The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-22
[vr.,a tic Savannah Herald, 1sa. nst.]

Generals Steedmau and Fullerton, who consti-
tute Commission sent out by President johnson
to investigate the operations of the Freedmen'g o
Bureau in the Southern States, and whose arrival
iu this city we announced yesterday, held an in
terview last evening with number Of the leading
citizens OF Savannah. At about Ave o'clock some
twenty -fve or thirty Of our most respected citi:
gems, representing all the various interests and
profesSions, had assembled In the parlor OF the
Pulaski House, when the commissioners entered,
and Mayor Anderson introduced the gentlemen
present in turnto General 6teedman, and sfter-
wards to General Fullerton.
J General Steedman opened the conference by
stating briefly tina objects of his mission TO be TO
inquire into the operations Of the Freedmens Bu-
resu, to learn the influence 1t exerted upon the
relations Of the tuo races; whether It's tendency
was TO produce harmony or sntagonism between
them; whether, in,Xenera, it's offect uas for harm
or for good; and whether II wEs necessary OK OK
pedient 30 continue its existence: Gen. Fullerton
and himsef had called upon the citizens OF every
town through which they had passed to lay be-
fore them any grievances they had TO complain OF
in reference to the Bureau, not holding public
meetings. but conferring with them IN confidence.
He invited the gentlemen present to state what
they knew OF the evils Of the management OF the
Burexu in Georgia.
MIR. J. NIB. Lowell said that he had been re-
auested, ae member OF the Bar, to call the at
tention of the Commissioners to the Freedmen'a
Court The action OF this court in which both
Jury, while all the other courts were open aud
equal rights for blacks and whites were guarau-
tetd by the laws of the State, we're calculated to
I Hter feeling OF antagonism betweeUthe races.
n white man assaulted another white man he
was allowed u trial by jury; il he assaulted ne
gro he war denied that manifest right
Gen. Steedman replied that he was unaware
that the agents Of the Bureau wcre exercising
judicial functious that he had not contem plated
their DUNG BID when he gave Gen. 'l1llson a1hnri'
ty to Apply to The State Convention Tor the sp,
pointment OF civil agents Of the BureAu. He would
rxsnine into the matter when he reached Angus
ia and have tho Freedmen's Courts abolished il
GenrgiS.
General Fullerton remarked that the great pre-.
text for maintaining the freedmens courts was
that the freedmen can not obtain Justice in the
civil courts, the local judges refused to receive
testimony from negroes, and that this opinion hao
obtained very general beEefin the Nor b through
the repl esentations OF newspaper correspond
ents.
General R. A. Lawton in reply instanoed re-
cent case in neighboring county, where negro
convicted Of murder by civil court had been re-
commended to mercy, aud his sentenoe hsd peeD
modified accordingly.
General Full, rtop inquired whether any stten-
ton was paid to the rules or evidence In tak,ng 4
testimony in the Freedmen's Court Mr Loveu
replied, noue whatever; that officers had hled tue
bench of the court who had no legal edncstion,
aud who had not the capacity, even II they hso
the hest intentions, to ,nduot r1aminations IA
accordance with tho established rules 0t courts 0f
justice.
General Fullerton inquired whether penalties
were inflicted by the Judge in accordance WITH tne
laws OF the State. Judge Won. B. Fleming an-
swered that the penalties we're oiten ~ fsraucc
with the laws Ut the State that fur tho same "i-
fence for which white man was sent tp the f'ehi'
teutisry q negro wss sentenced tn lAoor short
period ON the streets. He referred 70 several
csstb in point.
o.r.s and vent ON to cay that the action OF th1
Frrsdmsp's Court In this respect had mdst dele.
terious influence Ou the negro, leading hitn 70 irs
lbst hu uad special protection aud ilcense, and
that 1t gave rise ~ Jealousy ana aniui,sly ne-
tween tile races He Was confident that the bot:
ter Glass; Of citizens and the we'll foollng al I'LL
cl.rss. wrrr di-pnsel TO recognise fully the new
rsarons Uf the negroes to theiu-the laws VI deor-
gis showed II.
beou n.Le, uf unjust discrimination Ill the oeci-
sions rUuderrd by tue civil c"llrt-
.Inlps Fleming said he had heard OF none; no
nron,..d f,,r himself that the negro should have
;hs same Justice msted out 10 him III his Own court
xs the wllte man.
R.v Mr.. WYNN WAS here introduced. He spoke
nj the convention Of culUrod cerK! men now being
held in this city, compOHod OF Dell ites trm the
neIphnorimg SIat.s he had been pleased TO 90
serve the feeling that prevailed III I'M. convenion
I; had been put icly avu~cd in set OF res"iu't'ns
.s the senso uf tho convention that bid aud
dangerous fet liug WAS growing out OF the iuIer'
ference in their relations with their former IN 4sters
- strappers whu came am0' 6 them pr, tendug tn
ho their frirn, g. The resulufi"ns also thanked
,be citizens of Charleston for t'eir uniform kind
ness TO the colored pc pr; in the language of the
rrsulurious. thy hurled bn'k the llore upon the
S,utlern people who were their rue frleuds, and
,.n, linn, d tue couilct OF the N rthrrn einissa-
ries who had come to Incl nsurrectior., Mr.
Wynn said he had bean greatly Impressed with
,,,, seI,sihle sni msuly tOne OF the convention,
xbinh woul b I'VE done credit To any delinoratIve
...enbiy In the d ds,:IlssluIis <nd the prosrdiuss
1onrr.lIy an iutellentual ability Was manifested
sssr m advance uf what liu had hn,ted for
Con. steydRsn remarked that ,hs negroes.
N0.. .,..~od Ia l..rt t.,sti ,n,,1 IL,