The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-12


REVEREND WIRE
Opposite Newborn, ON the south bank Of the Trent
river there Is o settlement composed exclusively OF
freedmen, and containing population Of about four
thousand whose condition is truly deplorable. These
hs s Thsy
huts, built by themselves Of lumber manufactured by
each Of which is occupied in most cases BY large
families The appearance OF this settlement recently
scourged with the smallpox, is well calculated
condition of its inhabitants The decrepit and help
less among them are supported by the govern.
procure an uncertain scanty living from little jobs
about Newbern-from fishing with small boats huck-
stering &C. The Rev. Mr. Ftz formerly army chaplain
presdes this colony Assistant Superintendent Of
the Bureau for the Trent river settlement This agent
has exercised the arbitrary and despotic power
and pracsed revolving and unheardof crueties on the
helpless freedmen under his charge The outrageous
conduct of this man was brought to our attention by
delegation OF freedmen from the settlement who called
upon and made statements in relation his oppres
sions and outrages which could scarcely credit.
settlement convened the freedmen, investigated
the charges against this man, and ascertained
preston than had been complained or In addition to
the testimony Of the freedmen took the statements of
four Intelligent ladies from the North who are teaching
school in the settlement. Among the many acts of cru
city committed by Superintendent Fitz we found that he
had In two instances suspended freedmen with cords
around their wrists their feet not touching the floor and
kept them In this position in four in the other
case six hours that he sentenced freedman to an i'm
prisonmen Of three months for trivial offence that of
wranging with his wife. He kept another man who
was arrested for debt shut in the block housethe
prison-for months while his wife and two children re-
duced to abec destitution died with the smallpox and
took him from the prison under guard and compelled him
to bury his last child in the cradle in which died. On
another OCCASION when of his guards reported to him
that colored woman had spoken unexpectedly of him.
without inquiring what the woman had said he
dered her to be imprisoned until the next morning at
nine O'Clock, when she should be brought before him to
for the indgnty In instance he imprisoned
Sabbath day He imposed e e sixty dollars upon
an aged freedman for having told another freedman that
he was about to be arrested by Mr. Fz This poor old
prisoned until the next day when bis son paid the same
with three dollars additional as jail fees
The land upon which the In this settlement are
built Is owned by certain heirs in North Carolina and
held by the Freedmens Bureau abandoned property
tax which superintendent Ftz says goes to the support
OF Bureau is imposed upon the Of each hut for
ground rent. If the occupants fail to pay this tax
imprisoned, and in instances hus have been torn
Gown by order Of the Superintendent for
taxed for the purpose Five dollars per month is
levied upon every little shop two dollars each fishing
boat; FIVE dollars on each horse and cart, &c The
subjects the property taxed to confscation
We unable to ascertain what amount Of money had
ton had been made oft The imperfect manner in which
his books were kept would have rendered lengthy
and detailed examination necessary to arrive at even
an approximate idea Of the amount Of money collected
In answer to question TO what justification there
for the oppressive burdens he had imposed upon these
told HIM, II must have thousand dollars month from
that settlement" He also furnished US with sworn
he attempts to defend his conduct by stating that he
acted In obedience to the orders OF his superior officers
CAPTAIN sEELEy SCREENING HIS SUBORDINATE
In an interview we had with Captain seeley that on
Ger evinced desire to shield Superintendent Ftz by
stating that great deal Of what was said against him
resulted from prejudice, notwithstanding he had the
sworn testimony before him that the charges against Fz
BUREAU OFFICERS SHOOTING DOWN FRIEDMAN
While at Newbern, investigating the conduct Of the
officers Of the Bureau and the reported expressions Of
the freedmen by this class Of persons attention
called TO the alleged killing Of freedman by white
employee Of Colonel whttlesey Assistant Commissioner
Of the Bureau for North Carolina and the Row. Horace
James, formerly assistant quartermaster, their
nsa n Pit county, Ms Mr. James we p
reau Gor the district under charge OF Captain Seeey
and is agent Of the Bureau without pay for the
der which this freedman killed., stated by Mr..
James himself, as follows:-The freedman
whittesey and Mr. James was arrested tried and con.
victed by Mr. James as agent OF the Bureau and was
sentenced to dig bitches on their plantation While
working out this sentence he away and pursued
by James and his clerk, Boyden, who arrived
at the bank Of a river while the freedman
was attempting to cross In canoe Boyden or
dered him to return telling him that II he did not
he would shoot, and the freedman dsregardng this
order Boyden fred. Boyden states himself that he
thinks he hit him. and nothing has been heard
OF tho freedman since it is generally believed In the
neghborhood that he was killed and fell from the canoe
into the river These facts stated In letter for
warded to Colonel Whttlescy who returned TO Captain
seeley, with the following endorsement
RALEIGH March 2e, 1855.
Respectfully returned the affair have
at S % % the s s:i shot aI been s.' NJ
~ "''0H In cSoee Assist
BEEcnnR Assistant Adjutant General
number Of the freedmen at Newbern expressed dis
satisfaction at the manner in which this had been
passed without investigation; but the planta-
ton is quite remote from any public line of communi
cation, We were unable owing TO want Of time, TO in
Quiro INTO the matter.
AFFAIRS AT KrSsros
On the Cd inst. we left Newbcrn for Godsboro, and
Captain Wheeler agent for the Bureau that point Is
engaged in working large plantation his own
account and employs thereon quite number Of freed
men
roRE FARMING.
AT t;odsboro tho Superintendent G. O. CLAWS, Chap
lain United States Army Is cultlvating farm gov
eminent account and IS interested in cuvatng two
farms on his own account THIS officer stated in his
animation before that he not interested 10 the
cultivation Of plantations, except indirectly by loanng
money to Mr. Brooks. friend Of his from the North.
who engaged in planting; but we ascertaned from
boro that he IL interested and joined with them in
tracts for the cultivation OF their plantations He and bis
friend Mr.. Brooks entered into contract with Mr..
Lane 10 furnish raons aud pay for forty aborcrs and
to provide eight good mules Mr. Lane offered to fur
nish the land and TO supernend person the cultivation
thereof the crops 70 be equally divided half Mr.
Lane and the other half to Mr.. Brooks and Claws Mr.
Lane states that the enterprise failed after tho freedmen
had worked over two months; they then left Brooks
and CLAWS having failed to pay them according
tract, The freedmen received for thor labor l,,lo
clothing such coats, pants shoes, &C. furnished by
Chaplain Claws aud but little no money. A similar
ccntrac, made BY CLAWS and Brooks with Mr. Carr
who stated TO us that Chaplain CLAWS paying the hands
In "a little OF everything, but chiefly in clothing
PREEpMFS's CLOTHES.
We ascertaned by the testimony OF Messrs Barham
Ballard, aucones at Goldsboro that they had sold
auction for Chaplain CLAWS forty blankets marked ~
s. and quantity Of clothing that had been sent 10
Freedmen's Aid Society at In the vicinity Of Rochcs.
ter, N We learned also that he had disposed Of a
nf an nrtga uala