Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-07-22
The Bureau in Kentucky and Tennessee.

A late report of the Secretary Of War,
relative TO the coudition of freedmen's
affairs in kentucky and Tennessee, pre-
sents some points of interest. In the case
of Kentucky the Bureau Superintendent,
after dwelling on the increase of negro
vagrancy says There is another cry
" ing ana terrible evil, that of "taking mp"
"or iLdiscriminate intercourse. X "
'Vagrancy and taking up" have never
been so great as at present, or they have
"never been brought so plain y to view"
10 the report of the Superintendent for
" comparatively few written contracts
have as yet been made between planters
and Iabore:s, and but few contracts dur
ing the present month have been sub
emitted for approval at this office"
The Tennessee negro, it seems, cannot
be trusted TO make a contract fora months
labor or hire for himself, yet is deemed
competent to vote. On the school ques-
tion this Tennessee report says:
1t is to be regretted that the colored
people have not been more liberal in the
support and establishment of schools
Their entire contributions and payments
during the month amount to but little over
81, 900. have promised them frequently
aid on the condition that they will con-
| tribute small portion of the cost in labor
or money, which they have seldom if ever
done. They seem to depend on the whites
and the Bureau to supply them with
schools, churches, and many other conve-
niences, comforts, and necesSaries. They
Want schools, but are unWliiHg TO pay any
thing to support them. 1t this time there
wouta probably not be single colored
school IN Tennessee if tie Bureau oOere aOith-
draUn
1t Will be noticed here that it is not
said these negroes are unable, but g unwll-
ing " to support schools. That they have
money is shown by the 81 GOO contributed,
and even if they had none, they could at
least give them labor. But no, they de
"pend entirely on the whites and the Bu-
"reau TO supply them with schools, churches
" and many other conveniences, comforts,
" and neccsSaries." Those who can, and
won't pay for what they want should 90
without. 1t is unfair to saddle old folks
with their needs. Touching next or gen.
cral topics, this report goes on further to
say:
There is much in the political condition
of Tennessee to account for state of dis
order. II is mv opiaion hat there miH no
peace for Tennessee and no sGtetg for the
negro wLHc tie mGjoriy Of propcrfy-holderS
end Taxpayers and Of the white are DIS
tranchised. This, however, is not within
nv prov nee either to condemn or cure.-
But 10 account fol- the great number OF
outragas against TIE freedmen, which
seems to lie increasing. / have felt it TO be
my duty to give my opinion as TO the
cause There is still another cause, but
only secondary one, viz: That SO-r0lird
reconstruction Of the State has prevented
the United States military commanders
from giving the protection they only can
give where the evil law is not supreme.
Now they can only interf,re when called
on bv the civil officers for aid. But As
nearly all the county officers are ex rebels
they will never cali on the United States
military for aid. Ecen tie In on men in
the Stote and county governments are M
,oiliing to rail- 0" the mit'tery for aid an
less on tie eya Of an election.
As a season of labor is now at hand,
and no election is to take place till next
November. may safely predict a quiet
state of affairs TIL the excitement of the
coming Presidential campaign shall have
reached considerable height. Then, be
twee the Loyal League. the Grand Army
of the Republic, the -Klux-klan, the
whites disiranchised, and the blacks en-
franchised, think there will most proba-
bly, be a very disorderly, and probably a
very bloody contest.
As this report is signed by brevet Ma
jor General, Assistant Bureau Commis-
sioner, the testimony it presents as to the
inutility of the bastard government now in
vogue in Tennessee is worty of attention.
For the disorders apprehended in the fall,
" the so-called reconstruction of the State "
is held responsible, and beyond doubt with
entire Justice. But beyond this responsi-
bility is another-that Of Congress for this
so-calIed reconstruction. Whatsoever these
crazed negroes and bogus governments
may do in the way of violence is directly
chargeable to the Radical party. The
seed being theirs, so is the noxious growth
that springs observation-disclosures.
A Precious Lot.