The Portland daily press., 1866-12-25
The Freedmen,s Hsurcnn.
REPLY TO THE CHARGE AGAINST ITS MANAGE

REPLY TO THE CHARGE AGAINST IT'S MANAGE
Gen. Towards letter to the fresluehe, IN re-
ply to the investigation of the freedmens Blu
reau nv Gems Steedman and Fullerton, dated
Auonst %. 1866 is long and thorough. We
ouote the more important passages: go
I now come to by far the most important
part of what the inspectors have to say-the
summing up of their conclusions after four
months inspection of Bureau, in which they
assert that there is an entire absence of sys-
tenn or uniformity in its constitution" They
have never asked me for word OF informa-
ton with reference to records, reports and Or
ders. They have made no examination OF my
Office, and asked no reason for any action Ia
ken. The records or information they desired
that could not be found in the offices OF the
South may be here. What would be the re-
| suit if they should make general Inspection
| of the Quartermaster, Commissary, or other
Department in the same way? Those oincers
who have been relieved, or were beyond theit
reach, are supposed to have made improper
dispositions of all records or papers connecteu
| with their offices. 1-..,
There is not a Bureau in Washington with
more complete set of reports, books and RECORDS
Sc, than can be produced at TINS once ior ~,
| spection at any time They attempt 10 prove
their assertion by the statement thaC III oH !''
| State its officers exercised judlclai poweis, II
one adjoining all cases are referred 10 CIV. ao
/ thorities while in q third State Bureau oncers
| collect the cases and turn them over TO mliita,
i nv courts Their own inspection Reports WI
refute this. In the States OF Kentucky, zen gu
nessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, AIapan., III
| da, Virginia and North Carolina, Bureau agents
do not exercise judicial powers OF any Kind
and in the other States the power exercised py
| the officers of the Bureau is modified by the
feelings and conduct of the people toward she
freedmen. They admit there is great dlner-
ence in this feeling of whites towards the
blacks. What other principle more uniform Is
| it possible to adopt than to regulate the power
of agents of the Bureau by the disposition
and conduct of the people, favoring them as
they approximate equal justiceI
The Inspectors declare that the bureau mas
been, in the aggregate, productive OF more
harm than good" and give as their reasons
substantially, the reliance upon 1T OF the ne
grOes and their consequent dlstrust OF tne
| property-holders, and the proUocdtioa OF espi-
| onage, creating mutual suspicion and Ditter-
| ness.
DENY the whole statement. 1t is not found
ed upon fact but upon theories constantly put
| forth by the enemies of good Order.f A rev pao
| agents have been sent, and have, douDtiesS
done much harm, yet this Bureau agency mas
been mediatorial and pacific as whole. Ii
| has relieved this very suspicion and bitterness
that existed when it was first organized hlots
| murders and wicked deeds have rec9ntiy
sprung up, but these are in no way initiated OF
recognized by the officers of the Government.
claim, and the facts will prove it, that the
Bureau has labored successfully TO elevate
wages and defend the interests Of the freed
men in their contracts, being constantly re-
sisted by the inertia of the peculiar opinions of
Southern property-hOlders. The evils in the
contracts will disappear just as soon as free Ia
Dor shall have permanent foothold under the
necessary protection of equal laws properly
executed
From the course pursued by the Inspectors
Isuspect the object of the inspection, as they
understood it, was to bring the Freedmen's
Bureau into contempt before the country, and
to do this they have endeayored to prove mall
administration.
On the contrary, 1 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; Il have
Obeyed your orders and instructions, making
no other objections than those | made to your
self and the Secretary of War; that my system
has been a thorough one, and as complete and
uniform as was possible in an institution
intended to be temporary and to meet
a transient necessity. Could the FreedHsen's
Bureau be n0,o administered aoith y0ur full and
hearty sanction, and with the cooperation of
the other branches of the Government, it
would fulfill the objects OF its creation in a
short time, and be made, while it existed, to
conduce to industry, enlightenment and JUS
tice for all classes Of the people. The work
committed to it may doubtless be done by the
army, without bureau, but not with much
less expense. Yet, 1T the Government aU0utd
Keep good Faith Nth ats neao-D,dde citizens,
some sort of United States agency must be
maintained in the Southern States until socie-
ty shall have become more settled that it now