Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-09-27
The FFeedman's Bureau.

Freedman's Bureau, if we say aught against
the very laudable and beneficial department
over which they preside with so much pat
riotic and self sacrificing enthusiasm, we
will endeavor hereafter, in rejecting upon
this institution, to protect ourselves behind
the most highly approved and orthodox
loyalty.
Therefore, in referring to the fact that
under the directions of agents OF this
Bureau. the negroes of the rural districts
of Louisiana have organized into armed as
sociations and meetings to such an alarming
extent as to call from General MOWER. at
present commanding the Fifth Military
District, an order forbidding armed as
semblies within the limits of his command,
we hope we shall not become again the
victim of official wrath, or have General
MOWER shown up as a rebel, or cooper
head" or some other horrid object by an
avalanche of facts and Fl 5ures detailing the
successful and harmless operations Of this
hybrid institution in our own midst
Since the pious and loyal murder by the
Rererend James and his agent, the patriotic
REGULATIONS of the Rerere'eH CLAWS, the
large commercial and agricultural transac-
| lions of other Bureau agents, whose only
stock in trade IS excessive loyalty, we
have heard of no repetition of these sharp
practices in this State, because they were
generally followed by the removal or trans
fer of the guilty parties. In our own case,
since the resignation of fellow by the
name of Beadle, we have known of no COM
plant of the administration of the Freed
mans Bureau here, but Oh the other hand,
have heard its just and equitable manage
ment most 1atteringly commented upon.
If its officers would eschew politics them
selves, refrain from making it a political
machine, and not imagine that every thrust
at a department., which has covered moro
iniquity and been more injurious to the best
interests of the country than all other
schemes ever designed for political uses in
the history of this government, is intended
for personal application, they may render
it as little hurtful as such an expensive and
useless institution can be made.
The Freedman's Bureau is one of the
convenient agents designed by the leaders
of the party to radicalize the South, and
the millions of dollars expended in its sup
port is a part only of the election fund
raised by Congress out of the taxpayers of
the country in order to secure success and
while its powers here for evil are as great
as they are in Louisiana, its organization is
more honest, and we are thus much more
fortunate. There the agents seem to aspire to
lead the negroes in armed force against the
whites, here they content themselves by
merely uniting them against the native cit
liens by political meetings and oath-bound
associations. If we are to have such agen-
cies at work in our midst we prefer the
more peaceful and less dangerous use of the
means which the Government places in their
hands. We cannot but believe and hope
that the people of the whole country will
vet condemn and abolish this expensive
should be continued merely to give salaries
to meritorious officers, let them by all
means be pensioned, permitted to pass the
evening of life basking in the sunshine of
remunerated loyalty. If, as we hope, the
doom of Radicalism will be decreed at the
ballot-box in New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio and New Jersey during this Fall,
however much some may cling to the ''fesh
potts." they will find that they must bid
fare we'll, long farewell, to all their -
pay. Of the dead weight which the Radi-
calls are carrying in the present campaign,
by which their defeat was secured ill Cali
fornia and nearly SO in Maine, there is no
portion of it which hinders their opera
tons more than the prohigacies and ex-
travagances Of the Freedmans Bureau.
Conceived in mischief, organized in cor
ruption and maintained by falsehood, it
must perish and be remembered as among
the most shameless and proftless means
used to preserve party ascendanoy amidst
all the demoralizations and iniquities en-
gendered by the war. May God speed the
day.
A Word to the CoIored People
Since the colored people have been armed
with the ballot in the South, the Republic