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of the education of the freedmen, urging t[scan cut off] under the new condition of affairs the m[scan cut off] est of the former masters and of the freedm[en?] demand that the negroe should be educated, a[scan cut off] least in the rudiments of a common Sch[ool?] education.

Florida

He submits to the Governor, of his E[n?] dorsement and reference to the Legislat[scan cut off] a Bill crudely drafted by himself, whic[h?] which provides for establishing school[scan cut off] freed-men, (placing the whole Expen[se?] on them) and also a normal schoo[l?] for the Education of teachers of African descent. The said Bill authorizes the [Gov?] ernor to appoint a State Superintenden[t?] of Common Schools, with a salary $1.500 00 per annum., with asst. Superintend[ent?] appointed when needed by the County Co[mmis?] sioner; provides for the Schools and off[scan cut off] above named, from a School fund to be [scan cut off] rived from a tax of one dollar per c[ap?] ita levied on all colored males over tw[en?] ty-one years of age, and from tuitio[n?] fees of twenty five cents per month f[scan cut off] pupil, orphans being excepted.

In a letter to Ca[scan cut off] J.H. Durkee, General Superintendent of [scan cut off] Counties of Alackua, Marion, Putnam, [scan cut off] ter and others adjacent, of date Jan 18th 186[scan cut off] Col Osborne directs that officer to use h[scan cut off] strongest moral influence ot prevent [scan cut off] il officers from administering justice freed-people by the pillory or by public whipping, but, in the absence of awaited in structions from General O.O. Howard, to positively prohibit it unless "it is he[scan cut off] ing offensive to the impulses of common

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humanity. While expressing his repugnance at the mode of punishment, Col Osborne declares that it is th[e?] intention of the Bureau to interfere as little as p[os?] sible with the provisions of the Legislature to go[v?] ern the people, unless authority given civil off[scan cut off] by the Legislature is

Florida

In an advisory le[t?] ter to Capt Curkee, of later date than the above, Col Osborne admonishes that officer to treat the natural prejudices of the Judges of Probate and Ju[s?] tices of the Peace, agents of the Bureau, on the negr[o?] question, with some degree of tenderness, the mo[re?] so, an account of their having almost without e[x?] ception undertaken the duties of agents in go[od?] faith and with far more justice towards the negroes than Col. Osborne had reason to exp[scan cut off] Capt Durkee is however directed to be firm an[d?] persistent in insisting upon and main taining the rights and security of the free[d?] men as citizens, and is urged, in fine, to exert his influence in behalf of Equal justice to all; to give his advice when necessa[ry?] and to cultivate pleasant relations between the freedmen and the white citizens

Missourie and Arkansas Note will be found on the next page

On the 8th inst, the Bureau is in receipt of the General Report for January 1865, of Brig General J.W. Sprag[scan cut off] Asst

Florida

In a letter to Major William Arthur, Asst. Comm'r at Jacksonville, of date February 5th, Col Osborne announces that he has re-

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ceived Special Order No. 1 current series, from this office, and communicates the purport of the same with reference to the requirements from Civil Agents of the Bureau to that of fice.

Florida

Col Osborne instructs the military officers now on duty in the Bureau in Jacksonville, Gainsville, Lake City Marianna to use utmost diligence to learn who, in each County in his District is most properly fitted forIts

The appointments will be made on the [re?] commendations of these officers, by the [illegible] Commissioner for the different [Districts?]

Missourie and Arkansas

On the 8th inst the Bureau is in receipt of the General Report for January 1865[inserted, circled: 6] of Brig. General J.[illegible] Sprague, Asst Commr for Missourie, [and?] Arkansas.

Its first topic is that of the issues of rations, during the month, to [refugees?] and freedmen.

Number of Rations issued to Refugees and Freedmen

To two thousand four hundred and for ty seven (2.447) of the former, forty seven thousand eight hundred and thirty six (47.836) rations were issued, [show?] ing a considerable increase over the is sues of the preceeding month, while [illegible] five hundred and forty seven of the [illegible] ter, (i.e. freedmen) eleven thousand six hundred and ninety six (11.696)

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Kentuckey

intimidated civilians, that some of his most valuable Superintendents are reluctant to remain; they either fear violence or loss of their property, or else see no political advantage in the future from longer continuance in the Bureau.

