the weekly constitutionalist
Oar New York. Correspondence.
New York, May 10.
Having written in a dolorous vein respecting
the aspect of Federal polities for nearly a year
oast, I am at last enabled to change my tone,
and to assure your readers that the end of their
humiliation draws nigh. It is “ high tide ”
with Radicalism, its ebb will soon set in—has
already set in—although not generally apparent
on the surface of things.
The policy -of President Johnson has been
6teadily undermining the Radical leaders; and,
within the past fortnight, -they have been made
sensible ot a great falling ofl in tile spirit of
their constituents. The reconsideration by the
Senate of the proposition to deprive officers
appointed by President Johnson of their pay,
until confirmed by the Senate, is the first re
sult of the turn of the tide.,
The. overthrow of the Radicals would be
much more complete were it not that the Con
servative Republicans are extremely anxious to
maintain the unity of that party. Mr. Ray
mond desires to be re-elected to Congress, and
his friends are very anxious to secure the suc
cessor of Mr. Harris in the United States Sen
ate. They are consequently debarred from
annihilating warfare upon the Radicals, who
will be “ coerced” for the present no more than
will be necessary to keep them in bounds.
The main feature of the report of the “Com
mittee of Fifteen ” is already marked for defeat..
The telegraph will have advised yon of the
definite result, before this can reach you.
POLITICAL INFLUENCES.
There has seldom been a time when petty
matters, that ordinarily attract little attention,
were so much discussed in connection with po
litical measures.
■ The rumpus between whites and negroes at
Memphis, is regarded as something of an “ ele
phant,” by the Radical organs. They do not
know how to handle it. Unable to disguise the
innate ferocity and barbarism of the negro char
acter, and fearful lest any day may bring ac
counts of brutal mnrder*and outrage by them,
the Memphis affair is passed over with largo
talk of “ investigation,” with occasional snivel
ing about “ burning churches.” In the mean
time, Northern darkies are doing much to dis
gust any mawkish sympathy for. their race.
Their behavior in public is such as to excite in
dignation. Especially is this true of the black
women. In one of our street ears the other
evening, a party of negresses entered and found
every seat occupied ; When one of the fattest of
them deliberately sat down upon a delicate
young lady, and her rescue from her crushiug
load required the active effort of her companion.
The gentleman in the car ottered their inter
ference to right the matter; but it. was charged
over to the “ civil rights bill,” and allowed to
pass. lam confident that the scene made con
verts to the President’s' policy. At another
time, three, giant negresses engaged in a riotous
lark in the ladies’ cabin of one of our ferry
boats; running, wrestling and shouting, as
boys of fourteen sometimes do; and it re
quired a threat of the police to restore decent
behaviour. These things are commented upon,
and are rapidly developing the old antipathy to
the negro race.
A LITERARY SECRET.
It is revealed in a recent publication that, the
lines published in the Tribune about 1859, be
ginning
“Tear down the flaunting lie
Half mast the starry rag,”
were written by a Bohemian named Clias. G.
Halpine, who has written much under the nom
de plu/ne of “Private Miles O’Reilly.” “Col.’
Halpine was at one time military secretary to
Gen. Hunter, formerly in command at Hilton
Head. I believe he claims to have written the
“Emancipation Proclamation,” ot that officer.
The authorship of a poem which is considered
infamous by men of all parties, has for a long
time been known in the newspaper circles of
this city, but I believe has never before been in
print. Its publication now is through the
agency ol Col. Halpine himself.
SECRETARY STANTON AND JEFFERSON DAVIS.
It is understood that the visit of Secretary Mc-
Culloch, the other day, to Jefferson Davis, was
with a view of rendering his condition more
comfortable. His failing health demanded this,
if no other consideration would be regarded.
It is well known, I suppose, that when Mr.
Davis was first incarcerated in the dungeons of
•Fortress Monroe,he was manacled as a desperado
would have been. The only food allowed him was
the coarsest army ration. A fortnight brought
out a protest from the surgeon in charge, who
was unwilling to be a party to the deliberate
mnrder of a gentleman overwhelmed in politi
cal misfortune. Mr. Davis’s condition Was then
somewhat improved. But he has never receiv
ed any just treatment, until within a very short
time. He is now permitted to have his wife
and children near hin», and his bill of fare may
be regarded as satisfactory. But the surgeon
who protested was speedily “relieved.”
