The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-01-10
- Major Gen. Hoyvard,s Report.
We publish SO much Of this report only

s Z
We publish SO much Of this report onl,
- relates to the State of Louisiana. as
A soon IS the city, of New Orleans hat
fallen into our hands. the uegroesfrom tn,
apper parishes of Louisiana crowded to thu
re;ty and its enyirons in such numbers thai
II became necessary to organize some sys
tenn of government for their control. Thi.
saatter was at first left entirely in the hands
of the military authorities, and the provost
= -marshal's Office was. the. channel.. through
which they were Influenced aud assisted
but asthe numbers increased, and as the
sphere Of military operations was extended
in Louisiana, it became necessary to organ
ice department that should be charged ex
pressiy With the supervision ofnegro affairs
and Gen. Banks, in general order No.
headquarters Department of the Gulf ere.
ated the Bureau of Free Labor.
In connection with this bureau board
OF education was constituted, and taxes
levied to support the expenses incident
upon obtaining suitable buildings for
schools, and securing and paying teachers
for the freedmen.
This Bureau was placed under the con-
troll Of Mr.. 7. w. Conway, who, as General
Superintendent of Freedmen's Affairs, De.
partment Of the Gulf, exercised control
ever all subjects relating to freedmen in
that department, making reports to, and re-
eeiying instructions from the Department
commander. He was authorized to draw
the necessary supplies from the Commlssa-
~ and Quartermaster's Departments, upon
/, acquisitions duly approved as should be re-
CURED in the performance Of his duties, and
otherwise assisted and protected in organ.
ling his department in the territory acqair-
cd by our arms.
The Bureau was charged with the gene
raj care of the aged, infrm and destitute,
and with the institution ofsuch regulations
governing labor as would insure protection
TO the interests of the freedman and his en-
ployer. Thus, when General Order num-
Der ninety-one, current series, Adjutant
Generals Office, was issued, organizing the
Bureau Of Refugees, Freedmen and Aban.
doned Lands. in accordance with the act Of
Congress-, approved March 3, 1865, the Blu
reap OF Free Labor. as already ia operation
10 the State of Louisiana, was, with all its
!. officers and agents, transferred to this Blu
Feau, and Mr.. Conway was appointed AS
sistant Commissioner for that State.
The large number Of estates abandoned
snd con6scated ia Louisiana, and tarned
over to the Bureau by the agents of the
Treasury Department, in accordance with
che Executive order Of June 7th, afforded
means Of raising larger funds in that than
almost any other Southern State but the
restoration Of property is fast depriving the
Bureau of that source of revenue. 7
From the reports of the Bureau of this
State, It is believed that the system of free |
labor Is working fairly in the aection OF the
State where the citizens were disposed TO |
give it . fair trial, to fulfill their contracts
with the freedmen, and where the employ
ers were able to pay cash at short periods,
che freedmen were found to work well.
There is already in operation four colonies,
10 which are supported the aged and infrm,
vho, under the old system of slavery, would t
be dependent upon their masters for snp-
port, but now have to look to the govern
neut for assistance These colonies are |
pot generally self supporting, though farms
are attached to each that are worked By
freedmen.
The schools in this State are in -four
lshing condition, most Of the teachers be-
Ing paid ont OF the funds of the Bureau.
To support these schools the Commanding
General of the Department of the Gulf, au-
thorized the imposition of tax upon real
and personal property, including crops of
plantations in each school district, to be
collected and turned over subject to the
orders OF the assistant commissioner of this
Bureau. Between thirty and forty thou
sand dollars have been collected, and steps
have been taken to secure the collection OF
she balance. The assistant commissioner
seports that there are now one hundred and
gorty-one schools, with two hundred and
eixty-dve teachers, and nineteen thousand
scholars, in operation, and it is hoped that !
sae schools will be still more extended !
ever the State. Il
In this State, as well as in Alabama, the
freedmen have the right to sue and be sued,
sndto give testimony in the courts, and 10
consequence of this privilege, other special ]
soRrts constituted to try cases relating to
freedmen exclusively, have been abolished. {
During the month Of September the As
Slstant Commissioner issued ffty-fve thou 9
eapd one hundred and eighty ak rations to
sefagees and freedmen. ta a7 is
Some time after the organization Of the !