Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-07-15
THE FREEDMEMs BUREAU.
Tbs Alleged kysterIo1s naHaer Of lnysst-
satlag- Charges-' Something Rot
fen ia Denmark.

Ma-M .m RAH r-N. L H
ar We have received the following com
munication from q responsible party.
which we publish in order that the truth
may be known, and fit is not contained
In the communication the latter may
elicit h.-EDs. APPEAL g-szets
Complaints and charges against the
agent Of the Freedmen's Bureau, at. this
place, having been forwarded to Wash
Hington, on Thursday last a Brevet Lieu
tenant Colonel of the United States army,
himself connected with the Bureau, we
believe, came to this city to "tnVesti-
gate" For some reason or other he made
the Bureau office his headquarters, and
the Bureau agent, against whom the
charges had been preferred, his associate
and travelling companion, and with whom
he visited and interviewed those who had
made afhdavits against an Immaculate
guardian Of the poor negro. On Friday
Grenada, Miss, about halfpast ten
O'Clock, and called up a eoiored
man who had made affidavit that his
bounty, except $50, had been paid7to him
In goods, the remaining $50 having been
paid to him in money by a merchant to
whom the said Buresu agent had referred
him and they her and there catechised
him most rigidly. He reports, however,
that his statements we're substantially as
given in his afidaVit made several
months ago. The prosecutor had notified
this Brevet Lieutenant Colonel on Friday
morning that he had sent for this witness
and was expecting him in this city the
next day, and was yerY much surprised
at hearing that said witness had been
thus Ku-Kluxed. Neither the prosecutor
nor any one else, so far as we can learn,
has been able to find out what this
officials authority or Instructions are in
the premises, or that he has any
authority to investigate the matter.
He did not desire the statements of the
witnesses to be made under oath, but
simply wanted to see them in company
with the agent here. Yet the prosecutor
insisted on having their affidavits taken,
and gave said official a copy. There is
something strange in the manner OF con
Quoting these Investigations in regard to
Bureau matters. When complaints were
made against the claim agents here the
Bureau was converted into a kind of Star
Chamber, where the Commissioners heard
the evidence against the claim agent,
ca pdrte, and thereon made their report,
which resulted in the suspension of
Messrs. Meyers & Dedrick, Frank Bras
and other attorneys, who have procured
an investigation of the matter on which
the report Is made in the Adjutant Cen
erals Office, that the evidence is "insufh-
-cient to Justify the suspension Of an attor-
ney as claim agent" tSee circular head
quarters of the army, A. G. Office, WASH
ington, July 8, 1870, signed 7. NJ. Vincent,
A. A. G., reinstating Frank Bras, ESD, as
claim agent.) But see how the pure,
praying Bureau investigates charges mads
against its attaches, even when sup
ported by affidavits of as respectable men
as can be found in any community. Why,
his office is attempted to be made a sort of
inquisition, wherein the witnesses for the
prosecution are to be catechised and cross
questioned to see If they will contradict
their afidavits, and that, too, without any
court or commission being there TO pro-
tect the witness in his rights,
and without any arrest or arraign-
ment of the accused having been made.
The prosecutor is just now puzzled to
determine whether the Bureau officials at
Washington are e~ndeavoring to inquire
into the truth Of the charges, Or to cover
up a "brother's faults" We shall see.
The elasticity of the mantle of eharity
win be thoroughly tested, If it should
happen that Washington and Memphis
are in partnership. But If they attempt
the whitewashing process they VIII ind
hat all the lime and chalk in the country
will not remove the clouds OF suspiciOA
that now hang over the concern. Think
of three men being paid large salaries by
the Government, and office rent and other
expenses, to pay OF an average from n
to three bounty claims per day, and then
of delays and eorrRptiOns in the matter!
We have no interest in this matter, only
that We like to see fair play. Tote fair,
gentlemen, l.. Il. y.