Why this shabby, not to say cruel, treatment
of the Confederate Chieftain? Stanton is its
anthor. His conduct has various promptings.
In 1860 he and Mr. Davis were in Washington,
endeavoring to promote the election of Gener
al Breckinridge. They both agreed that the
South had been trampled upon, and should not
submit to the election of a sectional President.
We know the sequel; and now a perjured vil
lain does Late the ffiau by lias betrayed to ruin.
This is not all. The deaths of fifty thousand
Federal soldiers in Southern prisons weigh
heavy on Stanton’s sou). He knows he is re
sponsible for this dark page in the history of
the late war. He knows he attempted to gain
a military advantage of the South by repudi
ating the just obligations of a Government to
its soldiers taken prisoners by the foe. This
i* the whole case. To fasten responsibility
elsewhere, he caused poor Wirz to be hung.
Bht this murder failed of its object. The
ghosts of Andersouville continue to rise before
Stanton. The moans of his victims ring in his
ears. Their attenuated limbs haunt his vision.
He has therefore contemplated finding in Jef
ferson Davis a victim that would lighten the
burden of his guilt. He would have the Con
federate President executed, not for treason,
but for “ barbarities to the Federal prisoners.”
It is needless so argue the question of re
sponsibility. How the Federal prisoners were
fed may be inferred from the fact that, wliCn
Lee's army surrendered, it had been five days
without regular rations; apd the first order
General Grant gave with reference to it, was to
send food to brave, vanquished, famishing men.
But I will submit one proposition that cannot
be disputed. Take t wenty thousand Southern
men, in full health, confine them to close
quarters in a Northern State, subjected to the
rigors of the climate, without employment,
without hope of release; feed them with the
best the land affords, and they wo<dd die as
rapidly as if an epidemic rage ( falls
to the ground the monstrous attempt of Secre
tary Stanton to fasten upon Jefferson Davis
the horrors of Andersonvllle. n« will not be
permitted to wreak his vengeance upon the
, head of the venerable man now imprisoned at
Fortress Monroe.
BUSINESS MATTERS.
Cotton continues steady but quiet. The
speculation in breadstuffs exploded to-day. In
the past month, the leading grades of flour
have advanced 50 per bW., and fine spring
wheat 50c. per bushel. But to-day a decided
reaction set in. The receipts of flour are more
liberal and increasing, and the Erie Canal will
soon give ns a surplus. Hog products of all
kinds have materially advanced the past week,
but were less bnoyaut to-day. Tho drift of
speculation seems to be to the stock exchange.
Willoughby.
New York, May 14,1866.
Anniversary week has passed, and it has pre
sented features that are just ground lor con
gratulation with all who love mankind. All
the societies organized for the spread, of the
Gospel are found, by their reports, to have en
joyed prosperity during the year that signal
ized the return of peace. Ail those societies
organized for the propagation of fanatical no
tions, make a dismal record. Wendell Phil
lips, Susan B. Anthony, Dr. Cheever, and Er
nestine L. Rose, in meeting together, tacitly
admit that they have (lone about all the mis
chief they can hope to see in one quarter.—
Like Alexander the Great, they sigh for new
worlds to conquer.
The forte of these people is an acrimonious
style of discussion, which shall provoke hitter
resentment. They care nothing for principle ;
ttiey desire controversy and its attendant noto
riety. The “right of suffrage” is now their
hobby; and fortunately, they bring forward
such impracticable purposes with reference to
the matter that they are scarcely listened to.
For a great wonder, they contend that white
women have as good a right to vote as negroes.
Wendell Phillips, has another hobby. He de
mands the abolition of the death-penalty for
crime.
