Mr. ELIOT. I understand the Gentfrom Maryland [Mr. PHELPS] to withdraw his objection to the bill, and shall certainly be glad to have his vote given in its behalf. The 1st objection made to this legislation is that this whole hill, in its object, scope, purposes, and provisions, is in contravention of. the constitution. This would be a marvelous misfortune, if true, and would prove that our constitution, ordained to romote the general welfare and to secure the lessings of ibert, had not within itself the power to do its wor. It has not hitherto performed its full work, we know. When slavery lived, and within nearly 1/2 of our lle public laws were in force which permitted an encouraged human bond age, the people could not be secured in the em Mr. Speaker, ill it be in a position to joymont of these blessi. There is not, however, any provision innfiise constitution which in specific words empowers us to pass this law, and there are some gentlemen who seem to require such specific grant of power before they can consent to act in this direction. But to those not unwilling to discern it the power to act is obvious enough. No one will deny, at this time, the military power of the CommanderinChief to. declare freedom when Mr. Lincoln acted. But no express grant of power to that effect can be found in the constitution. We were in war. The institutionof slavery was used as an instrumentality of war, powerfu, effective, and controlling. Without it the rebel States would not have gone to war, and could nothave conducted it. I tavas the back round of their strength. It supplied them with good and dug them intrenchments and supported them at home and in the field. It would have been madness in us and great folly not to have taken from them this strength. But more than that. The men who were made to work against us were our friends the only friends we had in all the rebel Statesignorant it may be, degraded by slavery, but still our friends. The President then, Mr. Speaker, had as CommanderinChiefthe powernomatternow about the right, the justice, as Mr. Lincoln said, but the powerto liberate the slave. By all the laws of war, since war was 1st waged, where slaves were held by either contending party, he had the power. Underthe constitution Congress had used its powers to raise and support armies, to make rules for the government of our forces, to provide for the suppression of the insurrection. All the war powers in the President were in force, and that was one of them. The freedmen were cast by that act upon our Government in a time of war. But the power to free them involved the duty to protect them, and for that protection Congress must provide, and every provision in this bill if fairly called for in order to protect them is thus justified. I read that constitution with other eyes than those which look at it from the standpoint of the master. By that military emancipation they were made free; butin Kentucky, Delaware, Missouri, and Maryland, the GommauderinChief did not free them, nor in all of Louisiana or in Tennessee. Missouriand Maryland acted themselves. But in Kentucky and Delaware the chains were shackled fast until the amendment of our constitution declaring all men free was ratified and the 2nd section of that amendment confcis the power and so creates the duty for just such legislation as this bill contains, to give them shelter, and food, to lift them from slavery into the manhood of freedom, to clothe the nakedness of the slave, and to educate him into that manhood that shall be of value to the State. The objection to this bill because of the fact that it left the whole country to be districted has been removed by the amendment which the committee have authorized me to report. The objection which was urged last night, because of the expense which this bureau would create, is removed materially by the amount which the committee, on the part of the House, in the 1st and also in the present substitute have reported. The argument on this 1point which was made by the Gentfrom Kentucky was upon the bill as it came from the Senate; it was not upon the substitute which had been offered to the House by this committee. The salaries which were discussed were those named in that bill and not in this. The number of clerks objected to was the number provided for in the Senate bill and not in this. By the terms of this bill gentlemen all under. stand that officers of the Army, or enlisted men, so far as their services can be procured, will be detailed for service here. The expense as I believe, and as the friends of this measure who have examined this subject most careful] believe, will be fully borne, fully met, if only the bureau can have a fair chance, and the freedrneu who are cared for by it can have an opportunity to make their labor remunerative. I But the gentlemen from Kentucky have said that this bureau is not wanted an where, especially is not wanted there and my purpose as much as anything else in asking the attention of the Housenow, was to lay before it the official evidence that I have here upon that subject. 