Litchfield enquirer., 1867-12-12
Report of the War Department.

e~~ being nearly all of importance that refers to the practical workings of the Re lconstruction Acts:-
 From the report of the Commissioner of the Bu- reau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, l make the foliowing synopsis:
 The freedmen, as 6 people, are making rapid progress III education, in mechanic arts, and i'll all branches of industry.
 The schools have increased in number and use- fitness. Normal and training schools are we'll at- tended. The total Of day and night schools re- ported, including industrial but not the Sunday schools, is 2207, with 2 442 teachers and 130,7 ,735 scholars an increase or 40 Oo0 since the last an- nual report. Of these, 1,056 schools sustained wholly or in part by freedmen, and 39l buildings are owned by them. Of the teachers, 690 are col ored and l .3SS white.
 The average amount Of tuition paid per month by the freedmen has been S14, ,555.
 Apprenticeship in lia3ylaad stil tolds urge num- 6ers of cOi0Ted ctaldle! ln g1ftas0t stdtefy. inc evils and cruetie5 resulting from this system, sanctioned by the State laws, are matters of con- stant complaint. As many as two thousand eases have been presented in single county.
 Expenditures AaCe Ja}eD 6ei01c tue or2G5n0t est 7adteS. No further 0ppy0DrtGttOn Of funds $ asked for. As the Bureau will expire next July, unless extended by Congress, iunds arc estimated for the next fiscal year. 'ln case the Bureau is not so extended, 1t Is recommended by tine Commissioner that proper arrangements be made with the State authorities for the Of indgent classes ;that the educational work be continued under the direc- tion Of the Bureau Of Education or other United States agency, with full power and means to e1- tend the present system.
 THE MILITARY co5lIAHDEas.
 l am pleased 10 say that the Commanders of the i've military districts have executed then dincuit trust faithfully and without bias from any Judg- 1 ment of their own as t0 the merit CT demerit of 1 the law they were executing.
 Et3st District The first military district coIa- l prses the State of Virginia, BTt Major-Gen. J. ii. | Schoield commanding. In assuming comlnaiid, l the princi pie announced by Gen. Schoheld that the military power conferred by act of Con gross on the District Commander would be used only far necessary to accomplish the pur- poses for which the power was conferred. Inc civil Government was interfered with only when necessary, and the wisdom Of the policy has been demonstrated by the result. The instances of complaint of the action Of the civil courts become exceedingly Still the evil which existed pri or to the act Of Congress of March 2 1867 though mitigated by the increased efficiency of civil off, cers, was not removed. 1t was an evil in the jury system, apparent at all times and fully developed by the natural alta90nlsm between Ioyalist and rebel, or the prejudice between white and black, existing throughout the South since the rebellion. The first idea was to admit blacks julies and prescribe test of loyally. But as the require ment of a unanimous verdict must give very lnad- equate protection where strong prejudice of class or caste exists, and as military change of jury system would be but temporary, 1t was determined to leave it's change to the Convention soon to meet and be content with system of military Commis- sions. Such Commissioners appointed from officers of the army and Frecdmen's Bureau for the different cities and counties of the State, with powers Of justices of the peace while the State was subdiylded into sub-distrlcts, under comman- ders whose powers were ultimately increased to those of circuit judges. taking jurisdiction only in cases where civil authorities failed to do justice. The system has given large measure of protec tion to all classes Of citizens, with slight mterfer ence with the civil courts.
 The results of the first session of the register ing boards all received on Sept l5. One hun dred and fifteen thousand and eixty-eight whites, and one hundred and one thousand three hundred and elghty-tUo colOred registered; one thousand six hundred and twenty whites, and two hundred and thirtY-two colQred being rejected. The tax list of l86667 (not quito coIlpIete) returns about ne hundred and thirty-siX thousand white male adults, and eighty-seyen thousand colored male admits. This indicates that the number of whites llsfranchised, who have failed to register, is about nineteen thousand, and that about fifteen thousand more colored men have been registered than the tax lists Hence it may b. infer red that nearly all male adults, white or colored, not dlsfranchised, have been registered.
 Second District. The Second Militrry District comprises the States of North Carolina and South
 'aro!na, Breyet Major-Gen. E. R. S. Canby, con- nandIng.
 h order to secure moro efficient administra- ion of justice, 1t was deemed necessary to place eil SherjfTs and other municipal officers under the
 immediate control of a military officer. Accord agy all such officers were directed to report to the PrOvust-Marshal-Gener and to make month ly reports of crimes committcd' and ''prisoners confined" The reports of prisoners confined have aided materially in detecting illegal imprisonments or punishments, and have enabled the District Commander to secure the release of many Union men and freedmen, against whom much gross in- justice has been committed.
 The present condition Of Ge district IS so satistdc- '0ry dS 10 1ca3Td3be 6ee Ltdt Gf{eYhe electjOlS the plumber e military posts in 50ta Saes can be d. nsnisted.
 Third District. The third Military District com prises the States of Georgia, Florida and Alabama. BFeVeS Najor-Gen' John Pope commanding:
 Under the laws of the state no colored person could be admitted to the jury box and there was no surety of justice to Union men, to people from the north (and especially eX-Unon soldiers or to coored persons, from uries inflamed with hostill- ty toward such classes.
 There is 8 very large number of cases of wrong perpetrated by such uries in the distriction file.
 Accordingly an order was issued directing all ju- res to be drawn indiscrninately from the flist of voters registered by the boards of Registration.
 Vory few civil officers have been removed, and using to comply with orders. Appointments to i'll vacancies have only been made where the daily business of the people demanded it.
 Fourth DiSs'jct. The Fourth Military District comprises the States of Mississippi and Arkansas Breyet Major-Gon. F. O. c. Ord, commanding.
 The rcconstruction measures of Congress are un- popular with ma ajority of the white people, but heir execution has met with slight opposition, the
 
 to be apprehended, having been kept m order by the troops distributed through the States.
 The civil laws have not been interfered with when equally administered, except to remove from the civil courts cases of crime charged against persons who, being opposed tu the rebellion, had reason to fear prejudice Also frecdmen's cases v1ero the courts were practically closed against them
 Tn Inconsequence of the ndsposition (as manifest ed of late) of the civil authorities in Arkansas to take action in offences of an aggravated nature 1 against freedmen, orders have been issued for the trial of all such cases by Military Commission, and for prompt action to be taken for the punishment of civil officers who fail to issue wrts against of lenders committing assaults &c, against freedmen and prohibiting bail for the appearance of such criminals.
 The extension of suffrage to freedmen has evi- dentls aroused sentiment of hostility to the col bred race and to Northern men in many parts of the district, which did not exist before; and Gen. Ord Is convinced that larger force than is now stationed in those states to preserve order and or ganize Conventions will be required hereafter to protect them and secure the freedmen the use of the suffrage.