Fortunately, the experience of the hour is
well calculated to prevent people listening to
the clamors of these malignants who style
themselves philanthropists. The burdens of
taxation are so much heavier than when there
was some restriction upon the suffrage, that the
public temper is decidedly in favor of restric
tion again, and the high crimes have been so
common of late, that there is a general outcry
against the inadequacy and uncertainty of the
punishment of criminals. Thus, it would seem,
that the role of agitation which these people
have adopted threatens no harm to any one,
♦and their agitation now, by producing reflec
tion, will serve to -fortify correct principles
against more adroit assaults.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
The efforts to patch up a peace between
President Johnson and the Radicals, at which
1 hinted in my last, seem to have failed utterly,
and within a day or two the Tribune has opened
a hot fire upon him.
The action of the Democrats in the proceed
ings which immediately preceded the vote on
the proposition of the “ obstruction commit
tee,” is regarded as justifiable under the circum
stances. It compelled the Conservative Re
publicans to show their bands; revealing their
awkward position ; demonstrating their will
ingness to vote with the extreme Radicals
rather than do full justice to the South. .
The Tribune this morning also opens its bat
teries upon the tone of inspection into the
affairs of the Freedmen’s Bureau by General
Steadman and Fullerton. These officers have
got no further South than North Carolina when
the Radicals “ smell a mice,” and raise a great
outcry that a “job ” is being “ put up ” against
their favorite institution. How thoroughly un
fair this Is need not he demonstrated.
THE TAX ON COTTON.
I intimated recently, that a proper effort
would defeat the project of levying a tax of five
cents per pound on raw cotton. The Chamber
of Commerce of this city, which is controlled
by New England ideas, has taken strong
grounds that this tax shall not exceed two
cents. This is, fortunately, owing to the doubts
of the manufacturers being able to procure the
establishment of a “ draw (jack ” on the export
ation of cotton goods. With a tax of five cents
on cotton, the large shipments of sheetings and
drills to China, which were made by our manu
facturers before the war, cannot be restrained
without the.aid of a “drawback.” With this
drawback, the five cents tax would-be a “big
thing ” for them, considering how easy it is for
them to gwallow an official oath. But they are
not too silly to get the drawback; therefore
they are in favor of the minimum tax on cotton.
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.
The sensation tills morning I? the new? from
Enrope. There is scarcely a doubt now that a
great European war for nationalities is impend
ing. I have felt this to be true from the bis
ginning ; but many, whose opportunities for
information were excellent, have declared any
war improbable. But respecting a matter of
this kind, a few general principles are a much
safer guide than the closest analysis of current
facts. There are many who still deny the prob
ability of war—among them the Editor of the
German Commercial, of this city. But with me,
all discussion is terminated, except the proba
ble duration and consequences of the war upon
dynasties and principles. Napoleon HI. is un
derstood to have expressed the opinion that
the war will bc.a short one, and will not inter
fere with his industrial exposition in 1867. A
great deal of war can be fought in a year by
nations which hare standing armies.
The campaign in Italy, including the terrible
battles of Magenta and Solferino, was suffi
ciently exhaustive to enable France to obtain
favorable terms from Austria. But the war
which is approaching involves the existence of
one or two first-rate powers, and perhaps the
career of dynasties which are the oldest in
Europe. Therefore, it may be reckoned, safely,
that no single campaign will decide its issues.
The influence upon tho public finances on this
side of the Atlantic will be considerable. In
fact, intelligence from Europe is now sought
as eagerly as it was formerly from the battle
field in Virginia. The news to-day carried np
gold lVj' per cent., and stiffened exchange to
figures leading to the export of gold.
THE LATE COLLECTOR KING.
By a queer coincidence, the body of the late
Collector King, who committed suicide some
months ago by jumping from a Hoboken ferry
boat, was recovered to-day, the very day on
which his successor assumed office.- The body
of Mr. King was easily recognized by big
friends, although somewhat mutilated from
having been so long in the water.
COTTON AND COTTON GOODS.
The tone continues depressed, although the
firmness of holders supports prices. The great
difficulty now in the way of cotton 13, the low
price of cotton goods. Standard sheetings are
selling to-day at twenty cents, which docs not
covet- cost, and does not warrant the purchase
of cotton at over twenty-eight cents for mid
dlings. The supply of cotton goods is not
large, but there is only a “hand-to-month” de
mand, upon which it is impossible ta force an
advnuceinpric.es. The private accounts from
the Liverpool cotton market are less favorable
than the published reports. Willoughby.
Washington Correspondence.
