The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-18

Steedmmn-Tw0 Whites 20 Ouc Niger De.
pendent tho Burenu IN Alabama. &c.
WARRINGTON. Dec. 10. 1904.
The following Ia Me rcply Of General o o Howard to
Generals Fullerton and stscdman who made tour Of
the South recently and reported against the contina
ance OF the Freedmens Bnrean:--
LErrER RErERRrp TO ny coxngs'oxER ~ CONCLUDING nv.
Marks ov IMPORT
Wan DEpApr11r> BUREAU REvrGEys
FvEEpMES AND ABANDONED Lands \
wAsHrscroS, n. G.. Aug n, 1850.
sIR-rbe following statements respectfully sub
mitted for your confederation -
Tho last report Of Generals steedan and Fullerton Of
inspection Of ths bureau under charge contains
many statements dIAsrng from those have received
from other inspecting 0hcep and assistant comms-
and :Ss .sy
70 revew the main points Of this report and nore espe
ciay 10 ts course necessary for me that have been
bureau In accordance with your Instructions verbal and
written keeping constantly In view thorough and
practical execution Of the Law by which my officers and
myself have boon bound
como 70 by far the important part OF what
the inspectors have TO ssy-the summing up Of their
conclusions after four month"; inspection Of the bureau
In which they ssvt that here Ii entire absenoc of
system uniformity Ia ~ constitution They have
asked for word OF Information with reference
TO records, reports and orders.
They have made no examination Of nv once and
asked reason for any action taken. The records
information they desired that could not 10 found In the
Offices of the sonth may he bore What would be tho
result f they should make general Inspection OF the
quartermastsr commirary or other departments In the
same way Those officers who had been relieved or
proper dispositions or all records papers connected
with their offices.
There IL not bureau in Washington with
pete act OF reports books and recors &C than can DO
produced At this once for inspection any time They
attempt 10 their assertion by the statement that IN
one gtae lts officers exercised judicial powers; In one
adjoining Nil referred to civil authorities while
in third state bcreau officers collect the cases and turn
them To military courts Their inspection
ports will rcfnte this In The States Of kentucky, Ton
nessec Mississippi Louisiana Alabama, Virginia, Flor
lila and North Carolina bureau agents DO exercise
dltla nog al N Hny
powers exercised by thu officers Of tho bureau are mod
fed by the feelings and conduct OF the people towards
the freedmen They admit there IL great dneronce In
this feeling of whites towards tho blacks What other
principle moro uniform IN II possible to adopt than 70
regulate the power or agents ~ the bureau by the dis
position aud conduct of tho people favorns them
they approximate equal justices
II viii be seen BY referring 70 the regulations from
this bureau Circular series g5 approved by yourself
that gradual transfer Of jurisdiction was implied and
jast ~ soon as practicable we have madc trial Of the
civil courts In every State have sought the provost
courts well as the civil 10 relieve Of ths exercise
or judicial po~ers
| Burean officers have never attempted 20 regulate
wages end order existed making REGULATION.
tho subject. Demand and supply controlled tins
mntier Or conrss wages, MANNER - payment, and al
fhe questions eDterng into Tho Labor subject differed
widely throughout the South, and from the nature OF
thngs, could not be uniform.
Although tniunrtuDed frnm MI parts Of the South 10
take some action about waass steadily refused The
following has ben the standing orsr for al tho States
,uc, Sn IN arasr 70 rcsnls,s nj, wages 10 individual
csses, agents should have IN mind minmau rates Tor
their guidance
Assistant commissioners required 70 furnish
with copies of all orders and circulars issued by them
and close examination Of all they have written Tho
subject fails IN produce any attempt upon their part 70
regulate wages or contracts fhe freedmen aud
poyer have been left to manage the matter for ihc
selves
They say that schools In Louislana have boon sup.
ported by tho government Their rep,rt, shows. how
ever thai they supported by military tax and
perhaps 10 some eItent from the income from aban'
They ssy that agents interfere IN IN arbitrary
In favor or freedmen sometimes, and ~ other Ia favor
Of the planters THIS Is simply crime according 10 bu-
regulations and the inspectors should haze pro-
ferred charges aUslns, ih"ss oncen that they might
might have been tried and punished
u tryo thai the expenses OF tbs bnreau arc not tho
ia a the States ~ v plain proposition that
the expenses must be regulated by ihs wrk 20 b. done
A. the necessity for bureau agencies differs according 20
the temper OF the people II angular ib4 expenses
| shculd he apportloned accordlnciy an not aware
that the bureau IN slss supported ~ funds
from tho United States Treaury III after he lat.
