Freedmen's Bureau Records: Thomas P. Jackson to
Orlando Brown, September 30, 1867
Summary:
One of the issues Jackson discusses in his monthly report concerns the ease with
which white employers defraud free blacks, because blacks are not yet
sufficiently educated to keep records pertaining to their employment. Jackson
also notes a rise in complaints related to physical assaults against women. The
letter also discusses relief for the poor, the ineffectiveness of the judicial
system, and the need for religious and moral education among former slaves.
Bureau Ref
Fmen & Aband Lands
Office 4 Div 9th
Sub Dist
Va
Brev
Brig
Genl O. Brown
Asst.
Comr District of
Va
Richmond (Thru HdQrs 9 S.Dist
Va)
Sept 30/67
Staunton
General
In compliance with the requirements of Cir Order
No. 6 Series 1866 (B.R.F.&A.L.) I have the honor to report a condition of Bureau
affairs in this Division (counties of Augusta & Highland) that
Freedpeople are peaceable and generally industrious, while employment is readily
procured at fair wages. While this is the rule there are of course exceptions -
some Freedmen are restless or indolent and many employers are not disposed to
treat with entire fairness the laborers that hire. This is becoming more
apparent as engagements for the crop season or year come to a close, and
disputes arise (now frequent) on the settlement. The system of long open
accounts with Freedmen is a door wide open to admit cheating. The laborer cannot
get his money from the employer but his family must eat and he takes Bacon,
Flour &c for which he is charged store prices, while for Sugar
&c or clothing he must accept [illeg.] on some storekeeper who
charges his own price & quantity and even if these are fairly charged he
is not able to keep an account and without knowing it he spends all his
earnings. During the past month
[page 2]
complaints of this kind have been
numerous, but as the Freedman has no check account of his own he cannot
substantiate his side of the transaction while the employer has books to verify
his side and the complaint falls to the ground. When I ask the question, why did
you take all these goods or orders when your contract calls for money, the
common answer is "I could not get money and my family had to eat and be
clothed." If the Freedman had eduction sufficient to keep an account of quantity
& price of all they receive in lieu of money wages it would be no
disadvantage to them to take pay in the way but as it is now with them such a
custom which is rapidly becoming the system will give opportunity for endless
fraud. Where the facts in the case are clear I still find no difficulty in
securing payment [added: of wages] where there is
doubt I can do nothing. There is a general disinclination to come to the Bureau
agent to have contracts drawn some employers will not hire a man who wishes it.
The circumstances of a majority of Freedmen here are comfortable but those who
have to [unclear: incumbrance] are prone to frequent change and do not, while those with large families cannot accumulate. The Aged and helpless will be
reasonably cared for by the Overseers of the Poor, but medical aid for the sick
in the absence of any Dispensary in the county is out of reach of the poor or if
availed of in many cases involves the sick person in debt he cannot pay.
[page 3]
I regret the Department is unable to furnish some Medicines for the
indigent Freedpeople here, the Social relations between white and colored though
in the main unchanged present no sign of improvement, in fact more complaints
than usual have been made during this month of both Freedmen and women being beaten by whites on trivial or no
provocation. I refer such cases promptly to the District Magistrate but redress
is so slow, uncertain & expensive that the result practically increases,
not remedies the injury. Nothing can set this right but having at least a
majority of Magistrates selected from the non slaveholding class.
The Political relations of the White and colored are as friendly as can be expected between parties whose principles are diametrically opposite. That Freedmen will cast their votes for Republican candidates is certain and it is equally certain that their doing so will give great offense to many employers. Already men are being punished in advance in the various ways, so easy for proprietors or employers to resist to without infringing the letter of the law.
The moral condition of the Freedmen admits of infinite change for the better and
such changes must be brought about before they can advance in the social scale.
Even yet the marriage relation is considered more a legal than moral bond
[page 4]
and nothing but religious education of the young can obliterate the
demoralizing effect of generations of promiscuous intercourse between the sexes,
but consent if not encouragement of their masters. I regret I must again report
that no Division has yet been organized in Augusta or Highland in connection
with the "Lincoln Temperance Association" I have tried publicly and privately to
form such Divisions but the apathy of those who should lead neutralizes my efforts for the present. There has been less
intoxication among freedmen here, during this month than the past. Numerous
enquiries continue to be made for relatives sold & separated from each
other, but in the large majority of cases the clue is too indistinct to render
successful enquiry
[added: probable] and I do not forward them.
The general aspect of the Freedmens future is favorable compared with their former position. Still they have much to do and much to learn to enable them to advance in the march of progress in a corresponding degree with white men and of this fact the Thinking men among them are becoming rapidly convinced and the disposition is not to act aggressively against white men's rights but to be most severely careful of their own rights so suddenly accorded to them.
Respectfully submitted
Yr obt
servt
Thos P. Jackson
Agent
