The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-31
Gen. Miles, Letter.


receipts, &c, &c.
Gen. Miles, Letter.
We copy below, from the Washington
Chronicle, an interesting letter from Gen.
Miles, addressed to Gen. Howard, relative to
the further continuance of the Bureau. The
Chronicle says
During the war we had no more gallant
soldier than General Miles, and as a man he
is characterized by such thorough honesty
and clearness of judgment as entitle his
opinions to very high respect. He thinks
there never was greater occasion for the exis-
tence Of the Bureau in North Carolina than
az the present time, not only for the welfare
of the liberated slaves, but for the good of
the new State government now being con-
stracted, as well as for the interests of the
general government" .-t
Gen. Mileshas- had the best opportunities
for obtaining information on the subject,
and his opinions will have weight with Con-.
gress. We entirely concur with him in his
views - 82 II
Is BUREAU of R., F., AND A., L., --
x HEADo'Rs ASST CoMR STATE OF n. c.,
Raleigh, N. c., December 4, 1867
<
Washington, d. c.:
4s GENERAL: at your suggestion beg leave to
offer my opinion, assistant commissioner for
this State, regarding the expediency of continu-
ing this bureau beyond the time fixed by law for
its expiration, in July, 1868, and to the
sity for further legislation to protect and govern
the enfrdnchsed people whose status has been
suddenly changed by our Government, and
who arc in consequence dependent upon it for
proper laws and aid.
Having carefully considered the subject, and
having made a recent trip of about five hundred
miles, meeting all classes of this com munty,
feel understand the true state of affairs.
In my Judgment, at period since the occu-
patton of this section by the United States forces
has the bureau been OF greater advantage than
at the present time; and am convinced that
stronger reasons than ever now exist for its con-
tinuance-not only for the welfare OF the liberia
ted slaves, but for the good of the State
governments now being constructed, as well as
for the interests of he General Government
Since the late elections the feeling of large
portion of the white race toward the blacks has
become one of intense hatred. The evidences
of revenge are to be seen every day, and reports
of petty prosecutions are crowding in from all
points of the State
1t is hoped that before July next a new State
constitution Will have been formed, civil gov
eminent organized, and North Carolina restored
to her proper position in the Z MON but even
if this desired end should be attained, months
will elapse proper laws can be enacted, and a
still longer time before the administration of
thu States civil functions are established and in
thorough practice If the bureau has been a
good thing in Tennessee and Maryland, how
much more would it be where affairs have been
to greater extent disordered, and opposition
to the government is so manifest When the
new State governments are formed upon loyal
basis it will be time to Withdraw this protecting
arm This is one side of the picture; the other
presents different view.
a very large proportion OF the white voters in
this State at the late election either voted against
convention, or wilfully remained away in Or
: der that their absence might obstruct the work
:. of reconstruction. At present there is strong
i political force organizing and canrassing with
+ the sole purpose to vote down any constitution
the convention may adopt, and thus defeat the
reconstruction acts. This opposition is control
led and led by men who have been VIGOROUSLY
antagonistic to the Government for years, and no
efforts are spared to effect their object If they
are successful in their designs and it is possible
they may be, If the efforts to restore the State
fail III the bureau is removed, and if only small
force OF the United States troops be left within
ats limits, what, ask, would be the fate OF the
.enfranehised slave, who has always been consi-
dered as property, and who now has the right OF
suffrage, and exercises the privilege through the
balot-b box in direct opposition to his late owner?
The colored people in this State scarcely own
! Hand emo 1gh 10 stand upon Occupying still the
little slave hufs under the shadow OF former
bmasters, mansions by snfferance, and without
kshs protecting arm of the Government, they are
almost as much within the grasp Qf their OLD
owners as in the days of slavery The CIVIL courts
are, as a general rule, in the hands of men whose
sympathies opposed to the terms OF reslora-
ton ssffered by the Government. The With
drawaI of the bureau, created for the protectlon'
guidance and elevation Of four millions OF peo-
pie from the degradation OF slavery to the algni-
ty of citizenship, is matter of very grave I'M
portauee, and think never should be conlem-
plated until the colored race is able to sustain
itself.in,the position in which Government mas
nd1it.: and am confident thai, If the color
rae xere~aansulted as to their XIi6hes and