Washington, May 11,1866.
‘ The passage of the Constitutional amend
ment yesterday, by the present delectable rump
House of Representatives, was the occasion of
very considerable demonstration of saturnine
gladness by the Radicals. They smoothed their
grim Plutonian features into the nearest ap
proach to a smile, amt congratulated each
other through their noses on the near approach
of the millenium. The real trouble, however,
is iu the Senate. The important part of the
amendment, providing for the restriction of
tin: basis of representation, tailed before in the
Senate. And the question is will it fare any
hotter there now.
It was amusing to see how true Mr. Ray
mond, of New York, was to himself yesterday.
Mr. Raymond, proprietor of the New York
Times and M. C. from the imperial city of New
York, is, according to the sense of the word as
the times go, Conservative. He is a great
friend of Mr. Seward’s, and the main pillar of
the Johnson policy in the Republican camp in
the lower Houso. Well, Mr. Raymond, in his
paper and in his speeches, supports the Presi
dent’s policy, but when it comes to the small
matter of voting, Mr. Raymond always deposits
his “aye” or his “no” on the Radical side.
He is really a remarkable specimen of the
genus trimmer. What a pity to see a public
man possessing every quality of his station ex
cept the ability to follow his own convictions.
The committee on finance are considering
Sherman's bill to consolidate all the different
forms of the national debt, so as to reduce all
to the uniform rate of five per cent., payable
in gold. Some opposition is manifested to the
proposed feature of perpetual exemption from
taxation. But this is aft essential matter In the
bill. Exemption from taxation is only one
form of paying interest. It is a part of the
bonus the Government pays. If, upon a hun
dred dollars, the Government agrees to pay
five per cent., and to remit live per cent. ®f
taxation, it is the same thing as if the Govern
ment paid ten per cent. And it is much more
convenient to the Government than to collect
five per cent, from the bond holders, who would
purchase the bonds at such a price as would
enable them to get the natural rate of profits,
the condition of financial matters would justify.
In short, it is the same thing to the Govern
ment, whether it taxes its bonds or not. It it
taxes its bonds it sells them so much cheaper,
and therefore it loses the amount of the tax in
the depreciation of the bonds. It is better not-’
to tax the bonds, because, by exempting the
same genera] result is obtained, and the Gov
ernment is saved all the trouble of the collec
tion of an unnecessary tax.
The programme of one portion of the Radi
cal leaders in Congress is to take away from
Washington and Georgetown their municipal
governments. The object of this is to punish
the people of these cities for kicking against
negro suffrage, and to givo themselves an ex
cuse for not pressing negro suffrage to a prac
tical result In the District, which some of the
more astute among them do not think is as ’
popular generally as it deserves to be.
In the great annual anti-slavery meeting which
has just taken place in New York, Wendell
Phillips'appears in his well known character of
avant-courier for the political Abolitionists,
and demands not merely suffrage immediate
and universal, but negro representation. He
gives notice that lie will feel discomfort until a
half dozen or more colored gentl men shall be
seen jn their places in the Senate and House of
Representatives. Then he says the good time
will come when we will have social equality;
when a Caucasian lover will fly to the sooty
bosom of his dulcinea, with as much delight as
if said bosom were white as the drifted snow.
In tin: same meeting Mr. Pepper lifted up his
voiceagai.ist the Freedimm’g Bureau and the
military despotism South. He called loudly
for the removal of the Bureau and the troops.
Well done Mr. Pepper, I ertjoy thy warmth on
the occasion. It becomes tliee, being of fiery
particles.
Senator Nyn In the Senate yc-torday insisted
earnestly on hanging the leaders In the rebellion,
and being requested to furnish a list of the pro
scribed, called for pa), r and was about to d<>
so. It is a singular wnil, t Ltd: some people"
have for blood. Mr. Xyc is si novel specimen
of the ferocious* He U a kind of laughing
Robespierre. He proposes to hang you and
accompanies Ins <Awj', r o fey with so much funny
nonsense, that you can't help laughing at the
proposition.
Washington, May 14th, 1866.
