New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-27
TIE IRLEnMLNS BCEE1U

REASONS WHY IT SHOULD BE CoNTINUED-RE-
PORT OF GIN. MILES, ASSISTANT COMNls-
sIONER or NORTH CAEOLINA TO GEN. now
BUnEau or T.. 7. Avp \. l.. HpQn.. Asst, coM}
Major Ger. o. o. howAto Commissioner @e.' Washing
t)n, u. c.
GENERAL: At your suggestion, ! beg leave TO
oer ms opinion 49, Assistant COMMISSIONS Tor this state
regarding the cNpcdicucv ct continuing tis BnIeau he
yond the time tN'd lJ .aw f'r is expiration. IN July,
is5s and 10 tic nc,r.y cor further legislation to
project aud govern the tuiuch-cd people whn-c etatn.
has been suddenly changed by our Government. ahd
who aIe Ia consequence drprhnrHl upon ~ Tor proper
laws and nd. Having C"icfuly considered me tuhltct
AID having made recent liP"i "h9ul go nn'r h''IE
a classes Of THIS community. fee, understand the true
state ~ affairs.
IHn'y juIrncni. ut no period since The occupation Of
this section hy tue United sits forces ha" thc buI'
been OF greater advantage than al the lime; aud
convinced that stronger reasons tlhu ever now *
~ t"r lls c"htlh'l no, 'h9 TOT .C M'lI1 vs. 'no
liberated slave, but for The good OF TIE hc| state Gov
being Constructed, ~ well ~ Tor The inter
tstS Of ihc GccIa E'N'n'h, enc ne .It t'.cllos
the feelings 81 large POTION ~ tie Willie race towari
the blacks has become one az Intense hatred Tie cyl
dcnccs Of revenge are 10 be seen every o"y ana rlms
Of pciy prosecutions are cfowoAg 10 irom AL points VI
Iti- 10 be hoped that before Inly State
sttutuu will have been formed, ctNu governments
position M TIC Uuion bot II thi- desired end should
be attained month, VIII ralec ere proper lave car oe
enacted ard % still longer tinc before te naturalization
Of the States civil functions uir e. nhl-htd and IN
thorough practice II The Bureau has been good iing
ia Tennessee nud Maryland. hOw much more would he
where affairs have h,cn to gutaicr extent dsnIdriod'
and OITo Ion 10 TIE Cover ment j. ~ man icsi Nhen
state oseftmct, tr formed uIUu 10Y hasis,
II viii be time 10 withdraw ths protecting urm Llsis
one side OF the pc,are: Tho other i''s-''''- . ''N'
very large proportion ~ the white voters IN this state
a the late election either voted 0gaDs Convention, or
Wiilmliy r'mnm'd away 10 onirf ih4t tntir ah-rnee
there t q rttoug political force ursaizii and cluyassug
with sole purpusn 20 vote down any constitution the
Convention may adopt ana tAus defeat the Eccohsruc.
ton acts This opposition II controlled ard led by men
Who have been I0ioriuu-y aurguLl,tc 10 Tie GO,tfR
nruf for years aud fOts rIhr,d 10 effect their
object II thc5 suttcsiul 90 Their de,.ers and II IL
possible they De. u he Efforts 10 rr-ole he state
Ff IRON Il fsII ID all II
OF United States roops be- left within H. limits, what
ask. would be The late ~ tie rnimnchs'd slave who has
always been considered property, aud Who now has
the right Of sulrHge. aud exercises the privilege
through the bauOtbOK Ia direct opposition to his late
The colored people Of this state scarcely own land
enough stand upon Occupying attn the little slave
huis under the thadow ~ former mansions. by
sufIaucc, aud Without the protecting ann Of the Gov
their old owners us IN The days Of slavery Tho civil
courts are general rule, ~ tie hands VI men whose
sympathirs opposed 10 the terms ~ restoration Of
fcr,d 10y the Government The Withdrawal Of the bu-
rcau created for The protection guidance and elevation
or four millions Of people from thc.egradaion OF Slavery
10 The dignity uf citizenship "a matter ~ very grave
iuipoi lance aud think never should be contemplated
until he COlurd race j. able to sustain itsell Va the posi-
ton IA which Government has placed IT, aud am coma
dent that, the coorrd people wrre consulted as To- their
wishes and hopes. Their uulled prayer "oud DC thAt ls
protection De given them htlle wlnc longer -,
trust that Congress win act adyisedy, and that the
workings and results q" TINS enterprise may DC iu} repre-
them their decision involves the destiny aud
wcboing not only 81 this people but Of their descend
ants Tor generations. AN aware mat tle Eeh, oyeC
the Bureau Is tn expense. An erroneous impress
n, y, !
people throughout Tie country us cOTt ia NOilh caro-
Ina last year about tsOG this year think II viii
not exceed tOWO lhe ulpOpIntoh LOT s,hoOl putpVSes
excepted am not aware "hnt the expenses are ia ho
other states but when the vast amount Of good that the
coOred dcnvc from ~ and the benefits which would
ultimately revert TO the Government are taken into con
sidcratiVn, the sum II 10y no means eX0rbHnt The al
vantagcs ~ the Bureau cannot he computed by figures
The educational branch Of the Bureau would In ltstf Dc
sufficient claim for itr continuance THIS work which,
with the blessing Of God hs already been crowned with
success aud has achieved most beneficial results should
not he stayed or impeded until has been put upon
footing that time viii only strengthen
The administration Of Justice, the butiness OF adjusting
claims, settling differences In where blacks
PARTIES are matters Of great importance and The amount
Of frauds Injustice aud oppression brought 10 the notice
Of Bureau agents and civil courts surprising Some idea
Of the magnitude OF this branch Of duly may be Inferred
from the fact that there have been IN Office Of the
Bureau of this state COO adudcated four mouths,
OF one county court there 500 awaiting trial
where freedmen are To lesser inter
eSted. This condition OF Affairs exists throughout the
Volumes might be written IN defense Of the Buronu and
IA showing the causes why II should be continued for
time to The report that n Is 10 be- withdrawn
has created feeling Of alarm and sorrow among colored
people aud their Union friends, while great Joy In
pressed by their enemies aud the enemies VI the Govern
ment atn sure mat ITS immediate withdrawal from
North Carolina would result In great public aud private
pecunary losses the freedmen would suffer physically
morally aud spiritually schOOlhOuses would decay;
teachers would be driven Of the State tails
iteutaries would be ted ideness and prOdlgafy and
would take the place industry and prosperity;
the labor 81 the freedman would become Improbable TO
him. and the poor, dependent coOred aborlg man. with
no roof to cover his starving family foot ~ ground TO
call HIS own would be- reduced to state OF scrfdom
have not Oyefdrawn the picture My statements are
based upon facts, aud can be corobOrated by multitude
OF witnesses.
As as desire the completion Of this work which
necessarily follows and IL the OF the war
earnestly wish 10 avoid additional expense 10 tho
Government yet under the present circumstances feel
my duty, the Assistant Commissioner of this State
on behalf Of that portion ~ It's population whose interest
ana welfare are most directly involved 70 earnestly APP
peal to you to your Influence 10 continue the Bureau
until tho great political changes aud experiments now
going on In This STATE have been completed and their
successfu workings if assured have the honor % re
maln, very respectfully. your Obedient servant,
NELSON A. MILES,
Col. and Byt. MnjorGen. u. n A.
Assistant Commissioner.