Freedmen's Bureau Records: John W. Jordan to Orlando
Brown, August 31, 1868
Summary:
Jordan reports that the distrust felt among blacks in Augusta County is a product
of the fact that whites do not want to recognize their status as citizens, and
because they continued to be taken advantage of in the labor market.
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Office 4th Division, 9th
Sub-District, Virginia.
Bvt
Brig
Gen.
O Brown
Asst Comr
B of R.F.
& A.L.
Richmond, Va
Aug 31st 1868
Staunton, Va.
General
In compliance with instructions contained in Circ No VI from H.Q. Asst Comr &c dated Richmond Jany 29th 1866 I have the honor to submit the following "Report" showing the condition of "Freedmens affairs at this date in the above named Division.
Nothing has occurred during the "Month" which is calculated to change the
opinions hitherto expressed as to the capacity of the colored race in the matter
of becoming a thrifty self-supporting population. Occaisionally
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I
meet with one who seems disposed to remain poverty
stricken by declining to take advantage of opportunities by which employment
&c might be secured but with these
exceptions the race as a race are evidently advancing in intelligence and
industry - and I am convinced they would show more
[unclear: earnestness] in embracing education & other
advantages if any substantial encouragement was given them by the whites. I
believe that the feeling of distrust cherished by them toward the white people
which was engendered by the disposition betrayed (immediately after the war
closed) to not allow them any of the rights & privileges of the citizen,
has been strengthened by the indifferent and [unclear: careless] manner
in which the interests of the freedpeople are handled in the Courts and by the
whites generally. I am not prepared to
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produce any particular
instances wherein the aforementioned facts can be established but my conclusions
have been arrived at after close observation of the workings of public
sentiment.
The crops have so far as a general thing turned out better than was generally
expected thus demonstrating the fact that the farming interests have not been
injured by the change in the larbor system and if all of the employers would
deal justly and honorably with the laborers many of the evils of which they
complain would be lost sight of entirely but when they impose all kinds of
charges &c upon the laborers reducing the
balance due to almost nothing and frequently bringing the latter in debt they
must expect that dissatisfaction would grow out of such
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injustice and
it becomes very reasonable when it is [unclear: remembered] that by
reason of the ignorance of the laborer in connection with his suspicion of the
white man the nature and details of business transactions cannot be explained to
him in many cases.
Intemperance does not seem to be increasing to any marked extent among the colored people.
The Schools have been closed during the summer months but it is expected will open in few days with much larger numbers than ever.
I Remain General
Very Respectfully
Your obt
Sevt
Jno W. Jordan
A.S.A. Comr
&c
4th div 9th SubDist
