The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-28


hospital at Georgetown can be discontinued. In
January, 1866, the civil authorities OF CharlestoI
united with the Bureau ill forming a Board o.
Health, to afford relief TO the destitute SICK o.
both classes belonging to the city. By TINS az,
rangement the civil authorities have appointed
and psy, a Health Officer, Disponsary Physician IAN
furnish hospital buildings and Offices for dispense,
ries; the Bureau supplies the necessary medical
stores, rations, fuel transportation, &c.
The hospital has recently been enlarged and
very much improved rs regards it's fitness for the
treatment of the sick. Besides the dispensaries
in Charleston, SIX in number, there arc sixteen
others in the State-one in charge of each sur
geon-from which medicines are dispensed 10
persons attended at their homes.
There arc two other establishments in this city,
in charge of the Bureau, which, though not strict
" hospitals, may be alluded to in this report: the
and Infrm. In the Orphan Asylum there arc at
present 115 children, varying in age from a few
weeks or months to nine or ton years. This es-
adjustment is well kept and always found in a
good sanitary condition; the mortality among its
little inmates during tho year has been very small.
About 10 colored people, disabled from various
causes, principally from old age, are taken good
care Of in the Home.
There is but one vegetable garden in connec-
ton with any of the hospitals or relief institutions
in this State, that one, which is not Of much
consequence, is attached to the hospital at George
town.
THE INSANE.
There is no legal restriction to the admission OF
colored people to the Insane Asylum of this State.
On my assignment as surgcon-in-chief, IN April
last. found several insane colored persons re-
ceiving treatment in n building adjoining the hos
pital in this place; considering the accommoda-
lions, &C., insufficient for their proper care, L re-
ouested the Mayor of the city to have them trans
ferred to the Asylum at Columbia. With that re-
quest he promptly complied. and since then all
similar cases have boon Immediately transferred
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thorities.
The local authorities throughout the State are
REQUIRED to provide for their insane III the sane
manner.
There are now on duty in this State eighteen
medical officers; fifteen under contract at q salary
of 500 per month, and three who receive no pay
from the Bureau. They are stationed on the prin-
cipal islands, and at q few points on the main land,
where their services are considered absolutely
necessary nj this season. In tho course OF Il short
time 7 oxDoct To be able to discontinue three or
four of these posts and discharge the Surgeons III
There arc only eleven hospital attendants om-
ployed by the Medical Department IN this State,
at an aggregate salary Of SOL per month, there
can be no reduction in this number while the hos
pitfalls arc kept up.
Ifeel great pleasure in bearing testimony to the
very efficient manner in which the medical officers
in this District, almost without exception, have
performed their very arduous duties.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND MORAL CONDITION OF
THE PEOPLE.
Ireeret to have to report that the religious in
s~truction of the people, and their present condition
in consequence, is not of such a nature as would
warrant me in speaking in any other than a hope
full manner OF the future.
Proper religious instruction Is sorciy needed Tor
the iuture temporal, as well as spiritual guidance
of the people. Such c%lergymen as they have
among them are mainly ignorant, and, although
taught both by precept and example, the former
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productive OF q want Of that confidence and love,
which a people should have for their religious III
s~truction. A want of proper books is felt, and
where the ardent desire iof the y3u4G OF this class,
for education, IS taken into confederation, no
means more likely to be productive of good re-
suits could be devised than O copious distribution
and circulation of elementary works OF a religious
character.
The want of missionaries, capable of teaching
! the people, is felt more particularly IN the neigh
bei ! Of the rice swanlps upon the coast, and L
would respectfully suggest, for the consideration
of the Commissioner that associations which are
sending out missionaries>s2m time to time, have
here in South Carolina, q tfeM for the employment
of their time and resources, which will compensate
them better than many other l~ocall>,es which they
have chosen.
MILITARY COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE.
