The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-12-23

the freedmen. They admit there il great
difference in this feeling Of whites toward
the blacks. What other principle more uni-i
form is it possible to adopt than 10 regulate
the power of agents of the Bureau BY thei
disposition and conduct of the people, favor
ing them as they Approximate equal iqsece.
Il will be seen, BY referring to the reknIa. /
lions Of this Bureau, circular s., series 80, |
approved by yourself, that gradual transfer
OF jurisdiction was implied, and just as soon |
a practicable We have made trial OF the civil |
courts in every States r have SUugAt the
provost courts, as well - the civil, to relieve
me of the exercise Of judicial powers.
Bureau officers have never attempted to
regulate wages, and no order ever existed
making any regulations on the subject. De.
mand and supply controlled this matter. VI
course wages. manner OF payment, ana ali
the questions entering into the labor subject
/ differed widely throughout the South, and,
from the nature of things. could not be uni
form.
! Although importnned from all parts OF the
South to lake action about wages, steadily
refused The following has been the stand
I ing order for all the States: "No fixed rates
of wages will be prescribed for district;
but, in order to regulate fair wages in indi,
vidual cases, agents should have in mind
minimum rates for their own guidance.
\ Assistant commissioners are required to
furnish me with copies of all orders and cir
cuars issued by them, and close examina-
ton OF all they have written on the subject
fails to produce any attempt, upon their part,
to regulate wages or contracts. The treed-
men and employer have been left to manage
the matter FOR themselves.
They say that it was impossible to examine
the accounts Of Bureau Qusrtermasters, as
they were compelled to take personal state
ments, &c, vet admit that they examined the
accounts Of Gen h NJ. Whiulesey, OF Mis-
sissippi, and found them all correct and com
plete. CT course his predecessor was enti-
1 tied to his retained papers, and one complete
set is on file in this Office. They can find out
how much money was collected from every
Legitimate and proper source in Mississippi
by calling on me and asking for such iniorma.
ton.
They say this system Of receiving and dis
bursting money is loose The same blanks,
forms, reports and regulations used in the
Quartermas1er' Department have beenadopt-
ed b this BvreatiA as far as possible, and are as
complete a. check upon Bureau officers IN the
discharge OF their duties as is imposed upon
officers OF the Quartermer Department who
originate and disburse funds.
they next refer to the case of Col. Reno's
report Of the deficit of $1,000 in Louisiana,
and Lieut. Foster, who is said TO be a defaul>
ter. 1t cannot be possible that Gen Fuller
ton, who. as one OF the Bureau otheers, ass
sisted in bringing this matter to light, can iall
to remember that this subject has been IN
dergoiug an investigation for the last six
months The whole matter originated before
the Bureau was in existence, and has been
brought to light and prosecuted by the As
4 sistant Commissioner in order TO fix the guilt
upon the proper persons and secure their
punishment.
1t IS not justice to the officers of the Bus
reau to charge them with crimes that we're
icommitted against the freedmen in time prior
to its organization, and TO suppress dates and
the location OF grave charges so as TO shift
the responsibility upon those not guilty.
The Inspectors next admit the necessity
OF the Bureau last year, and acknowledge
that it did much good for all classes. |. this
be true. il is bad ogic TO condemn the work
iugs Of the Bureau tor mistakes aud errors
that were committed last year, and more par
ticuary Tor the year before its organization.
Nearly every charge made against officers in
this final report is for acts OF last year, aud
upon which these officers have already been
lied 10 account by the Bureau OF the War
Department
Planters refused to employ freedmen at all
unless they would agree to remain one year.
i0f course freedmen were driven iuto those
obligations BY the same force that compelled
them to work for low wages. Any one who
will remember the current news Of the day,
as reported during the months OF last 5anua
ry and February. Will remember that all the
power that capital can exercise was brought
10 bear upon the laborers OF the South TO
make them content
The principles that apply TO wages induced
che present contract system. ! would have
been glad to have adopted precisely the same
methods OF regulating labor as obtained in
the Northern States, but neither the planters
nor the freedmen were yet prepared for this.
Planters complained that freedmen under
a free system of labor would not work till the
crop was saved, bnt would remain only till
they obtained money to keep them short
time, and then desert the crops at most crits
zeal period. Nearly every Southern State
has provided laws by which the freedmen are
to be contracted with for.
| cannot agree with the Inspectors alto
gether as to complete revolution in the sen
tment of the Southern people which insures
protection sufficient to the freedmen, when|
United States officers aud freedmen are muir
dered, and the freedmen abused and muiia
ted, as is reported by the inspectors them
selves
They say the good feelings of the whites
toward the blacks are owing to their interest
10 securing their labor. This | regard as in1
sufficient security when trusted TO absolutely,
without some other principle. q. the quart
snty of equal laws, For years Shareholders
have deemed compulsory measures the best
! security fer labor.
The Inspectors declare that . the Bureau
: has been, in the aggregate, productive Of
more harm than good, and give as theif
| reasons, substantially, the reliance upon it OF
The negroes aud their consequent distrust of
he properly holders, aud the prouocatioH III
espionage, creating mutual suspicion and bill
, terness.
deny the whole statement 1t is not
E founded upon fact bnt upon theories con-
q stanty put forth b. the enemies OF good Oh
der. i few bad agents have been sent, and
have, doubtless. done much harm. yet this
, Bureau age cy has been mediaiorial and pd
ciiic ~ i V able 1t has relieved this very
. suspicion nd bitterness that existed when 1t
was frs oeganized. Riots, murders, and
wicked de- Is have recently sprung up, but
! these are u 10 way initiated or recognized
by the o.heer, Of the Government.
claim. s4d the facts will prove il, that the
Bureau ha iabored successfully to elevate
wages and defended the interests OF the freed.
> men in Their contracts. being constantly re-
sisted by the inertia of the peculiar opinion.
of Southern property holders. The evils in
1.-THE centraci> will disappear just as soog as
free labor shall have a permanent ioothold
under its necessary protection Of equal laws
, properly executed.
From the course pursued bv the Inspectors
| suspect the object Of the inspection. as they
understand it. was to bring the Freedmen $
Bureau into contempt before the country, ard
TO do this they have endeavored to prove
INSTRUMENTATION
On the contrary, am prepared to prove to
: yourself or any other candid mind. that
have fulfilled the trust YOU committed to me
, with care. conscentiousness and faithfulness;
: ! have obeyed your orders and instructions,
making no other objections than those made
: to yourself and the Secretary of War; tina,
my system has been thorough one, and as
= complete and uniform a. was possible in an
Institution intended TO be temporary and 10
meet transient necessity. Could the Ereed>
mems Bure;ul be now administered with your
full and hearty sanction, aud with the co,