Tic: falsehood of the Radical newspapers is
shocking, and yet calculated to do immense
harm. For instance, the Chronicle, of to-day,
contains a letter from Georgia, which represents
that the negroes in Georgia, South Carolina,
and Alaljuna, have no security whatever for
their lives, but are murdered constantly, with
perfect impunity. Now, of course, nothing can
be more false than this statement; yet, It is
believed, and the injury to the South is im
mense. Napoleon said he coakl overthrow any
Government, if he could have a He believed for
twenty-four hours. The Southern people should
not remain passive under these falsehoods of
men who are no better than assassins. The
true condition of affairs South should be con
stantly explained, so that the antidote of truth
might constantly be furnished, to meet the
error constantly sought, to be infused into the
Northern mind. In some way or other, the
(hvoratile views which truth will authorize, of
the conduct of Southern society, should be
made known to the North through such papers
there as arc willing to do justice. It is con
stantly represented that Union men South are
persecuted, Northern men ill-treated, and
negroes murdered, and the Union denounced,
Ac. Can’t these things be counteracted ?
Thb condition of tho President Is reully cu
rious. He lias not a moment of privacy. All
day, until late at night, visitors throdg his ante
chamber. A good deal of this is owing to the
fact that a vast number seek him because they
do not consider his Cabinet as having his lib
eral views. A person, for instance, who has
something to ask of the War Department,
some simple act,, it may, be of mere justice, and
not of grace, yet having no faith in the tender
mercies of the “divine Stanton,” he seeks the
President.
Mr. Seddon is here, in search of a pardon. He
was up to sec the President Saturday night.—
The President Is as mereifully disposed as pos
sible, but ho is reluctant to give tlie dema
gogues who arc hunting him down like a wild
beast any more capital than he can help, so
Hence there is a disposition to postpone pat
dons in such cases ns Mr. Seddon’R.
The position taken by the Radical leaders as
to the constitutional questions Involved In the
present stat us of the seceding States is curious
In the extreme. One set say the seceded States
fire destroyed, and are mere territories. An
other set say they arc States not in full politi
cal relation with the Federal Government, and
therefore the Congress can debate such terms
as it pleases, as conditions precedent to the
admission of representatives. Butler, in his
recent speeeli at Boston, says cironinstuuces
have altered the Constitutions That is a funny
doctrine. How much have they altered it ?
What provision* are void ? Buck as the major
ity in Congress think Inconvenient ? What a
melancholy exhibition these wonlil-be states
men make of themselves. Alas! what sad
friends of Democracy. In the hour of the.
country’s greatest need, not a heart in
Congress towers above the dead level of the
most sterile mediocrity. Fanaticism, folly,
prejudice, vanity, selflshnr** rule the hour,
and the ship of state is drifting among thq
breakers, nndor the guidance of niudineu.
The rod of terror is held over the heads of
the Republican members of Congress, who are
suspected of being at all conservative in their
tendencies, poster, Senator from Conrtetieut
and the acting President of the Senate, has
been defeated because lie was not quite ns rabid
as some of his Radical associates. Thus, the
weaker members are kept in harness by the fear
of political decapitation.
The report of General Steadman as to the
workings of the Freedmen’s Bureau in Virginia
and North Carolina, is gall and wormwood to
the Radicals. lie shows up the system of prl
vate speculation by which ffie officers are
making merchandize of the freednion, and treat
j ing them in many instances with the most
■ shocking cruelty. This examination of Gen
erals Steadman and Fullerton into the rascalities
of the Freedmcn’s Bureau, will eontlhnc to
bring to light rich specimens of the philan
thropy of the officials in this department. The
most vigilant eye should be kept on these men
everywhere, and they should not be allowed to
grow rich by cheating the poor negro.
In the State of Maryland there arc indications
of a reaction in the dominant party. The State
for several years lias lawn governed by fraud
violence nnd proscription, but some of the
lenders of the party In power are taking ground
Hi favor of the. President’s policy and for re
moving the existing disabilities from the voting
population. When that is done, the men now
acting with the Radicals in Congress from “My
Maryland,” will receive a prolonged leave of
absence from the scenes of their present labors.
Montgomery Biair ban taken the lead in this
movement of reform, and deserves great credit
for his bold course in the premises. Maryland
is all right if her voice were not smothered by
oppressive edicts.
