. The South : a tour of its battlefields and ruined cities, a journey through the desolated states, and talks with the people: being a decription of the present state of the country - its agriculture - railroads -business and . eneral Fiske appeared to me peculiarly fitted for his posi-tion; and he was generally supported by firm and efficientofficers ; although, like all the Assistant - Commissioners Isaw, he complained that the law establishing the Bureau didnot permit him to choose his own agents. He had to takesuch army officers as were given him ; some of whom werealways found
. The South : a tour of its battlefields and ruined cities, a journey through the desolated states, and talks with the people: being a decription of the present state of the country - its agriculture - railroads -business and . eneral Fiske appeared to me peculiarly fitted for his posi-tion; and he was generally supported by firm and efficientofficers ; although, like all the Assistant - Commissioners Isaw, he complained that the law establishing the Bureau didnot permit him to choose his own agents. He had to takesuch army officers as were given him ; some of whom werealways found to be incompetent, or neglectful of their duties,or so prejudiced for or against the blacks that they were ren-dered incapable of administering justice. A few \\ere in sym-pathy with slavery. Others, meaning to do right, were seducedfrom a straightforward course by the dinners to which theywere invited by planters who had favors to ask. With such,the rio-hts of the freedmen were sure to suffer, when into theopposite scale were thrown the aristocratic Rebels flattermgattentions and the smiles of his fair daughters. It was the practice of the agents of the Bureau to makefreqaent tours of their counties, and General Fiske himself was. OLD WRONGS RIGHTED. 339 in the habit of running off every few days to visit some impor-tant point, where his organizing and concihatory influence Avasnecessary. Often he would find the planters and the freedmenseparated by hedges of animosity and distrust. Usually hisfirst step was to call together as large an audience as could beobtained of both classes, and explain to them the object of theBureau, and the duty each class owed the other. In nearlyevery instance, earnestness and common sense prevailed; thefreedmen came forward and made contracts with the land-owners, and the land-owners conceded to the freedmen advan-tages they had refused before. Sometimes exciting and dramatic scenes occurred at thesemeetings. Not long ago, said General Fiske, I ad
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