"The Bureau to be effective in Kentuckey must be administered with great firmness.

The State should be made to understand in em phatic and energetical terms from the highest authority, that the Bureau is in the State legal ly, and that it will remain there supported by sufficient military force, to enforce its regulations promptly until the freedmen are by the Civil laws amply protected in person and property.

The General calls upon the Commissioner for fifteen officers (of the Veteran Reserve Corps) with sufficient ability, prudence, firmness and tact to serve in Kentuckey; and be sta tioned, as Superintendents, at the Chief Centres of population.

He deems that much could be done towards tranquilizing the State, and preventing and preventing restlessness among the freed men, if the Commissioner could say official ly as coming from the President, that the Bureau is in Kentuckey in accordance with the laws, and that it will remain there for the present, and its continuance cease only when justice is otherwise secured to the freedmen.

Kentuckey politicians of all shades, and citizans of all degrees by respectibillity, in order to influence the coming Eelction, will vie with each other in their efforts to obtain the removal of the Bureau from Kentuckey.

Georgia

On the 12th instant; the Bureau is in receipt of a Reprot from

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General Tillson, ASst. Commr, relative to his tour among the Sea Islands of Geor gia.

Georgia

The General reports that with a very [few?] unimportant exceptions not yet reached all the questions in dispute between the [freed?] people on the Island, and the former white residents, have been amicably settled. "In many isntances the former owners have returned to their homes, being welcomed by the freed people not having grants of land, who have gone to work for good wages and are happy and contented. Those having grants have had them co[n?] solidated on one part of the estate upon which they were given, as directed in S.F.O. No. 3, and are also satis fied. In addition to these results, a aving of from Six thousand to Eight thousand rations per month to the Government has been effected.

General Tillson regrets to add that the very lavish and unnecessary distribution of rations "in these Islands" has produced mischivous consequences, and States that there are really but a few cases, where rations should have been issued. He fears that "in most instances from lack of means to ogbtain seeds, [implements?] animals and food, the freedpeople having grants of land will fail to raise [food?] crops," and does not think that there are [illegible] familier on the Sea Islands of Georgia to whom their grants of land are of any value what ever.

"Land is very abundant but labor is scarce and commands a [very?] high price" "It is perfectly apparent to any one acquainted with the [cond?]- tion of things on these Islands, that the freed people would be much better off at the end of this or next year to go to [work?] for wages than to attempt to cultivate [illegible] lands assigned them [scan cut off]

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Georgia

General Tillson is fully convinced from personal examination, that the question over which there has been so much dispute, as to whether or not the freed people shall retain these lands for a few years, has ceased from the cheapness of land and the scarcity of labor, to be of the slightest of consequence to them and says "I earnestly recommend that if this is an obsticle in the way of the passage of some suitable bill to en-" law and to obtain justice."

South Carolina

On the 13th instant, the Bureau is in receipt of Brevet. Lieut. Col. John D. Everoux's (S. Asst Comm'r) report to General Scott of the 28th ult, forwarded by General [Sctot?] to this office on the 7th instant.

Col. DEvereaux mentions the preliminary official steps taken by him on his arrival in Edgefield District, and calls the attention of his superi ors to the following facts relating to the condi tion of affairs therein by him [illegible].

"1st. The total military force in Edgefield District is nineteen Enlisted men of the 25th Ohio Vet eran Volunteers" commanded by a Lieutenant, seven men of which force are stationed at Edgefield Chourt House, and twelve at Hamburg. Edgefield being one of the largest and most unruly Districts in the State, this small force is utterly inadequate to exact the proper respect for the United States Authorities."

2on. There are two organized bands of outlaws, one consisting of eight men, and the other of thirteen men led by an ex-confederate major, named Coleman, at present raiding

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