The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-04-02
WASHINGTON.
Operations of the Freedmen's Bur eau in
mississippi and Georgia.
Capture of Fort Rankin Jy
the Indians.
Gallant Defence OF Col. Rankin.

WASHINGTON, April 1.
The present temper of the Senate is against
the ratification of the Russian American treaty
The whole subject, however, will be thorough
ly discussed.
The United States Supreme Court adjourned
until tomorrow for want of d quorum.
The Senate met at noon and appointed
Messrs Anthony and Henderson q committee
TO wait on the President and inform him that
they were ready to receive any message from
him. The Senate then went into executive
session.
Hon. N. G.. Taylor, Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, entered upon the discharge of his du-
ties to-day.
The Commissioner of the Freedmen's Blu
reau is in receipt of report of the operations
OF the bureau in the State of Mississippi dur
ing January, dated Vicksburg, Feb. IT, by A.
Z. Gillen, Assistant Commissioner, from which
It appears that labor was in good demand and
better wages are offered than last year,
While 1T is stated that those who treated the
freedmen unfairly, cannot now obtain hands
The Sub-Commissioner at Natchez states that
while there is some destitutiOn among the freed
men, the most alarming destitution and suffer-
ing are staring the white population in the
face. OF the two classes, the former are better
situated, being able to do that kind of work
generally in demand their wants being few
their expenses are small There were but few
complaints being made to the Bureau. The
schools are reported in fourishing condition;
they are well sustained, and the freedmen are
doing much to support them In conclusion,
Gen. Giilen remarks: There is no opposition
from the more intelligent classes to the educa-
ton of freedmen, but, on the contrary, many
planters have applied for teachers and are will
ling to permit the necessary building for
schools. Gen. Gillen is convinced that preju-
dice against the education of the blacks will
soon disappear. The demand for labor con-
tinues undated, and thousands of colored peo-
pie are brought to Mississippi from the older
md Ia fbrfIf Ia NfnfAa nj rtrls,
lima, South Carolina and Georgia. The ac-
counts of restitution and starvation, so far as
they refer to Mississippi, are much exaggerat-
ed. During January no rations were issued to
citizens, black or white, except those in hos
pital. tz aE
The Freedmen's Bureau has received letter
from the Assistant Commissioner of the Blu
reau for the State of Georgia. relative to affairs
in that State. He reports that there are now
143 schools in operation, with 145 teachers and
7,SH pupils. Some trouble has been exper-
inced ia different parts of the State in settling
difficulties between the freedmen and their en-
ployers growing out of the refusal of the lat
ter to pay the wages promised Even at this
time it is almost impossible to obtain Justice
for the freedmen in the minor courts. In the
higher courts there is evidence of an increased
disposition to administer the laws justly.
The President sent no nominations to the
Senate to-day.
The House Judiciary Committee will remain
in session all the week on the Impeachment
question, and then adjourn until the first of
May. .sss- . -N -a2
A letter from the wife of a distinguished
army officer at st. Louis, received here this
morning, confirms the report of the capture of
Fort Buford, at the mouth of the Yellow
Stone, on the Upper Missouri river
Colonel Rankin, his wife, child and the
whole garrison were slaughtered, in all about
eighty. Col. Rankin had represented fully
four months before, his inability to resist pro-
longed attacks of overwhelming force OF
Indians, if brought against him, and requested
to be reinforced or drawn into more defenci-
BILE position. He wrote letters saying that he
anticipated his fate, and made good his prom
Use to his friends that he would defend his po-
sition to the last man. Private letters state
that he repulsed with his small force an attack
of from 1000 to 5000 Indians, killing 800 and
wounding over 1000 before he was Overwhelnl-
ed. 1t is generally supposed that Col. Ran
kin shot his wife, to prevent her falling into the
hands of the Indians. No possible blame can
be attached to Col: Rankin's memory, for the
fall of the post, as he had had many years ex-
perience in the Indian country, and was an
officer Of great GOODNESS and discretion.