Year: 1866

The testimony of the freedmen themselves
to the usefulness and necessity Of such an
institution as the Freedmen's Bureau, is worth
hearing. Generals Steadman and Fullerton.
considering that the colored population of
Virginia might be somewhat interested in the
working OF the Bureau, held an interview at
Norfolk, with delegation chosen by the col
ored people of the city. Mr.. Keeling was the
first speaker. He was born in slavery, and
bought himself for $s5O-a very good bar
gain-and paid S110 yearly rent for himself
while he was earning the money. His re-
marks are thus given in the report of the
commissioners: eossn 1888 yeh.a as


l hope the Freedmen's Bureau will not be
abolished until law and order is restored here,
and to the whole country; were the govern
ment to remove it now, while we are not re-
cognized as men by the whites OF the South
it would be leaving us and the white Union
men at the mercy of the ignorant and still
rampant rebels and enemies of the govern
ment.


claim that it is unsafe to abolish the Bu-
reau until the government declares that we
are men, and we have the enjoyment Of all
our rights as American freemen. u ft u


1t is unsafe to remove the military force un-
til we are put Oh an equality with all other
citizens.


L hope the Bureau will be allowed to remain
until the laws OF the State are modified and
remodeed SO that we can have justice before
the civil courts-so that we can choose our
rulers-so that we can have a say as to who
shall receive the taxes that we pay to support
the State and municipal government


The people of the South must be taught
that we are men like unto themselves, and
that we must be respected as such. 'd3t


The people of the South must be educated
and instructed as to the fundamental princi-
pies of our government. We will assist to
pay for their education. We have extended to
them the right hand of friendship, and they
have spurned it with scorn and and contempt.


We are quiet and orderly, and law abiding
citizens; but we wish to be consulted as to The
making of the laws that govern us. s..
We are directly interested in all things the
same as the white man. We treat the whites
as we would have them treat us. We respect
them, and they must learn to do likewise. We
do not molest the whites, but they are contin-
| ually interfering with US. In many cases when
we work for them they will not pay lis for our
labor until forced to do so by the law and if
the whites alone have voice in making the
laws, they viii not provide for us in those
laws. Much prejudice stlll exists against us
by the whites, but zoe do not feel any animos-
ity against them. s--. al boo
We are willing to cast off the past, and unite
to harmonize for the future, but they reiiise
to come up to the standard of right and JUS
tice. 20 l. ~. '''
If the Bureau must be removed, let us have
good military TO supply its place.


But the Bureau, as it stands, must be SUD-
ported. protected and assisted by the military.
To have peace, we must have a republican
form of government; then, if we have good
officers, we will have justice before the civil
courts Of the State. iaa asi tra8I. .,.... T.
1t is very doubtful that white jury can be
found here that viii do us justice. ..g


Ihope and pray that the Bureau may re-
main and be strengthened, and that peace
may be soon restored DIS"


As yet | see no provision made by
the Legislature of Virginia by whiea the
blacks, with the white loyalists, are protee'eu
from the disloyal whites. ,,o,.o


The whites fear the military, anu, L pe,iefe,
Judging the future by the p'ist ,ney WI, @ no.
give us Justice unless iofceu 10 uo 50 ny 'ne
military.


n,ant and we are all safe. Make him re-
snonSbe citizen-I mean give him the use of
tbe ballet, the exercise of this right as free
man. the exercise of the SAME rights as his
toreathers had in the formation of the gov
,ernment.


When we vote, we will then and not until
then, feel safe; then we will feel that we have
come to the age of maturity, and that we are
no longer incapable of protecting ourselves.


The remaining delegates were Mr.. Selden,
discharged seaman, Mr.. Portlock, recently