Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-05-25

|. EelS- The friends OF s. w. COCHRAN, an
nounce him Candidate for Sheriff at the nex
election.
THE FREEDMEN's BUREAU REPORT OF
GENERALS sTEEDMAN AND Full =,
LERTON.
General Steednan and Fullerton, the Com
nissionecs appointed by tho President to In
vestigate the operations Of the Freedmen's Blu
reau, in the Southern States. having performed
that duty in the States of Virginia and Nortt
Carolina. hare made q very interesting report
of their observations in those States Their
object was TO investigate thoroughly, the man
ner in which the Bureau was administered, anc
TO observe its effect upon the relation between
the white and black races. and persuing thei,
investigations they have visited the princpa
towns. and: t headquarters of the variou.
Districts. aud have sought to obtain ipforma-
ton from all GLASSES of the people, white and
black. -.
The report furnishes the following statistic.
with regard to Virginia.
There are on duty in Virginia the following
numbers Q; officers in the military service and
of other persons employed by or attached to
the Bureau:-Ons colonel, two lieutenant col.
onels, three majors. one captain md commits
sary Of subsistence. nine captains und assistani
quartermasters, nineteen captains Of the line
twenty three first lieu tenants twenty second
lieutenapts. two hundred and thirty three civ.
iIian employees. classified and paid as follows
So clerks and superintendsnts of farms, paid
average monthly wages -. 1878 so
II assistant superintendent, paid aver
lca lahorers. paid average monthly : II rs
In addition to the foregoing enlisted men in
the military service, are employed as orderlies,
guards, &C., hut we were unable to procure the
number of those 30 employed. Nine thousand
freedmen received rations from the Bureau in
the month of December last, lO.260 in the
month of January, aud 9,93s IN February.
As a reason Of the necessity which exists for
Issuing rations to tho Ngroes, the report states
that they have accumulated in large numbers
in places where the lands are unproductiye.
and the demand for labor is limited, and that
the same necessity will continue unless the Y
arc removed; aed that so long as rations are
issued to the able. bodied. they will not volun.
tsrily seek employment elsewhere.
The report states, thnt in those Districts of
Virginia, where the affairs of the Bureau have
been faithfully administered. there has been no
conflict with the ctizens. But in many places
where the agents have been wanting m capac
,ty and integrity. the, effect has been to pro-
duce antagonism betw ween the races, a prejudice
against the government on the part of the
citizens, and failure to ren]ize the expectations
of the freedmen. ~ ,,-.1 70.
The report thus recommends the tronsfere nee
of the favors Of the Bureau, TO the military:
The Assistant Commissioner or the Bureau
for Virginia having turned oyer to the civil
courts all criminal cases in which freedmen are
interested, and having made preparations also
% turn over civil cases, thus leaves no other
duty for tile agents of the Bureau to perform
except to supervise contracs and to care for
the aged. inhrln and helpless. We therefore
respectfully recommend tha. the services Of
the officers of the Bnreau in Virginia be a isG
pensed With; and Tint their duties bs perform
sedi by thu; omesis G6rnmGnding G,e .n'oops In
Die department. snoi,. q .ebsnge lwouId,rsiie
The govsrnnaut of the large; and. ip our opin.-
ion, Wholly unnecessary expsdse Of supporting
"A shperauops numbe of officers and employees,
while the duties can be as efficiently and sat-
,fsfactorily performed in the manner in which
we have yespggested.-- As long as the govern,
ment Of the United States exercises any con-
troll " hatever over the Southern Stales not
exercised. .ih, the other.States of the Upion, go
long the presence Of military force will be in
-disPensabie: The presence Of boti, the Bureau
aud military force is unnecessary. The officers
commanding the troops can discharge the du-
ties now performed by both but the officers
OF the Bureau, without the presence, of the
troops. would bs-powerless to execute ::eyen
their own: orders. : - - = - - =
=; The report furnishes The following statistics,
with regard % the Bureau :in North Carolipa !:
Hating completed -our duties in Virginia,
We Proceedea- 70 the Department OF North Car:
i9'ms ing! aad arrived at Raleigh ON the 2sd Of