Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-02-22

worse than numerous other instances
They are not. The records of the Freed
Imel's Bureau is full ofjust such cases. An
Ienorinous number of murders have been
committed during the past year i'll those
States. Probably not less than twelve TO
fifteen hundred soldiers, freedmen. and
Union men have been killed. II is almost
incredible that in any part otthis country
such Il condition of atf;arcs should exist.
But il Is not worth while to indulge i'll sch
timcntal denial when the facts are so well
authenticated.
The select committee to which lave re-
TERED. III the exercise of the power con-
terrel on them by the House, called upon
the department commanders to state to
them the condition o: affair, within their
respective commands.
These States are divided into four de-
partments the NirgiDaS are under Gene
raj Schoiicll; the CarolhiaS compose Cen
eral Sickness department; General Ihon-
us has Kentucky. Tennessee. Georgia. Ala
bama, and M>>i>>ippi; and General Shcr-
idan Louisiana, AakanSaS. and Texas
| Three OF these gentlemen and General
Baird antl General Wood who formerly
had commands in those States. have been
betnrc the COMMITTEES. Their testimony
agrees in these important particulars:
| 1-Ju>ticc,i> dcnlel practically to Union
men and freedmen. and offences against
them go unpublished. There have been
| several instances of the murder of soldiers,
but lrp punishment has been inflicted.
| ,. That up to this time there has been
no change for the better since the suppress
sion OF the rebellion, but rather worse.
| 3. That unless substantial justice is
done to the laborng clas>c, hereafter. and
| to the Mon men and nothcrn men who
desire to go there 10 engage in business ell
terpriScS. no improvement in the state of AT
fairs can be expected.
1. The courts cannot be relied on-nci-
Their magi>tratcs nor jurors can be expect
=, ed to deal justly i'll eases between whites
and freedmen. or between tho-,N who cil-
gagged in the rebellion ami Union men.
=. So far rs they h:ntcNprcsstd an opirl-
ioli the department commanders favor Il
law like that now before the House.
! These gentlemen lave had such excellent
opportunities for observation. and are so
, far rem, we'd from temptation to partisan
eXa"@era;ion, that | call the attention of
the House to some extracts from their tc>ti-
moIy, and ask gentlemen to determine
for themselves whether the state of facts
they exhibit does iiet call for immediate &c
ton on the part ofthc General Government.
Gelcrdl Shoiicld was inquired of i'll re-
gard to the punishment of crimes commits
ted against freedmen in Virginia.
on tom. What is the ,tiiculty:i> il i'll the
arrest and prc>cnm. Mt. or i'll the disposition o
the mon who try them:
.l..s,r-r.- Hi. difficulty is in the disposition
of the magistrates and Jurors. Where il j. Il
civil Question alone. Il question of money, ull-
influenced 10y any other question. | think they
most always Il, Justice Ia the freedmen but
where that que-tioiniS affected by any allcga-
ton upon the part of white men of in>ubordi-
nation OF disr,pcct or n>olcncc upon the part
e ~
him in the opinion of the local magistrates or
jurar, for inilictiny upon the freedmen any
pun- hmcnt he may tit: either by driving
them of the plantations without wage, or, AS
has iacu done in some eases. shooting them.
Practically if the employer on Il plantation
chooses to drive Il eolorcd MN off without his
wages. alleging that he WIS inSolent or i'm ,llbor
| climate OF neglected. of his duty, he is wita1u,
reinedy.
! The same question wa> put to General
| Thomas.
| pne ajoA. What i the difficulty; j. il in
failing to arrest the offenders. or in their trial:
| -ia>iccf. y failing 10 arrest unless their
attention is called 10 ii. and then the trial Is
! generally >lurfcd over.
| Qae,tioe. Der, that observations pertain to
all The Suites YOU have e,irnated equally. Geo
rgia. Mi>siS>i,ppi Alablna. Kentucky, aud
! portions of TENNESSEE:
jas,rer. The practice is about the same in
each. The sentiment Of these different locali-
tie, is about the same: the prejudice against
Union men and freedmen about the SANG.
QaeSsios. From Your khewied.r whit
should you say wouk''l~ tls' probabilities, II Il
mprt-r WA. cnn,Aietain that state Georgia
bv a white man upon freedman, of his being
brought before il Jury and convicted:
-lnst-er. do not ylevc there is much
chance of conNicting Il resident or citizen OF
| Georgia for murder II the victim WAS Union
man or Il negro. Ii the murderer was II Union
man or Il negro they would convict him very
speedily. or If the man had moved into Georgia
since the war and was known IL northern
M or Mon man.
/ OHeSttpH. Can YOU suggest any remedy for
this state of things:
.tnStref. The rcmady ! would suggest
would be the cStabli .hnrnt of some >uuervi>-
in- authority in those states. with powers te
tion of. ju,iica.- accompanied lay sufficient
force if necessary TO intl,itz the utoplc tn feel
that the authority i sum lent 10 enforce its
advice or instructions.
| Question. A. time runs on, and ordinary
! u,ilcc is denied TO Il large share Of the people.
of thc,s States. is there fair chance Of the
state of affair, .,"n improving:
| .1.S.rcr. think no, h..cau>e cn'crrri.ing
people knowing that state of ana; to cNict III
| thai country. Would he discouraged from sIi =
there and catering into business. | do not
/ thi;ik the people themselves have either the
.cncr.y or ,ii>po,n am to undertake legitimate
enterprises: :. that is. enterprises fe>ul,ins III
the Improvement of the condition ca assiirS II,
Question. You think there mist be sub
stantial basis of justice t"ae-olipiisli that:
inslrer. Yes, sir.
General SckIes is still more emphatic in
his testimony. lie says it will be inpos.
siblc to maintain our garrisoms in the South
unless additional authority is < ivcn to the
Army to arrest and punish offences agaius,
soldiers.
I General Shcridan's opinion is forcibly
expressed in his report to General Grant
ia December. in which he says the trial Of
a southern a.lm f:.r the murderofa ncgr,
in Texas would be Il farce
+ General Baird and General Wood. in
. their testimony before the commit e., c m
cur with General Thomas in his statmrn
/ of the present condition of affairs and thu
nature of the remedy to be applied.
Aside from all Humanitarian considcra
tons. urge the House to- consider that il
. is the wiscst political ctonosnv to protec
: labor. A Government that aHsws It's la
borers to 20 without remedy for the non
payn,cnt of wages and even TO he shot Wit
!. IMMUNITY for demanding them. cannot ex
poet and should hot have material prosper
, iv. C,od never ha 50 dealt With any IA
/ ton and never will.
= But a higher consideration than this j
that these men 50 prosecuted and destroy
1 ed were our friends in the great battle Ia
i the life Of the nation. These Union me;
l. Of the South. white and black, are now
. hunted and destroyed because they are on
!. friends. TIE Government by means o