1st, I will read an extract from a report of GenlHoward, the brother of the Commissioner, concerning the white “ refugees. He says: At Atlanta. there was more of an accumulation of destitute freedpeople than I had seen elsewhere. The armies had more completely devastated all the country around. Many whites. at least 300 families. as estimated by the sub asst coiuniis oioner. will suffer greatly this winter unless relieved by Government agoncyx The bureau officer had as sisted some of these destitute refugees by transportation and rations. he was endeavoringto find places for all the able –bodied colored people, and hadalready considerably diminished the numbers. By the help of the asst commissioner of the State. he will be able to apprentice most of the homeless children. Many cases of violence to negrpesin that section are reported to him. but his district is so large that he cannot fehweosa asess. Mr. ectifythese evils except in compara Several good schools and a hospital are in successful o oration at Atlanta: the former; as at Macon, being c ielly sustained by the benevolent associations of the North.” Concerning Florida, GenlHoward says: “From conversation with Lieutenant Colonel aptborpe oneof Colonel Osborns inspectors. as well as from the other ourccs of informationmentioned. [conversationswith citizens of Tallahassee and v1 ciuity and with Generals Foster and Newton.] I becameconvinced that there Were rather more exceptionsin Florida to the general rule. prevalent in southern Georgia, of reiudice and unjust dealing against the freedmen. at that still with the majority of the people there was the same unwillingness or moral incapacity to treat them With fairness and as freemon. “I was informed by a high Military offic ialthat s ince the hanging of a citizen for murder at Tallahassee convicted by a military court and the pending trial of another for shooting a negro, he had received letters from parties declaring they would not live in a country whera a man must be hung for resentin an insult with arms and where a man must be tric for his life for shootinga nigger. Hcinformed meal so that certain of these parties had carried out their thrept oflcaving the State, and had gone to Texas to reside.” “From the sameo fiicial Iwas gratified to learn as a testimonial to the good discipline of some of the colored troopsand as an offset to the complaints against them in southern Georgia. that all the principal citi lens of Jasper. Florida. petitioned for the return of a company of colored troops which had beenordered away from there. The constant quarieling hcti Veen dischargedUnion and rebel soldiers resident there rendered the presenceof troops necessary. The colored troops were put back to continue garrisoiiiu: the place.” hereis the same disposition to depreciate wages in Florida as in Georgia. Concerning the necessity laid upon this bureau to provide for medical treatment of freedmen, I would state that from reports made to Surgeon Homer, medical chief of the bureau, it appears that " A majority of the physicians of the distribt (Vir ginia) refuse to render any services to these people unless compensated in advance. “A much larger number of freedmen would benblo. evenin their present condition to provide for their own medicalcare were it not for the system of charges for medical serviccs and uiedicines through theState (Virginia) is at such a high rate. Few physicians, comparatively as yet make the properdistinctionsin favor of this c pass of persons and still continue to demand payment in advance for all services rop dered them. 5 dollars a visit. even for short distances is no unusual charge and anequallyhighrate fo“r medicines is apparent that very few of the large number offreedmen find it possiblein then "present transition state to pay those rates. although in the larger places somehave succeededin so doing and the munder in increasing.” From NCarolina: “A colored clergymanof Raleigh reports to Colo nel E. Whittlescy. lorty6th U.S. colored troops. that he was unable to obtain a physician to attend his sick family and that a combination exists among the local physicians not to give medical attendance to colored people.” From Georgia Surgeon Lawton writes: “I wasthere (at Macon) last week: sawthe mayor and told him the Governiuent did noti tend to relieve local(civil) authorities of the care of he Sick and infirm in the city. 110said that the negro population was estimated at from 8 to 10,000 in and around the city, gathered from all the neighboring counties and the city waspoor could not. would not take care of them. nderneaththe professed loyalty and Union sentiment of this state Geormapliesa deep, bitter feeling of hatred and animosity; years may softenit. but for the present all this feeling Will crop out. as it does constantly. in act of cruelta toward the I 1866. 657. The bate toward the northerners spends itself in that direction. I could spend the day in relating such Ihnacts. Atlanta. I know from personal inspectionthat multitudes of the feeble and women and children are living either in the o onair or such rude rlitllild of brush and loss and o d tin from car roofs as they mina. construct. Exposed to storms and cold and such ii life inductis a large amount at sickness and a high rateof mortality. Ned ycsterdny (January llfi. 18663from atour of inspection of We weeks over the State. The demand increases, or else a knowledge of the needsof the freedmen grows upon mofor help Smallpox spreads with terrible rapidity and fatality and Generally civil authorities show a cruel HOQHIGEIeI ssan wicked inililicrence to their wants which does little credit to their humanity.” From Texas the surgeon in charge writes that “CaXtaiaW. D. Wardlow recently ordered to Ho mer nveliua county, wllll 2 companies of the 12th Illinois cavalry. reported his intention to arrest a planter named llcrnian Brown for killing a freedman. It is stated and corroborated by the evideuce of the dying man that Brown had in his service the freedmans wife and denied him the right to see her. threatening to shoo thim if he came again. which throat. Brown carried out. Captain Wartilow says it is currently rumored thult oreis an organization with some of the planters to lull every freedman that leaves his former master. In SanAugustine county a planter named Gaduen informed his employees that they were not free until Cbristmas and compelled them to stay.” I now, Mr. Speaker. read to you an extract from the report from Kentucky oi Brevet MBJOI General Fisk, asst commissioner for Kentucky and Tennessee: BUREAUFassninm, Rnroons. SrirsAsssomr Knsssrrnciiii and Tnssssssn. Commissioners Orricn. N. SlllLl. E. Tssnssics. January 28. 