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

B.reau r.. i. d A. L., Washington, ID. c.:
GENERAL have the honor to submit the iol-
lowing report upon the operations and condition
of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and ADan..
doned Lands, within the limits Of the district OF
South Carolina, for the year ending October l.,
1867. q,
AT tho time of the transmittal of my last annual
report. the Bureau in this District had assumed
| an important well defined and fixed position, as an
institution, whereby the benefits of O more en-
lightened civilization were to be thrown open to a
people hitherto deprived OF the same. AT q pc,
Rod prior to that date more or less confusion had
existed in the management of our affairs owing to
causes beyond our control, but which gradually
gave way to system and order.
With a view to concisenesS, l propose to give q
short resume of the workings OF the Bureau dur
ing the last year, under eacn OF the following
heads, viz:
Condition of the freedpeople and refugees.
Free labor and its results.
Contracts and their character.
Education and schools.
Sanitary condition OF the people.
Religious education and moral condition.
Military cooperation.
Civil Courts and their action.
Political ondition OF the State.
| Current expenses.
Report of business of the A. A. A.. Generals
Office and restoration of abandoned property.
Respectfully referring you for details to the
more copious reports OF my subordinate officers,
accompanying this as appendices.
CONDITION OF rREEDPEoPLE AND REFUGEES.
Owing to the partial failure of the cotton crop
and the almost entire destruction OIL the corn
crop, BY the prevalent droughts OF the Summer OF
1866, the people of this State entered upon the
present year without sufficient supplies to carry
| then through the past summer.
This state OF affairs made itself manifest as
early as the 1st of March, 1866, and it vas seen
that in some localities a majority OF the popula-
| ton would have to be supported by charity, or
starvation cnsne.
During the eleven months, included from Nov.
III. 1866. to Sept. 80, 1867, l have drawn from the
JGommissary Department, u. S. A., for issue to
Refugees, 1875, 4S7 rations Of corn and pork, and to
Freedmen 6S2, OILS rations OF corn and pork.
The first distribution Of supplies under Joint
Resolution of Congress, to prevent starvation and
extreme want, took place May /, 1867, the last,
August II, 1867; during this period Al 549 2O-56ths
bushels OF corn, 100000 pounds OF pork and 13O.-
757 pounds OF bacon Tore issued by officers and
agents Of this Bureau.
During the period intervening between the ISL
of April and the LIST OF August, 1867, about 70, Aus
bags containing sc, 806 bushels OF corn were re-
ceiycd from the Southern Famine Relief Commas
sion of New York. 81 bags Of corn were sold to
defray expenses of freight aid draya9e, and the
balance was distributed by citizen agents, selected
for the purpose, whose names were suggested Ill
most part by his Exceilency Governor Orr, and III
4 few instances, especially along the coast, bj oip-
1Acers and agents OF this Bureau.
y To this Commission the INDECENT and destitute
DGOIlB VI IA N1S NNNA nNCNm y
t~iona<for their energetic efforts and prompt 10
sponses to the appeals made to it for assistance.
Three thousand bushels OF corn we're also re-
cclved from the Philadelphia Relief Commission,
of which Mr.. Welsh was chairman. The Commits
sion also sent other and larger amounts of sup
Mics into the State for gra,uitous distributions, but
"a = thew were not distributed through this Office, l
have no means OF knowing the amounts.
Fifteen hundred bushels of corn were purchased
in this CITY by Mr.. Addison Gage, agent OF the
Boston Relief Commission, and distributed through
this Office.
the sum OF seven thousand dollars Ill money, sent
ia me by the Boston Relief Commission, OF which
Mr. YIN. GRAY was chairman. This amount has
been distributed mostly IN small sums Except one
thousand and one hundred dollars used Tor the
purUosc OF supplies Of corn and bacon) by parties,
h,th ladies' and gentlemen, who, from the nature
of tbeir occupations, it vas reasonable to suppose
would be cognizant of the necessities OF such as
were most likely to need relief and could not be
reached by other sources.
The persons receiving this charity were those to
whom corn and pork would not have been o. any
benefit, as their condition was such that they
needed more nutritious food, or assistance III pro-
ylding shelter and clothing. ,
The aggregate amount of supplies contributed
of which | have official knowledge, has oeen W.
Sj5 bushels OF corn, IVO,OUo POUNDS OF PORK anu
1870 1877 pounds OF bacon.
Tn addition TO the above, large amounts OF corn
and bacon. witt some clothing have been sent to
vorious partieS in the Stale, from Mar!lauu' LEU
/ nessee. Missouri and KENTUCKY. ,
: With the wheat harvest, which occurred about
the list of July, the northwestern districts OF the
STATE found themselves IN possession OF sqthclent
sunplies to do away with the necessity OF their re-
ceiy1ne anv further charitable assistance, and Ill
CONSEQUENCE. during the months OF July. and Au-
gust, provisions we're distributed only Ill those
districts woere wheat is not grown.
To these various supplies the people n tins
State are IN many instances inaebted for the pre-
servation of their lives, for had they NOT been sent
they would have been unable to cultivate then
lands, from want of sustcnancef for themselves and
animals.
OF the destitute who have. hiring the past lew
months, been mainly supplied by the charity OF
the government and OF charitable associations. l
desire to call your attention more particularly u
two classes.
LIST. y large number of widows, orphans, and
aged mon and women (whites) who, prior to and
during the war, were supported by the income OF
funds invested Ill stocks OF various KINDS, anu
wcreinduced by those in authority to reinYestthese
funds in Confederate bonds, now find themselves
entirely dependent upon the charity of others.
I'd. There is 4 large number OF agcdand crippled
and brokcn-down freedmen and women who will
continue to be dependent during tue remainder oil
their lives.