Or the Goth OF April LIST, in obedience to Gene
raj Orders No. IL, Headquarters Second Military
District, l was relieved from the command OF the
| nllCarV DlSlIlCL Vi DUlJll OdIOhud, Hili "! tHO
same order the Command was abolished. Since
that time l have had no military command by
which l could enforce Bureau orders, and conse-
quently have been entirely dependent upon the
District and Post Commanders throughout the
State for such military assistance aS l have needed.
Within the limits Of soIae OF the military posts the
orders OF the Bureau have been enforced by the
military commanders OF the post. In this connec-
ton I take pleasure in mentioning Byt. BfiSadier-
General II. S. Burton, Colonel 5Lh U. S. Artillery;
Major Lyman Blssell, Goth Infantry; Bvt. Lieut..
Colonel A. Il. s nth, Captain 9Th Infantry; Bvt.
Lieut.. Colonel j. N. Andrews, Captain 9Th lntan-
try; Bvt. Major L. Walker, Captain 9Th Cavalry,
and Bvt. Major D. d. Lynn, Captain 9th Infantry,
commanding Posts Of Columbia Sumter, Anderson,
Unionville, Aiken and Chester respectively, as Off
GERS who have afforded me all necessary co-opera-
ton and assistance.
I am glad to say that since the assumption OF
the command OF this Military District by Byt.
Major-General i. R. S. Candy, a system OF Pro-
vosi Courts, with n code for their guidance, has
been, and is being established wherever necessary
throughout the State, and, from results already
made manifest, these Will be productive OF great
benefit as q means Oh settling tho multitude or
small claims constantly being brought by the la
boring classes OF people, mainly freedmen
and refugees; and which have hitherto
been called to the attention OF the various Bureau
officers, who we're ~powerlcss except so far as adj
vice was concerned. These claimants are gene
rally destitute of means, and, therefore, been I'M
able TO bring these cases before the civil authorl-
ties, while where the necessary funds for starting
proceedings have been found, the protrdcted delay
t.of waiting for 4 final judgement, at the hands of
these tribunals, has been productive of suffering
and want.
CIVIL COURTS AND THEIR ACTIoNs -
The civil courts Of tbe State DO not dItS9a9ate-
rally in .tie& consolidation OF tho freedmen from
that Which they observed n year ago. The fear of
military interference, however, and the recognized
danger of displacement OF officials, ut present,
exert an influence ~salutary, so long as it lasts.
But jr1Sice to the freedmen and impartiaGty.
as between them and the white inhabitants, will
not be found until the code of the State is COM
plctely and radically reformed, and tlle proper
distinctions and requirements which now debar
poor mon from prosecuting, while they open jail
doors to rich ones are done away with and re-
placed by equitable provisions in statutes that are
at once wise and just, humane and enlightened.
Until then, and before such q medication OF this
deceased body polite, ] shall not have to report to
you aught but the same story often repeated, and
still everywhere heard among the poor whites and
freedmen III the State.
The adoption of Il new State Constitution under
the reconstruction acts, will alone afford the
remedy hoped for il the changes which new legis-
laturos may make in the laws Of the State, which
will not attempt to classify the people thereby to
be affected.
POLITICAL CONDITION OF IuE STATE.
In reference to the political condition Of my dis
trict, l haze TO report everything extremely quiet.
The registration of the citizens under the Recon
s|lruction act and Inc acts supplementary thereto,
has practically ended, and has been accomplished
without violence and disorder, which was predicted
by many of the OLE inhabitants of the State, who
horror-s!rdci at such n proposed revolution rs
would bring about the political equality of the
white and black races, were loud i'll Tie prophcsiea
of riot and disorder. These, i; was assorted,
would DO the conccmitants of any attempts OF the
ireedpeople to register, while tho results Of such Il
state of affairs would be a war OF races. If even
the remote possibility OF such a war be considered,
my observations lead me TO believe that 1t would be
brought about by the whites, and not BY tie freed
men. The latter are q law-abiding people; their
habits, sympathieS and predictions are ali in IA
vor of peace and quiet, AMI nothing 1ut oft re-
peatcd and long continued abuse and injustice will
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