New-York tribune., 1868-12-25

Ja,oerous to tho newly liberated race. What
% do with the negroes was the problem. The
Freedmep's Bureau was the answer. Its work
cannot he told within the limits of news
noncr article, nor indeed of a volume; but
the outlines may be indicated.
First: 1t secured justice to the freedmen.
Wbcrever a Bureau officer was to be found
negro murder ceased to be one of the pastimes
Of the late guerrillas Contracts were enforced
Men who agreed to pay certain wages LOT GER
tain labor were kept from getting the LABOR
and refusing the pay-eyen at the cost oil
seizing upon their crops as security. Inc Agent
became counsel for the freedmen when iinpo-
sitions upon them were attempted IN the courts
and Judge when they had difficulties among
themselves.
Second l.; The Bureau secured the revival OF
industry. The negroes were AFRAID 10 leave
tho towns to labor in many parts of the
countrv the promise of protection from the
Bureau Agent emboldened them Ihcy
Thought that. being free, they need never work
onv moro "a in ode ole Slavery times;' tho
Agent convinced them that it was an nalien-
able privilege of the able-bodled freeman 10
sunport himself or starve. They were led oy
designing men to hope that the Government
WAS about to furnish each one with an I'M
proyed farm, and set him up in business; the
AGENT made them understand that the Govern
ment had no supply of mules and ploW5 for
onvbody. They were unwilling to make
bargains with cotton OF sugar planters save by
tbe day; the Agent convinced them that
planters must have the certainty OF sufficient
labor. the season through, before they could
safely attempt making a crop. They wanted
| full pay every week. or, at furthest' every
month; the Agent explained to them how the
safety of the planter demanded, and their oWn
| interests suggested, that part OF their wages
| he reserved to the end OF the year. Ihcy
feared that, after working all tho year. thcy
would be cheated ont of their earnings al
its close the undertaking OF the Agent 10
enforce the contracts made them willing
| IN enter into contracts. When they became
alarmed and stopped work, the Agent was ap-
| ncolcd to-rarely in van-tO induce them to
return to their tasks. When, restless under the
consciousness of liberty and belief that it ought
70 mean moro deness than formerly, they took
| HOLIDAYS without leave, or failed to Work lilil
hours. the Agent was the surest source OF IN
Aucnce TO secure the observance OF their siue
| of the contract rs well ~ the other. Bad as
were the cotton crops of 1866 66-'Gl. they were
| double what they would have been without TINS
| aid of the Freedmen's Bureau.
Third The terrible destitution among both
! black and white at tho South was relieved
| The odium of this tax upon the revenues of
the country has rested upon the negroes; the
benefit went largely to the whites, and manly
| TO Rebel whites OF their neglected families. In
the first months Of confusion after the cessa-
ton of hostiltics, tho number thus relieved
was immense. Even IA late as August,
1896, there were 1is,i2O persons supported
by issues Of rations from tho army
commissariat The Bureau gave system
10 these issues. sent away those able TO sup
mort themselves, and limited the charity OF the
! Government TO the sick. nirm, and orphans,
| The burden thus assumed was gradually re-
duced, as families were taught to take caro- OF
their own helpless oncs. till. for the year 1861,
the daily average was only l.6J3 for the entire
territory OF the Southern States. The amount
of misery thus relieved ia incalcuabe; the
cost has been comparatively tri1ng and only
those can object to it who would have our
noble State charities abolished.
Fourth: The Bureau has sought 70 urge
upon the newly cnfranchlscd classes the de-
STABILITY of securing homes of their own. 1T
| has taught them 10 seek an ownership of small
tracts of land near their old homes wherever
they could obtain them. and has encouraged
them To enter homestcads from the public do
main. In Florida alone nearly three
thousand homestead entries have been
made by negroes. In other States this
movement has been lc' general ;
but the tendency to the purchase of small
farms has been developed. and the best founda-
ton thus secured for an industrious population
and large addition TO the agricultural wealth
| OF the country.
rim: The Bureau took care Of the interests
of colored soldiers. Many Of these had unset
tied claims for bounty. pensions. Ne, oi winch
the land sharks known rs claim agents were
robbng them When the willingness ot the
Bureau officers TO do ths work was once
known, no negro soldier could be induced to
trust other parties with it, and large sums
were thus preserved to the real aud needy
owners, while the purpose of the Government
in awarding the money was attained.
Sirth: Next to tho discovery that freedom
did not mean living in idleneSs. tho greatest
want of tho liberated slaves was sense OF
the necessity OF education, ana u chance to get
it. The Bureau had been organized but short
time when two facts became apparent the ne
grocs wanted to learn and there were plenty
of persons at the North anxious to teach them
The work of the Bureau then became the bring
ing of the two classes together. and their pro-
lection Within two years 2,?OI schools
wcro opened and successfully conducted
with e.4ls teachers and i3O, ,7Gj pupils Sunday
r,.l