The Crescent Monthly for May is before
us, with the subjoined interesting table of con
tents, Genl. Lee and llis Campaigns , The Ha
madryad, Philip, my Son, Lee to the Rear, Chess
Gossip, Tbe Bewitched Farm Part 1, Rational
ism in Europe, The Letter, Notes in Rome, So
cial and Artistic, Ixjrd Macaulay, Editorial
Notes (very interesting), Literary Notices, The
Confederate Flay, and a Sonnet. The Crescent
is destined to wax not wane, and we advise
those desiring a sound and lasting magazine ot
the right tone, to patronize it. Subscription
one year, 85, six months, S3. Address Wm.
Evelyn, publisher, No. ‘JO Camp street, New
(Weans, fA
I—
! Franklin County.— Wc spent a few days
\ among our friends In Franklin county last
j week. There was but little business of inter
est transacted in court.
We were pained to learn that there is a great
: scarcity of provisions in the county, and that if
I speedy relief is not extended many families
! will sutler for bread.
I The crops generally look well. Sonic tears
. were expressed by farmer? of damage to wheat
,by the 1'(!-. protracted raitis. If the seasons are
fivoi .ib!' , ntwin(fsmcc of grain will tie made.
; We saw very little cotton growing, the farmers
, having adopted the sensible rule of making
breads! nffs the first object of their labor. The
negro's (we believe the word has not yet been
constitutionally amended out ot the dictionary)
are doing about as well as in former years.
The public will be pleased to learn that the
bridge across the Hudson is up again.— Athens
Banner. .
SELAH!
A GOOD TIME COMING!
The Bureau Courts a Usurpation from the be
ginning, and tv be abolished in the State of
Georgia.
From yesterday's Savannah News $ Herald
we condense the following interesting and im
portant intelligence, and thank our cotempo
rary for an enteprisu that places such gratify
ing news at our disposal so early. Generals
Steedman and Fullerton are expected In *
Augusta to-day:
Generals and Fullerton, who con
stitute a committee seut out by President John
son to investigate the operations of tire Freed
mcn’s Bureau in the Southern States, held an
interview last evening witli some, twenty-five
of thirty of our moat respected citizens,- repre
senting all the various interests and profes
sions.
General Steedman opened the conference by
stating briefly the objects of his mission to be
to inquire into the operations of the Freed
men’s Bureau—to learn the influence it exerted
upon the relations of the two races ; whether
Its tendency was to produce harmony or an
tagonism between them ; whether, in general,
its effect was for harm or for good, and whether
it was necessary or expedient to continue its
existence. He invited the gentlemen present
to state what they knew of the evils of the man
agement of the Bureau In Georgia.
Mr. J. M. B. Lovell said that he had been re
quested as a member of the Bar to call the at
tention of the Commissioners to the Freed
men’s Court. The action of this court, in
which both civil and criminal eases were ad
judicated without a jury, while all the other
courts was open and equal rights for the blacks
mid whites were guaranteed by the laws of the
State were calculated to foster a feeling of an
tagonlsm between, the races. If a white man
assaulted another white man he was allowed a
trlnl by jury; If he assaulted a negro ho was de
nted that manifest right.
General Steedman replied that he was unaware
that the agents of the Bureau were exercising ju
dicial functions; that he had not conteniplated
their doing so when he gave General Tilbon au
thority to apply to the State Convention for the
no/MiitUment of civil agents of the Bureau, He
c ould examine into the matter when he reached
. . I ugvsta and have the Freedmen's ('ourts abqtisk
cd in Georgia.
General' Fullerton remarked that the great
pretext for maintaining the Freoilnion’s Courts
was, that the froedmon cannot obtain justice iu
the civil courts, ns the local judges refused to
receive testimony from negroes, and that this
(tfiiuion had obtained a very general belief in
the North through the representations of news
paper correspondents.
Also inqnired whoflier any attention was paid
to the rules of evidence in Hiking testimony iu
the Freedmen’s Courts. Mr. Lovell renlied,
noift whatever; that officers had filled the
bench of the court who had no legal education,
anil who had not the capacity, oven if they had
the best intentions, to conduct examinations in
accordance with the established rules of courts
of justice.
