Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-05-19
tpaluhman g. journal,
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1869.


WEDNESDAY, MAY ~, lcO5.
The Frecdmcn's Bureau.
Daring recent visit to the Howard uniycrsi-
ty Buildings at Washington. the present head
quarters Of the Frcedmcns Bureau we learned
some facts concerning the present condition and
service Of this institution which has lccn ot such
eminent usefulness in lifting the cmancipated
slaves lrom the abyss of slavery to the plane of
liberty and equality
The buildings themselves are admirably stu
atcd ON the hill a short distance North Of the city,
and the view FROM the front euuunce Of the main
structure is US fine Ms cln bc obtained about
Washington.
Gen Howard still remains in charge Of the
/ Bureau, and will doubtless so continue through
! the summer, though there Inns hccn talk Of as
signing him to other duty. lie still retains Gen.
/ =. Whiulcscy as odiuiant Gen Bollocl as dis
bursting officer, Gen II NJ Whittlescy as quar-
tcrmastcr aud Gen. Sowll "a. inspector. The
bureau bias pleasant rooms on tie first aud see
oud floors Of the University building, the school
rooms being also on the first door, and the third
noor being as yet unoccupied.
There has ntel, under tlcnction OF Congress-
been thorough reorganization of the bureau
forces The position of assistant commissioner
has been abolished, and there are now none of
this class OF officers anywhere. The position Of
State dsbursiug officer has also been di-contin-
/ ued. and the finances are now entirely managed
/ by Gen. Bnlloch. The office Of quagtcrmaster is
soon 20 be closed and in fact Gen. Whittlesey
and his four clerks are now doing nothing but
settling up the Old business. OF go there was in
the bureau a couple Of years ago, there remain
only the educational and bounty -cnim- divisions.
The establishment no longer administers the
criminal laws, no longer deals in corn and bacon
and other supplies, no longer furnishes Transport
taton for refugees and freedmen Its whole duty
now is to aid the cause Of popular education in
the South, and to assist colored soldiers and their
heirs in collecting the bJuuties promised by gov
ernmcnt during the war.
There is one superintendent of education in
each Of the southern States, and each superiuten-
dent has one clerk only. Such of these gentle
men as are in the army draw their regular army
pay; the civilians are paid out Of the bureau
funds the compensation ranges from 81 200 to
50. 100 yearly. No superintendent can employ
more Than one clerk and each official is expected
to give his whole time to the educational work.
The bureau can aid schools in only one way
by putting up, or assisting to put up and repair,
school buildings it has no funds wherewth to
pay teachers. It is entering ON new policy
heretofore it has mostly aided schools and acadc
mics in towns and cities hereafter twill endeay.
or to do more work in the country and small vii
lagos The new instructions specially enjoir
superintendent to labor in this direction. III,
work has been greatly confined to towns anC
cities because of the prejudice and hostility +
3 negro schools in the country districts the white
Of the South yet occasionally indulge Themselves
in the amusement Of burning uol-houses, bu
time and patience have partially conquered thei
luminosity, and the President and Secretary o
War and Commissioner agree in the conclusion
that the season is ripe for a more vigorous ellor
, 10 reach the villages and rural ncighborhoods
Each superintendent is n report briefly ever,
month to the general superintendent here, Mr.
, j. W Akord, and in january and July then
must be full semi-annual reports to the commits
, soner. The spring reports show an improve,
O feeling eyerywhere-in mast localities the resi-
dents know that Gen Grant is now in the Whit
House, and that the ballot cannot be taken ava
c from the black man. The appointment Of som
colored persons to office is mentioned as one O
, the agencies working toward the enlightenment
= Of the whites.
f.; The bureau must keep up constant fight witt
thieves and sharpers, and, at the least, it is prob
able that the nscals manage 10 cheat many of TN
negroes out Of considerable portion of thei
f dues. The situation in this regard is worse il
h Kentucky and tennessee than in any other States
An average Of about $4,000 per month
= paid over to claimants. A complete history q
every claim is kept. So far as is practicable, tn
money goes to claimants through the Freedmen
c Savings Banks of the South--the officers Of whic
4. institutions are presumed to be genemlyacquaint
ed with the negroes in their respective localities
e Two or three bounty agents are, however, ker
on duty in each State-all these are dctaile
= army officers. The number Of this class Of oil
= cials is being reduced as fast MS possible.
t The bureau is selling off its property wherey,
h it can find purchasers.