Freedmen's Bureau Records: Roswell Waldo to Orlando
Brown, October 31, 1868
Summary:
Waldo's report comments on the rising need for Bureau aid as demand for labor
decreases, as well as the prevalence of intemperance, which has largely gone
unnoticed accoring to Waldo because of the efforts to keep alcohol consumption
"clandestine."
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Office 4th Division, 9th
Sub-District, Virginia.
General O. Brown
Asst
Commissioner
Richmond Va
October 31, 1868
Staunton, Va.,
General
In compliance with Circular No VI - dated Head Quarters, Asst Commissioner Richmond Va January 29, 1866 I have the honor to submit the following Report of Bureau Affairs in 4th Division (Comprising the Counties of Highland and Augusta) 9th Sub District of Virginia viz:
On account of the many difficulties arising between the freedmen and their Employers relative to the proper and just settlement of their accounts, this office is much sought by the former for aid and advice in forwarding their claims.
I regret to say that many freedmen having confidence in the honor and integrity
of their employers, have entered into verbal contracts with them, and in many
instances, it is not until their duties have been performed and final settlement
made that they discover themselves in the power and at the mercy
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of
dishonest and unscrupulous men, who would not hesitate to resort to any trickery
to deprive the laborer of his earnings, and thereby lay up for themselves an
"honest penny" -- It is this class of men, who boastingly claim to be the
colored man's benefactor & friend and who bitterly complain of the
Freedmen's Bureau. The result of its withdrawal as long as this state of feeling
prevails would be plainly manifested to all well disposed, and honest men.
The season is now approaching when the demand for labor decreases, and many who
have had steady employment through the season have already been discharged from
their work, and although a majority of them have been successful in finding
other employment of a temporary character sufficient to provide for the wants
and necessities of their families there are still numbers who are in actual
suffering and distress and to whom aid should be extended during the coming
winter. By this class I have many applications daily for Clothing and other
things necessary for the alleviation of their sufferings, but I have such a
limited supply of the former on hand that I have been compelled to deny many
applications of the
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needy and deserving ones in order to be able to
provide for extreme cases where immediate help was necessary and essential.
I am obliged to modify the opinion expressed in my last report regarding Intemperance. A more extended observation has resulted in discoveries that a more superficial man would fail to make. It cannot be denied that liquor is used to a considerable extent by the freedpeople of both sexes, but for the fact that so much is disposed of in a clandestine manner, the show of actual inebriation is much avoided. In this respect if no other have the colored people advantage over the whites, as it seems the latter take special pleasure to make themselves as obnoxious as possible while under the influence of liquor.
The progress made up to this time in opening the schools in this Division is not
very gratifying. The colored people in some localities are doing all in their
power toward the futherance of this object, but their limited means prevents
their doing very much. Efforts are being made to open schools in Greenville
& Westview, but the extreme difficulty in procuring rooms for the
purpose, has prevented their suc-
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cess as yet. If the prejudices of
the white population against the Educational interests of the freedpeople were
not so great less difficulty would be experienced [added: in] establishing these schools, and the freedmen benefitted and
encouraged. But viewing matters in their present light, unless pecuniary aid is
afforded these people by the Bureau or some Charitable Association there is
little hope of opening many schools in this Division this winter and the
progress & enlightenment of the race greatly retarded.
Very respectfull
Your obedient servant
Roswell Waldo
A.S.A.Comr
