Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-14
THE FREEDmEN's BUREAU IN EAST
TENNESSEE

The Knoxville correspondent of the Gin
cinnati Commercial makes the following in
teresting reflections upon the operation of
the Freedmen's Bureau in that section Of
the State. Coming from Republican source
imparts to them additional interest
The country has suffered sufficiently from
false impressions and Misrepresentation
and in these times we should judge carefully
and deliberately upon political questions.
The branch Of the Freedmen's Bureau IN
this city is under the control of citizen,
and one who no doubt administers It in ac-
cordance with his views of right. He has
no knowledge Of the law, and exercises his
powers with view to secure full protection
for those under his charge.
The following examples will show how
arbitrary are his powers. By the statute
laws ofTennessee il requires eleven days to
eject a tenant by suit for unlawful detainer.
A negro rents house, one room of which
is occupied by a white family. Their lease
has expired, and by law theyimight remain
| for eleven days before they could be elected.
The negro goes to the Freedmen's Bureau,
| makes his complaint, and in few hours is
rid of his tenant. A speedy way of admin
| istering laws-proftable for one party, but
ruinous for the other.
An old prominent Union man near this
| CITY some time ago rented farm from the
| Bureau. for one year, paying his rent
some soventy-fve dollars-in advance. He
| took possession, and made some improve
ments and preparations for seeding and har'
vesting. Some DAYS ago, he received an or.
| der from the Chief of the Bureau in Tennes
see, by which he was summarily elected, has
not received his money advanced on rent
nor remuneration for improvements made
nor work done
| An estate belonging TO Northern family
thoroughly loyal, never having been South
] was seized, and is now in the possesslan o
the Bureau, or is leased out for the present
year, and lands lease to freedmen, by ordel
/ of the War Department. can not be takeT
fran them until craps put out are gathered
| The agent for this estate must apply fol
these lands, make proof Of title, show proc
of layalty, and comply with sundry othel
| requirements too numerous to mention, be
for that estate will be restored to him.
A few days ago negro was fined thirty
dollars and costs for speaking disrespectatty 9
Eke tnay The Bureau trds managed.
Briefly stated, the above cases will illus
trste in what way and in what class of case
this arbitrary power is used. 1t may be de
sirable that tenants unlawfully holding
should be speedily elected but is 1t right 4
invest such power in a court exercising /
for the beneftof one class, or comforting upol
the blacks, or even any class of whites,
power in direct conflict with the known, es
tablished statute law of State ?
1 1t may be desirable to nullify contract
but should any temporary tribunal hav
the power to eject lessee from lands upol
which advance payments of rent and I'm
proyements had been made?
There can be no need for the Bureau Il
States that have made statute provisions per
hitting negroes to testify in the courts. Fo
its avowed objects is to exact justice. ]
thew have the means for exacting that il
the judicial tribunals of the several States
there can be no excuse for the expenditure
and the injustice that this organization, IN
der the most judicious management mus
entail.
| In Tennessee and North Caroline tn
Legislatures have enacted avs by which tn
blacks have ample redress for every wroni
inflicted upon them. These people having
acted in good faith, having accepted tn
L new cOnult10n OF the Dldcks ds one vi VIC Ie
suits of the war, having given them, in thei
State Courts, the right to sue and to testify
should be freed from every necessary incon
venience. and have their laws respected b.
the Federal Government. During The tern
of the Knox County Court just ended, Their
were some twenty blacks tried for larcen
and other crimes Here, where the aRtipq
thy against them is as strong as anywheF
else in the South, / bear willing testimon
that full and impartial justice has been don
towards them, and that, IN every case, jurit
hare been ueTy IeHient, and their sentences hGr
in none Of the cases, been so serere as hoc
passed upon the whites indicted for sinitd
! ogellses. The records of the Court will bea
me out IN this assertion. Observation Jurthe
prores thai III blacks themselves, ~hen they hds
choice, prefer 70 thigqte IN The State Court
These are not assertions made after passin
observation, but conclusions formed afte
months of careful investigation and eKpe
rience. In view of these facts ] maintai
that Tennessee should be freed from any fu
| .,,,o Io,,;.,loti0,, q, this rasnacf