The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-29
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The BUrSau.

report OF Generals Steedman and
Fullerton:
Without attempting to discuss the
propriety of officers Of the Bureau in
the military service of the United
States, who are paid by the Govern
ment for tho performance of their
duties, engaging i'll private business,
and employing freedmen for srch
purposes while controlling through
their official positions that class of
labor, we deem it our duty to state
some of the effects produced, both
upon the officers themselves and upon
the planters with whom they come in
competition, by such conduct. Mai.
Wickersham, in contracting to furnish
forty labOrers to work q rice planta-
ton, becomes ut once interested
against the laborers, whom he com
pels to labor, perhaps unjustly, when
unfairly dealt with by the person
working them on the plantation; and
on their refusing to work, he infiicts
upon them unlawful and, for a breach
of contract, unheard-of punishments,
putting them on chain gangs as if they
were convicted criminals. Col. Whit
tlesey, or any other officer of less
rank and influence in the Bureau.
who are engaged in working planta-
tlons rented for cash or on shares.
becomes interested in securing a low
rate of wages and in making the most
stringent labor regulations, to the
great detriment of the freedmen.
They thereby give the sanction Of the
Government to the establishment of
wages far beyond what the labor is
really worth. Officers Of the quar-
termastel's and commissary's de-
partments who are thus engaged are
subjected to the temptation of appro-
priatlng to their own use quartermas-
ters stores and rations to supply and
pay their own laborers. Complaints
have been made to me by the planters
that the agents OF the Bureau use the
power of their position to obtain and
control the best labor of the State.
There is no doubt that some of the
ill-feeling manifested toward the Bu-
reau on the part of the planters is
attributable to this fact.
We ascertained by the testimony of
Alessrs. Barham 4 Ballard, auction
GERS at Cfoldsboro, that they had sold
ut auction for Chaplain CLAWS forty
blankets marked gu. S. and guam
tlty of clothing that had been sent to
Goldsboro for gratuitous distribution
to the needy by freedmen's aid
society ut or in the vicinity of Ro-
chester, n. y. We learned, also, that
he had disposed of q large amount of
slch clothing ut private sale. The
chaplain stated himself thot he had
received from sucE sales $500, though
subsequently he asserted that the
total cash receipts of his office from
all sources amounted to S126 so. He
kept no books or even memoranda of
moneys received and expended.
Capt. Rosekranz, sub-agent Of the
bureau at Newbern, under Capt. See
ley, and Comnissary Of Subsistence.
as will be seen by reference to the
paper hereunto attached, is also en-
gagged III cultivating a large planta-
ton near little Washington, n. c.,
with the labor of freedmen, whom he
supplies with rations rs n part of
their wages.
The New York Heruhl, in alluding
- NNAN .N'''i'iic41.N VI NcN t)IlcT1tl1u
before the Reconstruction Commit
tee, thus alludcs to Gen. James b.
Stceuman:
I'VE are reminded, by the views
thus expressed by Gen. Sheridan, of
those OF Gen. James B. Steelman, a
not less gallant and practical soldier
OF the volunteer army. This officer
WAS questioned by member of the
Committee on Reconstruction, in
order to elicit his views before sum
monlng him to testify. His opinions
were, like those Of Gen. Sheridan.
not of the character to suit the com
mlttec, and Steedman was not ex-
amlncd. IN reply to the question,
What class of people in the South
are most loyal to the Union?' Gen.
Stecdman, instead of praising the
negroes, as his Questioner expected,
answered very laconically, 1he re-
turned rebel soldiers. On being
asked to explain the devotion of
these soldiers to their former leaders,
whom they almo>. unanimously sup
ported for all State and national
Offices IN their gift, Steelman replied
that he did not wcll see how anything
else could be expected OF them. They
professed sincerity alike to engaging
III the war and III submitting to the
arbitrament of arms, and they were
naturally devoted in peace to the
men who had led them in war and in