New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-03-13
COMMUNICATIONS
Doe, sis Country owe Him q
Debt OF Graiiludef
wAsuISGroS, D. c., March 10, 1873.

D7partment Of Howard University mas never
aided 70 draw out large and highly appre.
,.ai.ye audience. Tie success which has
attended this Department since Its inception
yehc,t. the highest credit upon its Dean,
Pro-. J. ". Langstou. md his associates,
Hon. 4. J. Riddle and II. D. Beam, Esq.
Whatever may be said OF the ability, re-
search. and careful training manifested by
tie graduates Of this Department and the
,51scQuent credit reflected upon their In
.,,actoys, Is ONLY incidental TO thought suS'
y,.tal by tie exercises OF the 9th u!tlmo,
at The congregational Church.
Ia the charges preferred by Hon. Fernando
Wood aga.ns, Gen. o. Q. Howard, On April
4. $50, vh.sh we.e made the subject OF
confessional investigation, the gravanen
&. tic cIsuse was that Cen. Howard, as
G5ru,u;s,.ouc. c. the Freedmen's Bureau,
lad ....sappsopsiated its funds In that he had
les,owed upon such institutions as Lincoln
niyers!tv, Berea College, Fisk University,
Atlanta University, Straight University, the
Howard University, and few other inst!tu-
tons enumerated in the charge, over one
million dollars. 1t Is only necessary that
attention u called 10 the report OF the (om-
-,;itcc On Education and Labor, to which
.l.e.c charges were referred. After a care
IL, and thorough investigation, the pIosecu-
;.ou having had an opportunity OF summon
iaz al. Tie witnesses they desired, the en-.
L.,;cc reported as follows:
81; Is asked, Has tie Bureau been sue
c4:.? Success. The world can point to
nothing like it in all the history Of emanci-
patton. No thirteen millions OF dollars were
crcy more wisely spent. In conclusion, inc
r4i.r..ltee find CT. the whole case that tie
CHARGES axe utterly groundles5 and causeiess:
that the Commissioner has been q devoted,
honest, and able public servant. The com
Iittee aui that his great trust has been per-
.1.nc.i wisely, di-intercstly, economically,
ana most successfully"
Tie following resolution reported By the
c jrn!Bittee was passed:
"ncsai,ea, Tint the policy pursued by the
Bite.i @t-i.= toward fcur and hall millions
q it, people sudi6nlv onfraDch:sed by the
vents o. 4 great civil war, IN seeking to pro-
Nia f.. them education, to render them in-
dependent ani sclf-surporting, and in ex-
tending 10 them c.Si! aud political equality,
:: Z source G? ia7t national pride, and that
The House hereby ls!u.ts Major General
Oliver 6. Howard @. tha groundess and
,ausslcs: charges lately preferred against
'.I1, aud does hereby declare and record its
Judgment that in successfully organizing and
administering with fidelity, integrity, and
ability the Freedmen's Bureau, which has
SO much TO the accomplishment
Of the Grst two Of these great ends, he is dc.
serving Of the gratitude os the American
.eorie."
The report was concurred in by eight cut
@. q committee Of ten-two Democrats dis
:cnting. There sould be no more thorough,
complete, and gratifying y!ndication. But
.atterly similar charges have been raised,
it nay not be out Of place to
call attention to soEue Of The difficulties en-
" Gen. Howard ia the prosecution
Of this wocl: and tie wisdom OF the course
SSEu vi "liAi cs-G
ready accomplished results.
First. As to the difficulties. IN this con-
nection letter from Gen. Sherman to Gen.
written in May, 1866, about the
time the latter assumed charge Of the Bureau,
is in place, since 1t contains the candid and
unbiased opinion Of man than whom no
one exercises more reliable, discriminating,
aud practical Judgment. Gen. Howard, on
his new duty, advised his old com-
lnander by letter. General Sherman, In a
friendly reply, thus wrote:
81 hardly know whether to congratulate
you or not; but OF one thing you may rest
assured, that you possess my entire conf
deucc, and ! cannot imagine that matters
which may involve the future of four millions
Of souls could be put In more charitable and
more conscientious bands. So far as man
can do believe you will, but fear you have
Hercules task. God has limited the power
Of man, aud though, in the kindness Of your
heart, you would alleviate all the Ills OF hui
nanity, /. Is not in your power, nor is it in
your power to fulfill one-tenth part Of the ex-
pectatious Of those who formed the Bureau
for the Freedmen, Refugees, and Aban-
aoDed Estates. 1t Is simply !mpracticable,
yet you can and will do all the good one man
may, and that Is all you are called on, as a
!aan aud Christian 10 do, and 10 that cx-
tent coun: on me as friend and fellow sol
der Tor council and assistance" AS to " hat
Gen. Howard las accomplished, SAYS Mrs.
Stove, u her work Of Men Of Our Times,D
Gen. Howard has been earnestly at work In
tbs position ever since 1865, amid great didi.
culties and distractions, but with unfailing
faith and industry. Doubtless the freed people
have, IN many things, been faulty. ltwould
be strange, indeed, If whole race could, Ia
he tw!ak.iog Of an eye, put OF the bad hab-
It's JI1ued aud ingra.ned into the very text
u-e Of their bodies aud miads by heavy
tyIaEDy Of two centuries mud half. But al.
ready, to g very great degree, labor has been
recognized. justice has been secured; sys-
tens Of education have been established the
transition period from slavery to liberty has
beea safely passed, and the freed people have
emerged from thclr state Of bondage into that
Of American citizenship" Keeping in mind
Gen. Sherman's letter as fair statement Of
difficulties to be encountered, the report OF
the Congressional Committee on Labor and