' Also Inquired whether penalties were inflict
ed by the jndge in accordance with the laws, of
tho State. Judge Win. B, Fleming answered
that tlie penalties were oltcu at variance with
the laws of tho State; that for the same offense
for which a whlto man was sent to the penlteu
tiury a negro wan sentenced to labor a short pe
riod on the streets.
Hon. S. Cohen went on to say that the action
of the Freedmen’s Court In this respect had a
more deleterious Influence on the negro, lead
ing him to feci that he had a special protection
and license, und that it gave rise to jealopsy and
animosity between the races. He was confident
that the better elnss of citizens and the well
feeling of all classes were disposed to recognize
fully tlie new relations of the negroes,to them
—the luws of Georgia showed it.
General Steedman asked if any complaints
had been made of unjust discrimination in the
decisions rendered by the civil courts.
Judge Fleming said lie had heard of none ;
he promised for himself that the negro should
have the same justice meted Out to him in his
own court as the white man.
Rev. Mr. Wynn was here introduced. He
spoke ot the convention of colored clergymen,
now being held in this city, composed of dele
gates from the neighboring Btnte.s • he had
been pleased to observe the feeling that pre
vailed in this convention ; it had been publicly
avowed in a set of resolutions, as the sense ol'
the convention, that n bad and dangerous foci
ing wur growing out of the interference, in
their relations with their former masters, of
strangers coming Among them pretending to
be their friends. The resolutions also thanked
tlie citizens of Charleston for their uniform
kindness to the colored people; in the lan
guage of the resolutions, they hurled back the
libels upon the Southern people Who were
their true friends, and condemned the conduct
of Tlie, Northern emissaries who had cortie to
incite insurrection. Mr. Wynn said he find
beeu greatly impressed with the sensible and
manly toite’of the convention, which would
have done credit to any deliberative assembly.
In the discussions and the proceedings generally
an intellectual ability was manifested for in ad
vance ofwhat he had looked for.
Gen. Steedman remarked that the negroes,
wherever he bod passed, had borne testimony
to the kindness of the intelligent people ol the
South; thuy regarded them as their friends/
aud had no complaints to make of then), ex
cepting of a certain class in the cities' whom
they denominated “ roughs.”
Judge Law spoke at considerable length. He
said the great desideratum at the present time
Is a maintenance f>f a kindly feeling between
the, two mutually dependent classes; whatever
tended to produce the eontrary state of tilings
was deleterious and would cause “ delay iu the
retnru of prosperity.” The happiness of the
country depends on their coming together in
their iiintual relations. There was a difference
in their conditions social and natural; we can
not expect an obliteration of this difference at
Once, if ever, bnt mutual interests would in
evitably bring thorn into the kindly relations
which had existed heretofore. As for the re
sults of the operations of the Bureau, be knew
only wiiat his former servant* had told him
that they had been advised not to make con
tracts to wait for the Government land boun
ties, and the consequence was that while he and
his neighbors had 56 or 75 acre* of rice plant
ed, instead of 400 or 600 acres, as formerly,
Northern men iu the same neighborhood had
from 500 to 1,000 acres under cultivation, with
plenty of laborers. He mentioned this to show
that tike Southern people would be compelled
from interest to treat thefreedmen well. Mean
while they should not be prejudiced against
their old masters nor the latter inflamed against
them by outside pressure. Mutual dependence
would establish the* true relations between the
rfiCCk if they were left to themselves. But the
Bureau had produced alienation on account o
the distinction which it made.
General Fullerton inquired if any One knew
of any instance of malfeasance on the part ol
any officers'of the Burean, Buell a* accepting
bribes, working plantations, demanding recom
pense for "procuring laborers for planters, Ac.
There was no response to this interrogatory.
After this a general conversation ensued, the
conclusions reached being that the.tendency of
the Freedmen’s Bureau was mischievous in re
cognizing tlie wTrftcs as the enemies of the
blocks, and th*t. if it were the re
sponsibility felt by the jieople to protect and
core for the freedmen would he increased.
The commission, after completing the Inres
tigation of Bureau affairs Iu the vicinity, will
proceed at once to Augusta. .
Guizot, it is said, has become a Catholic.
