The Portland daily press., 1866-06-02
The Frssdmsn,a nnrean nill.

The Freedmen's Bureau Bill.
The following letter from Gen. Howard to
Mr.. Eliot. of Massacbnsott. ,,.. 49,. ...t,,.h
el in tho was,,;,,, UIt N- =,
eli'e repofted by Mr.. Eliot and passed by the
House OF Representatives nso,s ,,,.o.;s,,,, A.,
difficulties pointed ont h., a..
T. will no seen tbo. ,,-y " sne commissioner
asst Neh' Howard iDtimates
In tne Closing paragraph Of his letter that
this bill may be "signed by the F,,oo,,,;, .
wAR DEPARrxpNr
Bareas Of Fresan'ea and abandoned Lands
H. ~ n r,., washington, April ., 1866.
~ N ,1,s sssy S, s =" '"''o" Committee
SIR: have the honor to submit the fol-
io"ihS reasons Ior some Iegisiatlon with re-
gari I'd refugees ana freedmen by the present
congress-
lst. Inc existing law provides for the con-
unuance oi the Bureau, "during the present
war oi IeDeilion, and for one year there
ater. owing TO the doubt that arises as to
the exact time when the "war OF rebellion"
cioseu, u Is very necessary, in order to make
proper estimates and provide for change in
.he management and control of matters re-
ias,he au 70 refugees and freedmen, that the
uouhs .! SHOULD De removed, and that the con-
'isuA',So oJ S VI tne bureau be defined by law.
o.rs.;n ~, oo1s uouDt hangs over the matter OF
carrying the operations of this Bureau into
',aa sae Dta'es 20 u Aentucky and Maryland. This
81 hove go, Y legisiatiop.
n,eSent Io,r a"I.: uau eie second section OF this
cal snnnI;as u1 al We ~ having omitted medi-
the matter Of - ,r.,s oner niedlcai aid also In
nI;es have hean ans portation. Medical sup
pnre nacessitv Sueu ..o,., 1 tne past year, from
hand in the n9e,i;oai :, sne surplus we had on
officers bava baas Ie paIlment' ana medical
and bosni.sis. d.. b,,4 w ue'aned Ior the asylums
lorce shaIi he ,a,,St., .S Soon as tne volunteer
naca,sa.;,,, Oe mustered out tnese details will
needed no re,,,oS,, Els .laiiSPo1Iasion Is
the oovarnraa,,. J.; o.S polsons p,., uePehuent on
away to sm;tohIo h .ao @ lilies ana villages,
ence will, cease "ie'e tue uepend-
4th. 1rne ,ourth soc,;o, 80 A..
templated sufi;c;ent Sse,tian,. % =, 'ne law con-
ment of iots nf fort' 'ess'enenss, sr Dy assign
seouent sala TO e,shia aei, 20, py Ientai and sub
take care of those ret,,ceas 90 10
were utterly ;mnover;sRaJ anu freshmen VINO
| Abandoned lands arc -, Wv Nv .naI tnese
liable for such nnrnose so ,oeI aFa,la-
| will proroofe indns+ri sDue means mat
| substitute. tbinL on o.,,;,oS ~ uetHed ~
lands conld ho - an e4uivalent IN puDhc
similar conditions 70 th"s ;nue. tne same or
5tb. With rnaosI sno,I .n .ln ~ , ILLS law.
Genera, Sber,,a,. o 10, ~ .ne ianu SET apart by
cot ti'a Is.s..n an oli ene southern coast, re-
1 Ixxxsk. ~
WIZ, l.r
,,a;o.;, eAI;eeullsiy ;sy uilncuit 10 reconcile the
AZ Ios neereSs now arising with regard
s.e sne l'siius siials pave Deen SO long In the
r. o"t " ene soverIineht as those along
;ds sle coas. ol Soutn Caroiina, Geogia and Flor
'a. y. ! mouiu Recommend that the attention
VI eonsless VI DC eaIe9 10 the subject OF this re-
iss, puas as a. earIy aay as possible, and that
,.ie shese ianus OF part OF them, OF others in
S. Sau tnelepi, 'e, pe purchased Dy the United
otates, Will tle view 10 Ine rental and subse-
quent SAFE 10 the freedmen" uDa laata.
tne sleat demand ior labor, Tar exceeding
my aiticipa'lohs, mas enabled those who are
apie-Doulea 10 get lar wages, but those freed
men VINO s,ls nave grants thoroughly believe that
the faitn OF the government Is pledged to
them. inns matter should be finally settled
oy iegisiation. .lt.ai,l
otn. Inc oncers VINO are now detailed are
ior the most part volunteers, and when the
compiete ana nnai declaration OF peace shall
oe maae tney WIN 60 out OF service. In Or
uer 10 prevent complete disorganization by
such aetion, before Substitution can be made
rom tne regular army, the President should
De empowered 10 retain volunteer ofncers un-
I'll tney can De replaced. The volunteer Off
GERS are oeIng uiscnarged every day by mus
ter ous az sne expiration OF service. q The re-
tehelon VI suci, onicers VIII increase the efii-
cheney Oh tne bureau, being better In many
respects tnan the employment OF civil agents,
.or aney are aleaoy acquainted with the work
10 De uone, .ney are respected by the people
ior tneir positiohs IN the army, and they are
accuseome1 70 military jurisdiction and regu-
iat,ons' ana more readily conform to them,
| stn. II seems 10 me clear that something
shouiu De uone 10 ioster education, as educa-
Is reaIy the groundWork oil freedom. be-
neYe ,',. Ihaster OF reai economy 10 make