praiion. In fact funds had been drawn
directly for the purpose ~ 1appong The bureau organ
izaon iill that appropriation made by Congress
They say tha' WIS impossible 70 eramln. the &C
counts 81 bureau drartcrmsaters ne they were cou
PEELED 10 take rrronai Statements ke yei admit thai
they examined the accounts NJ General ~ " white
sey Of yssspp, and found them all correct aoi com
nle,e ~ his predecessor euflti.d - hs
rria ned papers, and one complete cot n s W TIL.
once. They AN ind out how much money sss col
cccd from every legitimate and proper IN VIZ
sIsppi by calling on me and asknE for gIon Infcrna
Tbey say this system ~ roceiyrg and disbarring
| money lOose Tho anne b,ahIs forms ref1rif aud
regulations nsei IN the ouarcrmsssTW Department,
have been adopted by thi4 Bnrcan far a. rDs0hc.
md complete checs np0n bureau oclrs - ihe
d-charge Of their duties y uipD,.i up1n 30 %
tho Qnarsrn@ior'a Department who originate aai az
4 Dnr.e lnn1a
They next refer 10 the casa of Colonel Henor report
81 thr ieh.t ~ 5000 in i,riaana. ~, ileafaInnt
Poster Who u said 20 he defanler u csnno no pos.
Ahle that General Fullerton ~io, ~ The
0-cer-, assisted IN bringing thi. matter nghf can al
remember that this subject has been unders1isg -
investigation for the last six months 1hs whole mai
TOR originated before tbs bureau ~ .ti-eree anf
has been brongbt % ght and p,sensi by y. At.stso
Commissioner ~ order 70 nj the gum npyn the prolef
| pcvsons aud secure their punlshmcat
" mot justice 10 tbs officers u the b1rean 10 charge
them With crimes that were committed szsnd The fr-sf
Ia time prior 70 IT, orgAuiyaton, aud ~ sapyfrf
dates and the location ~ charges 10 Rt TIC
| responsibility nion thc.s no, guilty.
Tho inspectors nert admit h@ Necessity ~ the Barean
Last year and acknowledge that df much god fcr ~
clss~s ~ this b. tru. y bad iosic 20 cgudeInn TIE
vorsnys oi We harsn ~ hs.'akss Aaa .,f",a 'nsi
year before ~ organization Nearly ssrry charge mai"
against oaee IN TN. nnsi = for acts q laas
and rpon winch these onc have already call
| W account by the Earcau or the War Department
cannot agree with the Inspectors altogether 10
complete reyouon IN the Srntlment - tho sSashsrn
people which nsurs protection slnlesni for the freed
when United States oce9 and free linen
dered and The freedmen sba.ef and msisisi, - = -.
| ported by the inspectors themselves
They ssy the good feclnss of the whites owaf1s tho
blacks owing 70 their Interest 10 ssarns ib.f lAlof
iuciy vEhoa, o,~r prnrlp.s. o. the guArsni~s
| Of sqsai Laws For rear. siAssbodsr- have deemed
compulsory nshshfre we v~~t ~. INV - ia.rh
The inspectors declare that ths tarsan has be-n ~
the axsrsSste, pr0fuctiv. ~ harm than god AMI
give thrr reasons. Substantially, tho fsisaes spgr "
Of the negrn~s sni thsir consequent dsirsa ~ the
property nolaerr srd The provos,'lon o. espionage
| creaiins mutual srspicton and bitterness
I dsny tho whole sissment y Il no foundsd 4por
fact, bot Bpon theories Constantly pit forth w The
enetni@. Of rood offsr f~s baf agsn,A have hen
sent and have doahf~<s dose ngsrh harm yrt this
bureas sgsery has bssn msdiaf0fss ard t.rlhc a
whole II has relieved tbs very sassacon and bttsr.
ne~< that exsstsd when u nrFt cfgxn x~f Riots
Inarf~p and wicked te~fs have rsBtiy sprung up bai
ihs-s arr 10 % say Initiated % Fooxn1eiby NE scag.
l VI tue scy~rnneni
Tho ipap-essrs charge TIE slr~sa sta serng r.sggns
bs for The 100 ~sg~s pad fruefu.n gndef 60
frsrts piAni@iiuna sial fcssr ~ conyscss sfsn,
hat u tske sp wages ffst This b1rtMs aver fsTa
LATED vsges bat 90 81 freafsn W st0r Pisa.
fsOos AMI siaevhefe Ia order W relieve lhe rgfsru
fpeni a. thalr seaport AID 10 dsnousrala 49,
try that vTy wefe rot 20 bNcorns sftsts dsfffFrf
rse< The p@oTde, North snf Foath, -el 80
dent nNcexslty, demanded THAT she ff~efnw~n Should
nntl L....nn-nx a. a.. -. .---r.