Bureau, led me to
think that in some of the States it's affairs
have not been conducted with good Judgment
or economy, and that the belief widely spread
among the freedmen Of the Southern States
that the lands of their former owners will, at
least in part, be divided among them, has come
from the agents of this Bureau. This belief
is seriously interfering with the willingness of
tho freedmen to make contracts for the COM
ing year. In some form the Freedmen's Bu-
reau is an absolute necessity, until civil law is
established and enforced, securing to the freed
men their rights and full protection. At pres
ent, however, it is independent Of the military
establishment of the country, and seems to be
operated by the dffcrent'agunts Of the Bureau
according to their individual notions. Every
where General Howard, the able head of the
Bureau, made friends by the just and fair in
structions and advice he gave; but the com
plant~in South Carolina was, that when he
left, things went on as before. Many. per
h9ps the mujority, of the agents of the Freed
mems Bureau, advise the freedmen that by
their own industry .they must expect e. live
TO this end they endeavor to secure employ
ment for them, and to see that both contract
ing parties comply with their engagements -
In some instances, I am sorry to say, the
freedmens mind does not seem to be disabused
o. the idea that the freedmen have the right
to live without care or provision for the future.
The effect of the belief in 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 extcrmi-
nation or great reduction Of the colorcd race.
1t cannot 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 to protect them, but
good counsel and on whom they rely. Yhe
Freedmen's Bureau being separated from the
military establishments of the country, re-
duires all the expense Of q separate organiza-
ton. One does not necessarily. know what
the other is doing, or what orders they ave
acting Under. 1t seems to me this could be
corrected by regarding every officer on duty
with troops in the Southern States as agents
of the Freedmen Bureau, and then have all
orders from the head Of the Bureau sent
through department commanders. This would
create responsibility that would secure uni-
formity of action throughout the South, would
insure the orders and Instructions from the
head of the Bureau being carried out, and
would relieve from duty and paya large mum
Der Of employees of the Government
[ have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT,
IIieutenant-G General
What Will be the Result.
Tho Noup Vn,l, rTor,]d - y, 81