The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-15
The wants of the Freedmer

Special Dispsich 10 the Cincinnati Gazette
WAsHIEGTos, April l2-Gen. Howard
has written long letter 10 Mr. Eliot
Chairman of the House Select Com
mittee on Freedmen's Affairs, urgiag
legislation with respect to his bureau
The points which he makes in that be-
half are briefly as follows First, the
period OF the continuance of the bu
reau should be definitely fixed by Law,
so that all parties interested may know
| lust when its operations cease. Second,
il should be declared by Congress.
whether Maryland and Kentucky are
or are not included within the limits
whore the bureau is to exercise super
vision. Third, the existing law does
not allow the officers of the bureau Ia
furnish medical supplies, they being
given out now under orders from the
War Department Fourth, some msa
sures should be taken TO promote in.
duslry 10y setting apart lands for sale
on favorable terms 10 the freedmen
| Fifth, the Sea Island question should
be settled, because the freedmen who
have grants thereon thoroughly be
lieye that the land belongs 10 them.
Sixth, the President should be autho-
rized 10 retain officers of volunteers in
the service after the muster out OF
the regiments 10 which they be-
long, for the Bureau is losing some OF
the best of it's agents and assistants.
who would remain on duty il they
were allowed 10 retain their official
rank in the army. Seventh, somsthing
should be done 10 foster education
The Commissioner believes thAtit would
be a matter of real economy tOmAke pro
vision for schools, industrial and other
wise, and he suggests that public lands
have often been granted for educa-
tlonal purposes, when the need WAS not
near 30 urgent as in the present case
Eighth, the duties Of the officers aud
agents of the Bureau shOuld be more
clearly defined by law, so that the peo-
pie among whom they labor may know
what they are Ninth, il bill signed by
the Executive will give great moral
power 70 the Bureau, as its enemies
believe, OF pretend 10 believe, that the
Government is opposed to its opera
tons Gen. Howard, in addition 10
writing this comprehensive letter, has
conferred recently with tho members
Of the Select Committee, and given
them his views in detail He holds
that the powers of the Bureau do not
so much need enlargement IS defni-
ton. Ii was we'll enough, perhaps, he
Gays, to leave them to military adjust
ment during the war, but hereafter its
operations should be in pursuance Of
actual law. he force of this view.
thus urged by Gen. Howard and others
is very strongly felt by the committee,
and almost from the day of the loss of
the original, several weeks ago. the
chairman, Mr.. ElliotPhas been earnest
in his endeaFors to frame a bill that
viii command the support of all
branches Of the Government The
bill upon which the committee will
probably sgree retains many features
of the old bin, but is so drawn
as to obviate many Of the OBJ
jections urged against that The
clause IN respect 70 a division ofthe
districts into sub districts, aud the sp-
pOintment Of agents, sc, is left out
and the Commissioner, under the d.
rection Of the President, is simply en-. |
TO appoint such agents as NAV /
be necessary Tor the efficient and eco |
uomical administration OF the Affairs of /
the bureau TheprOyision authorizing
The employment Of clerks is stricken
put The issuing Of medical stores is
Three million acres Of
and in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama,
Louisiana and Arkansas, are reserved
rom sale, TO be rented in forty acre
racis, aud aftsrWard sold 10 the freed
uen and refugees
The Sea Island question is disposed
4, by authorizing the COMMISSIONS 20
lands st not exceeding SIS
'er acre, 10 sell on easy terms, at not
ess than cost price, 10 such freedmen
occupying plantations as are willing to
lake the exchange Il is believed !
bat the provision will be entirely sat
factory 20 the freedmen who avsiled | |
lemselves of Gen. Sherman's order
he Commissioner is authorized 10 fur ]
sh sites and bulldogs for schools,