New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-12-19
TfB FEEDMEN's BUREAU.

REPLY 10 THF oHAReB AGAINST ITS MANAGEMENT
aen Howar5s letter 20 the President N reply % the
aaSesteston OF the Freedmene Bureau " Gene Sletd
aan and Fullerton, dated August % 1865 is long ana
thorough, We quote the more important passages;
spsetoTs have sytho summing Of Their conclusions seI
r. "e IL an eptire absence OF system or uniformity in It's
constitution They have tsked me Tor word Oh III
They have made examination Of my Office ana gsAV1 ~
reason oF any action taken The records 81 & ,b osy
serc that could not be found IN the Offices oil ne on &
&c here What woad be the result II taey snO-a o h
el inspection OF the QuarterInaser ComnsGly or ote
tersreen i'm he came Nav Those officers who have been
achieved beyond their reach are salloe,u cteJ
issdo improper dispositions Of al records OF papers eonAec'u
there is not Bureau Washington with more compete y
act Of errts books records &C. than can be osueed al
lh Office 10y Inspection al any time They attempt 10 prove
Aen assertion BY ine % inin an cases are referred
80 ciy auborios while IN third state Bureau oiheefs collect
feuos iWesssnpi i0nigana Alabama Florida Virginia
aud North Carolina Bureau agents do not exercise Judicial
,nWee kind and In the other states the power eAeice
y lie officers OF the Bureau modified by he feelings and
,3eduet Of the people toward the freedmen They admit there
great difference IN this feeling Of whites toward the naeks
What ether principle uniform b possible to adopt nan
40 regulate the power agents the Bureau by the disposition
eondact Of the people ayorng them as they approximate
It Wi he seen by referring the regulations of this Bureau
circular series g. approx ed By yourself that gradual ians
fr OF Jurisdiction was implied and just as soon es
have made trial OF the civil courts IN every SAe nav
sought the provost courts as well as the CIVIL TO relieve ING OF
Sreaa officers have never attempted regulate wages and
D ESSi and Sndr supply S1' eoaSo IBIS matter course wages
% Of e d i.v iaS tc e soa d o%
fle nature OF things, could not be uniform
Although npouned Im all parts Of the South 70 taSe ac'
4ion about wages steadily refused The following has been
standing order Tor al the States No fixed rates OF wages
VA be prescribed for district but IN order 70 es@ alr
wages IN individual agents should have IN mind MIMI
kiuH rates for their own guidance -, 4, . ,., ..
Assistant eommsoncs arc required 20 Iuhlsn me VIZ VUI
So OF all orders and circulars issued by them and close eAam
ison Of all they have written the subject fails to produce
nnJ attempt upon their part regulate wages or coalIaei
he freedmen and employer have been ieit 10 manage Tie ~
riley say that impossible 70 examine the accounts 81
Bureau QnaTtcmasters as they were compee9 10 tac
statements yet admit that they examined the accounts W
Gen H. NJ Whittsey Of Mississippi ard ioIad tae,? III
10 his retained papers and complete set IS on file mtms
Office They ind out how much money was e9h'ceu lo
every legitimate aad proper source Ia Mississippi O eanpe on
nae and asking for such information.
They say his system Of receiving and discussing money
hose Tho same bank forms reports and regulations ase1 N
the Quartz masters department have been adopted y ms
Bureau as or possible and are as complete che.A upon
Bmenu officers in the discharge OF nelr da,ie Is lal
upon officers Of the Quarernases Department VINO oigmae
They next refer to the case of Col report OF The de
felt OF sO0en louisiana and Lent Foster who Is sa 70
ss one Of the Bureau officers assisted in bringing This matter
light fail TO remember that this subject hss been ne
Ter originated before the Bureau was in existence ana mas oe
brought to light and prosecuted by the ASSISTANT Oolissorre
IA order 70 ia the guilt upon the proper persons ana secure
~ not qste TO Che officers of the Bureau 10 charge
with crimes that committed against the freedmen IN time
prior It's organization and 10 suppress dates and the location
al grave charges shin the responsibility upon those not
RE Inspectors next admit the necessity the Bureau last
year and acknoW dye that did much good for oil classes II
ibs he true bad logic condemn the workings Of the Ba
Tear or mistakes and that were committed last year.
aud eOro particularly for the year before us 9rs1iIo
Nearly sYcy charge made agniast officers IN this hna report
acts ~ last year and upon which these Ghec have already
been ead TO account by the Bureau the War Department.
Planters refused employ freedmen at all unless they Wond
,egee retsan year OF course freedmen We're oeh
int those Obligations by that compelled them TO
work og low wafes ANY one who WIN rcmcnDI the current
and Febyusr gl ielember thar al the power that capital
can exercise bgt to bear upon the aborers Of the South
The principles that apply % wages induced the present con-
tract system. would have been sag 70 raw oSoa t
northern States h9t RgAer the Pap.ss S9r 'n' ''D''
We're yet prepared ioT this 49, - - s,stem Of
mn m NV oitsipni money 10 keen thom short time anu
then desert he crops az most critical period Nearly every
Southern Stale has provided laws by which the freedmen arc 70
Dc contracted ,r Es of S.oc,or. ,oo as TO complete
revolution ia the sPeai Of ,as Southern . Tc9 U,s e.
eels and reen M ilefea "a the freedmen abused
and mulaed is reported by the Inspectors w icts
They say the good feelings Of the whites TOW ara To-
Tcgerd 1rheent 5ecuiy when trusted to absolutely WIN.
ont other pncpe-eg the guaranty OF equal hW III
wears shareholders compulsory measures the best
The Isspsctors declare that the Bnrean has been the
Aggregate productive O more harm than good ana give as
sa6siany te F s Sp Il d lS a the
pror66dtiOa Of espionage creating mutual su'P'oH aHu
hIi% s1"s n. ss.s1sot n I NOT o9ndeG upon fact but
upon theories constantly PIT forth by the enemies o. sGo9 or
A
done harm vet this Bsrean agency has been medl
hnd pacific q whole IL has relieved tins very sscia anu
bitterness existed when IL trst Ofganlel RIOTS
murders and wicked deeds have recently sprung up b ~
no initiated recognized by the 0hecfs 81 tue
Government.
CHIN and the facts viii prove f. that be BureSu has
Ihbored successfully elevate wages and defended Inc i
freedmen their contracts, being constantly re-
sisted by the inertia the peculiar opinions OF southern prop
fty holders evils In the contracts viii disappear st a.
soon rs free shall permanent foOthod uncer s
necessary protection q equal laws properly executed
Iron Tie pursued by the Inspectors suspect the
object OF the inspection thet understood IT, was 10 bring
the Freeuen bureau into contempt before the county ana
10 do this have endeavOred 10 prove mandnn toh
Che contrary prepared 70 prove 10 yourself or any
other candid mind that have fulfilled The trust you CON ed
TO with care conscetiOusness aud fhiuinrss nave
obey ed orders and Instruction. making no otht Oeco
tha made yourself and the secretary oil War iht
my system bcen thorough and complete ana mn
horn possible Institution intended 10 be temporary
and meet transient necessity Gould ne fCeeiHaens
Iuredg non administered 1rh pour gW GHf
S,earty sanction and with the cOdeTatOn Of the other
branches the Government il would fulfil the objects Of s
creation a time be made while u existed 70 con
dues industry enlightenment and justice for OF classes
Che people work committed 10 doubtless be done
by the army without bureau but not With much less expense
i 4 ne 6oerae tr5uii keep good tad Wth its ne'Hade
seaG some sort United States agency must be main
tanned the southern until society shall have become
-- settled haR il now y.