1 Gnsznsi.:I assure you that in no portion of the country is the bureau a more positive necessitythan in many counties of Kentucky and for the sake of the naantdioinnsbephliaizlhf tocfdhhf auimthamtoty hearnwdaJrudsst. i cteh, eIlrcimedpmloeren. you and the President to listen to no request for its withdrawal from the state until the civil authorities, in the onforccmentofimpartial laws shall amply protect the persons and property of those for whose protection and defensethis arena is set. I saw with my own eyes our fellow soldiors. votclnd in the uniform of their couutrys Army fresh from their muster out of service who. within the last ten days. were the Victims of llcndish atrooit from the hands of their former masters in Kentucky. These returned soldiers had been to their old homes for their wives and children and had for this olicnsobeen winked down whipped and horribly bruised and rontened With shooting should they ever dare to set their feet on the premises pl their old master again and intimate that their families werefree. Oa the very day last week that Garret Davis was orig edin denouncing the Freedmens Bureau in 218 U.S. lbenate his own neighbors. who had ught gnllantly in the llnion Army were loading [it in self for the otcction which thocivi authorities fa led to alior. The civil law prohibits the colored man from hearing arms: returned soldiers are the civil officers. dispossessedof their arms and fined fer VlOllilOll of the law. “ I intlose herewith copies of 2 letters received from Meade county. Mr. Stewart is circuit judge. It would. I fear, do great harm wore the bureau to be withdraw from any portion of the county where slavery has ceased to cXist as thercsult of the war. until the peoplo shull have had ample time. under the guardianship of the Government. to adjusttheir new roiotwns on thael basis oi impartialll justice to alllagoni ain. loner. ver respect it your e on servant. clisros B. hiss. Brave! Mqior General. Auislanl Comminioner. Major General Howsnn. (bnimiuioner. die. The letters referred to by General Fisk are as follows. The 1st is dated IlllsNDlZNBLRGHK. ssre exr. December 29. 1865. Sin: I hows the honor to inform you that the freedmen of this county have been grossly imposedon by former rebel owners. Whether the are rebels at presentis loryou to Judge upon the information given me by the freedmen. I will state one circumstance iiiiven are by Mr. H. Patterson. a member of company. 18th 100 and honorably U.S. colored infantry. he was discharged the service on the 15thday of September. l$tli. Ecame to this iilacc country and sent to the for his Wife and children. Hcir former owner, Shucklott. of rebel notoriety. Refused to give the pp to their father and husband and notifies the soldier ifhc comeson his lands for the purpose of gettin them he Will shoot him. He has not not them yet. Ilease inform me what course should be pursued in regard to the freedmen. We have no agent for the freedmens Bureau at this place. The disposition of the wouldbe rebels is to persecute the freedman to the utmost extent. Sir. another thing I Wish to call your attention to is the oppression of returned Union soldiers. On the 18thof. December JllSdiia. Union soldier. formerly of the 17th licntucliy cavalry. Came to this and was grossly beaten by a former rebel sofdilaiccro. guerrilla and his friends reasons. that he had sent negroes across the Ohio river. He was beaten for oboying an orderiseuod by you to his officer and by his captain tohim. The civil authoritics have tnlien nonotics Of the disgraceful riot on the bnbbiith. Anil such things have occurred on several occasions. The enil law here is in the hands of the rebels. For character I refer you to Colonel I]. W. Critter: ilcn. U.S. Army and (oloncl James T. Bram lelte. IllsllLtlOlrgtlltll of Kentiicky. I am. Sll, very respectfully. “nirrollmdient servant, Formerly Lieutenant 12th Kenluclru(, bnalry. Maior General PALiisa. Now. sir, I give an extract from the letter of Judge Stewart, dated at Brandenburgh, January 4, 1866: General FIBK: There is a place about 9 miles from this called Meadevdlc. for merl a guerrilla headquarters. At that place there has cona reign of terror for 2 weeks. The retenso of the rascals concerned in it is to expelal the freedmen. They have made the declaration thatvno one shall hire a negro. not even the former owners of them. One mans houses were burned some days ago on the faith of a rumor that he was about to hire his fermer slaves and put them there to live. The family of accrtiiin John Blunt Shacklett. to ther with a Jesso Murray Shacklell and Bill shacks ett they attempted to carry out their purpose here do. before yesterday. They With cocked pistols pa r ed several negroes about the street and went in searchofsome who had been in the Army and would undoubtedly have killed them if they hmdbeenfound. Someof us(very few) went into business about this point and they were soon cleaned out. 2 being badly wounded. I learn that yesterday they woro assembled in force at Mendevillc; no processofltiw gun he served upon them. Now what are we to do? cannot undertake the business, for I have been thumped to death nearly heretofore. Please inform mewhat may be looked for at once. Obediently, die.