The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1867-11-07
The Freedmen's Bureau.

/ The Comprehend newspaper of this
/ city, short time since published the
statement that the Freedmen's Rureau
cost the Government annually as much
as the interest on the public debt. In
the absence of any official figures, we
made an estimate of the expenses of that
service, and placed them ut seven mi,-
lions of dollars; but General Howard's
report shows that the whole expenditure
does not reach more than half that
sum.
The expenses of last year were addi-
tonally large in consequence of the eX-
pendlture of $500, 900 among the destitute
persons of all classes SUI fiering from
want and famine. This, added to the
ordinary subsistence, made the total en-
pended for food 81, 46g, $50. More than
half of those thus relieved were whites
The working expenses of the bureau are
daily decreasing, and civil employees are
dispensed with as fast as possible. OF
the 50, 800 900 expended OPT August 81,
1867, the items of working expense
amounted to 1856, $50. The schools and
school buildings cost S553,9l7, and the
other s., 400, 900 was expended for food,
clothing, medicines and transportation
for the INDECENT and helpless OF both col
ors.
General Howard under the assumption
that the several States will be all recon
structed before July next, advises the
discontinuance of the Bureau after that
date, and asks no further appropriation
therefor. He speaks in the highest
terms of the efficacy of the school sys-
tenn, and advises that the buildings and
schools established by the bureau be
turned over to the corporate authorities
where they are, situated upon condition
of their being kept up. The zeal of the
negro for learning is as ardedt as ever,
no less than $50, 735 pupils being in at
tendance at the schools. The fire. edmen
themselves maintain over one thousand
and they own 39l school buildings.
They seem determined that the reproach
Of Ignorance, for which they are not re-
sponsible shall not attach to the rising
generation, and in this they set an ex-
ample to their white neighbors worthy
of imitation. The fact that out of their
scanty earnings they have built or
bought 39l school buildings and support
one thousand schools, is most honorable
to them, and proves that the ignorance
of the black man has been compulsory.
Withdrawal of the bureau will he tho
possibility of the destruction of these
schools blythe whites. A year ago the
freedmen Of Maryland organized a sys-
tenn for the education of their race, and
by voluntary contribution raised a fund
for the erection of school buildings. OF
these they erected quite a number, bv.
before schools could be commenced there
in they were fired and destroyed by the
exaspcrated whites. We do not sup
pose that a negro school house would be
tolerated in any part of Maryland south
of the Baltimore d Ohio and Philadel-
phin railroads. Itmay be that the same
malevolent spirit will prevail further
South, and that these schools which
have produced, and will continue to
produce so much good, will be broken
up and destroyed by the very people
who object to the negro because of his
ignorance.
General Howard also reports that UNI
der the protection afforded by the bu-
reau, the freedmen, as class. are
making rapid progress in the mechanic
arts and other branches Of industry. l
They are not disposed, nor do they ex-
'pcct to livea life Of Incidence and beg
gary. They are governed by landable
ambition to improve their general con-
dition by labor in all industrial occupa-
tons. They seek to merit the freedom
anu political rights which they have
obtained, and in so doing should be
encouraged and protected by the strong
arm of the nation.--CHi. zfib.