New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-14

| to be employed for conciliating the Rebels and
removing the prejudice" they have cherished
against the Government during the last four years.
And the inspectors declare explicitly that the present
Virginia code renders the freedmen in our opinion
perfectly secure if left to the of the law and the
protection of the troops" OF course, it makes no
difference, in their opinion, whether the Bureau DC
well or i'll conducted. In either case it is nuisance
or a superhuity.
The burden of the complaint against the North
Carolina officers is that they working plantations
on their own account Gen. Fullerton states-and
we have no doubt of the fact-that among the North
Carolinians there is universal desire for the removal
of the Bureaus which desire he attributes to the mis-
conduct" of the officers of the Bureau in working
plantations, running saw-ms, manufacturing tur-
pentine tar, &c-Operations which bring them armed
with authority Of their official positions into COM
petition with the citizens who are employing
freedmen" Under this indictment, Gyms
Steedman and Fullerton bring to the bar
long array of accused officials, among whom are Col
Whittesey q chief Commissioner of the Bureau Tor
North Carolina; Capt T. A. Seeley, Capt Rosekranz
the Rev. Mr. Fitz, the Rev. Horace James, Capt.
Wheeler, Chaplain CLAWS. Major j. c. Mann. MAJOR
W
intendents or sub-agents of the Bureau. Col. Whit
tlcsey is charged with being interested IN the
cultivation of q large farm, with attempting
to conceal his interest, with giving low wages
and making the most stringent labor regulations
to the great detrment of the freedmen, and Incl
dentally with smotherng an investigation into the
alleged murder of negro by his partner the Kew
Horace James, or by his clerk Boyden The others
are all, we believe, accused of being connected with
plantations, and with many subsidiary otfenses IN
GLIDING preyarication about the facts, cheating Tue
negroes, stealing four barrels OF pork, exchanging
white sugar for brown and (nferentally) pocketlng
the difference, cruelty treating the freedmen ana SUD-
jecting them to exorbtant taxes for support oil the
Bureau, selling Government property for their own
use &C., &c.
II is not our business to enter defense OF any
of these officers If any of them have been guilty
Of oHenses. we are most DESTROYS they should be
tried and punished The good will we bear to the
Bureau makes us Soctous that whoever OF It's ocers
abuses his trust should be exposed and removed But
we print herewith letter from Gen. Howard, whlch
will have some influence on the public Judgment
in these matters. II is written not IN reply 10 the
official report Of Gems. Steedman and Fullerton
which Gen. Howard had not seen-but IN reply 10
their unofficial report by the pen of correspondent
of The Ner. York Herald published last week In
regard to the general charge that his agents are work
ing plantations Gen. Howard does not deny that they
are but entirely approves their action III SO
doing. lie does not believe there has been any
speculation, or prostitution Of official position Tor
private gain. He "urged the renting and running
of plantations to afford practical examples, ana 10
encourage joint companies Gen. Howard, there
fore and not his subordnateS, is responsible Tor wal
Gems Seedman and Fullerton assume to describe as
misconduct" in this respect
As to the rest of the charges, Gen. Howard says
emphaticaly: Il have not yet the facts as to North
Carolina but you and your friends may rest assured
that every shadow of accusation of completely IN
crime on the part of those officers there is utterly
without foundation He adds:
expect denunciaon of this Bureau but the same denun
citation could made against the Treasury Department OF
any other department aud OF the government win eiu
show Justice does not do enough to secure ne
right OF the negro will admit but il does not burn negro
churches and school houses does not reject negro tes
crop comes in IL win always keep its legitimate objects
clearly Ia OF promoting Industry education anu J0e'
Gems Steedman and Fullerton spent parts oil ten
DAYS in investigating the operations of the Bureau
throughout the State of North Carolina. Whether
they or Gen Howard are more likely to be well IN
formed of the character OF its officers and the manage
ment of its affairs, the public can judge.