The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-05-23

The same reasons that exist for issuing ra-
tions to the. freedmen of Virginia, and the
necessity for the continuance of this relief,
apply to freedmen of North Carolina.
FEELING TOWARDS THE BUREAU.
We found the feeling towards the Bureau
much the same as thai already stated as pre-
vailing in Virginia, except that there appears
to be more universal desire in this depart
ment on the part of all classes to have it re-
moved. This feeling is no doubt attributa-
BILE to the misconduct of many of the Off
GERS of the Bureau, such as working planta-
tions, running sawmills, manufacturing tur-
pentine and tar, operations which bring
them, armed with authority of their official
positions, into competition with the citizens
VINO are employing freedmen. ~
CONDUCT OF THE AGENTS.
We have investigated some of the charges
made against agents of the Bureau, and in
pursuing our inquiries on this point COM
menced with the Assistant Commissioner Of
the State, Colonel E. Whittlesy, to whom we
addressed the interrogatory: I" Do you know
of any person in the military service now on
duty with the Freedmen's Bureau in this de-
partment who is or has been since entering
upon the duties of his Office, engaged or in
terested, either directly or indirectly, in the
cultivation of any lands within the depart
ment 2" He answered, "No" Subsequent
ly he addressed us q note, hereto appended,
in which he stated that in order to assist the
planters in hiring freedmen and trying fairly
the experiment of free labor, he and some
other officers of the Bureau had loaned mon
ey, and thus indirectly had an interest in cul-
tivating farms. On receiving this note we
addressed Colonel Whittlesey further inter
rogations, copy of which is hereto annexed,
to which he replied in communication, also
hereto appended, disclosing the fact that he
is interested as an equal partner with the
Rev. Horace James. of Massachusetts,, for
merly captain and acting quartermaster
Freedmens Bureau, and with Mr. Winthrop
Tappan, of Maine, in the cultivation of a
large farm in Pitt county, N. G. He also
stated therein that Captain f. A. Seeley, Su-
perintendent of the Bureau for the Eastern
District, N. c., is interested in the cultivation
of plantation in Wayne county, N. c., with
a Mr.. Potter, and that Captain Isaac Rose
kranz, Commissary Subsistence. is interested
with Mr. Brooks in the cultivation of a
plantation in Pitt county, N. c.
BRIGHT EXCEPTION.
From Raleigh we proceeded to Salisbury,
where we found Major Clinton A. Cilley, Su-
perintendent in the Bureau, having charge of
the Western District, embracing fifty-one
counties of the State This efficient and
competent officer has administered the affairs
of the Bureau within his district with much
ability and impartiality. We conferred with
the leading white citizens, embracing both
those who had formerly been rebels and those
who had been Union men, and also with a
delegation of intelligent colored people rep
resenting the freedmen, all of whom agreed
in the statement that the freedmen were at
work, were pefectly satisfied, and that good
feeling and harmony prevailed between the
whites and blacks throughout the district.
Major Cilley is not interested in the cultiva-
tinn of any plantation, or in any other busi-
ness not directly connected with his official
duties, and he has prohibited all officers
serving under him within his district from
engaging in any enterprise which would en-
able them to appropriate or control the labor
of freedmen under their jurisdiction to ad-
vance their private interests. We attribute
much of the order and contentment of the
freedmen in the Western district to Major
Cilley's judicious and honest administration.
BACK TO RALEIGH. n
After completing our inspection of the op-
erations ofthe Bureau in Maj. Cilley's district
we returned to Raleigh, where we remained
one day for the purpose of further interview
with Colonel Whittlesey; but he being alb
sent we were obliged to address him certain
interrogatories in writing, to which he after
wards replied as before stated
AFFAIRS AT NEwBERN.
On the 97th of April we left Raleigh for
Newbern, the headquarters of Captain F. A,
Seeley, Superintendent of the Bureau of the
Eastern district of Nortt-Carolina We at
once proceede.. to investigate the affairs Of
the Bureau and the conduct of its officers in
this district. Captain Seeley was interroga-
ted as to whether he was interested in any
manner, directly or indirectly, in the cultiva-
ton OF lands or in any other private bust
ness reqiring the labor of freedmen. He an
|, swered that he was not, except indirectly in
manufacturing lumber, having purchased OF
being about to purchase with two of his
clerks sawmill about forty miles down the
river. DR.. Rush, medical purveyor, U. S. ".
stationed at Newbern, and 8 Mr.. Potter, q
! citizen, were subsequently examined, both Of
whom stated that Captain Seeley, Superin-
tendent of the Freedmen's Bureau for the
district, entered into partnership with them,
| about December last. in a contract to culti-
vate the farm of Mr.. George Collier citizen
| of North-Carolina, near GOldsborough.-