The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-06-06

expressed n desire that tho Bureau be
withdrawn, but gavc no other reason
than That it was always obnoxious to
them, mud they desire to conduct their
own affairs 10 their own way. They
expressed tho belief that the negroes
would DO we'll treated by tho people OF
tho State, but until perfect equality uu.
der the law is established, and provision
made for the support Of tho destitute,
this opinion is not we'll grounded.
1t is difficult to determine how long
its continuance may bc required. am
firmly Of opinion that the freedmen will
need its protection as much as ever
until after the next crop is gathered,
and that in the settlement Of their con.
tracts for the present year, there will be
much for the agents Of the Bureau to
do. Tho freedmen are apprchensivc Of
its withdrawal, and so fur as | could
judge from the frequent interviews With
them, were solicitous on this point.
They assured nc IF their confidence in
it, and its actual necessity to secure to
them their rights.
The full report Of Cen. "hitlclscy,
Assistant Commissioner Of North Caro-
lima. made on the 18th Of May. is also
submitted by Gen. Howard. The ma.
ierial portions Of it, 80 far as it is re
ply to the previous report Of Generals
Steedman und Fullerton, is subjoincd
Generals S,ccdman aud Fullerton have
visited this State. commissioned us they
informed me to examine ind rcpor, upon
the workings Of the bureau. In what
purports to be their report, published in
u New York paper, there ure several
statements so calculated to make false
Impression, that feel compelled to cor.
rect them. 1t would be impossible for
the mos, impartial person to avoid some
mistakes, unless more time were given
to Il careful examination Of witnesses,
and the sitting Of evidence, than rapid
journey over wide territory will allow,
by listening to &C ptrtr statements OF
those who arc hostile to tho Bureau, or
who think themselves wronged by its
agents and, having no time to make Il
thorough invest CATION, as they admit,
these officers have been mislcl in scycra!
important cases.
The frs. which shall notice is the
condition Of the settlement on the Trent
river, opposite Newborn. No complaints
had been made against the Supcrntend
Gu, Of that village until very recently,
when, ut his request, board Of inquiry
was organized. This board gave the
chs. a patient and impartial hearing, and
had prepared their report, but before
the proceedings had been reviewed, or
even forwarded to me, they were de.
manLcd hy Gcu. S,r"lman by order
Of the Secretary 81 War" and portion
Of the record tclr.raphca I" the New
York Herald and published. The simple
ract that the matter WIS under invc>tl
..tion. with Il view to correcting the
evils complained Of, is sufficient dc
tense Of the Bureau.
The second subject is reported on by
the commissioners under the heal OF
" Bureau officers shooting down a freed
man. In this paragraph Of the report,
several false S;atrMcn,s\nre made. II
is not true that Mr.. Bnylen is ali en-,
ployc Of Colonel Whi,,lrsey nay more
than the conductor. and brakcmcn Of Il
rairoad in Maine are my employees be.
cau>c | uwn stock in that railroad, or
than that the Secretary IT tho United
States Treasury is my cmpIoyc because
| nwn United States Government bonds.
and am interested in the proper man.
a.cmrn, Of the Treasury Department.
II is not tue that Gems. Stccdman and
Fullerton received the statement Of the
ease from "Mr. James himself for, as
| have since learned, he did not meet
them. and his statement in writing pre-
viou>ly made is materially different. 1t
is rot true that the freedman, whose cs'
caring from the guard undcr which he
had been placed to work his sentence,
d" way pursued by James, 0: that lie
WIS fired upon while attempting "tc
cross the river in canoe" These mis-
takes Of the Commissioners may be ex'
cu>.Lic on the ground that they were
unable, owing to want Of time. to IN
uuirc into the matter" The facts in
;hc casa are painful enough without cx'
a..cra,iun, aud arc fully set forth III
the report Of Lieut.. Coats, whom | or
I,rcd to investigate the affair rs soon rs
[ obtained evidence that the freedman
was killed.
Onc other subject upon which the
" Commissioners dwell a: great length
is 'uHiccrs engaging in private business.
Tie charge a.niust me Of giving false
testimony will not be believe! by any
one who knows INC. No such question
as that quoted in the report Was uttered
in my hearing. 1t was asked 10y Gen
S,ecdman in writing, und answered IL
writing. The question put to me was
" Are my officers cultivatins furms OF
interested in Iarms?' replied, No
sir" or words Of like import; "excep
indirectly by furnishing money, so fn1
as know" lie then exclaimed in a lout
tone, AZ if to intimidatc me, We wan
TO know if any officers arc concerned in
any way, directly or Indirectly. re-
,I;,1 " If Won wish it, General, | vii