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434 435 Head qrs. 5 Mil. District, State of Texas, Bureau of R., F. and A.L. Austin, Texas. Oct. 22. 1868. 816 Howard Maj. Genl. O.O. Commissioner &c. Washington, D.C. 812/817 General. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 6th inst. in reference to the conduct of the schools for the ensuing year. After a careful consideration of the subject, I am persuaded that it would not be advisable to apply for teachers from the North with any idea of those teachers being young ladies. It is almost impossible to obtain homes for them, and from the experience of the past, I fear that it will be utterly so, to assure them of safety from outrage or insult. It is generally known that the existence of the Bureau is limited to the first of January next, and as the active, personal efforts of the Agents has been their only protection in the past, it is vain to hope that others will defend them when these are withdrawn. If there are ladies who prefer this field of labor, or wish to aid in this work in Texas, if notified in advance, the best arrangements possible shall be made for their care and comfort. I should be unwilling to assume the responsibility of placing them in a position of so much exposure, thus tempting what we most dread. I have received no communication from the American Missionary Association in reference to its intentions for the coming year; but I learn that two young ladies sent by its Western Agency have arrived at Houston and been located there by the Superintendent. If the Association can supply a number of Male teachers we can make such arrangements as will cause them to be of great service. But for the present I must limit my application to gentlemen; and it will be for them to come expecting no favor, and ready to meet with opposition and insult. The Reports of the Superintendent will be modified in future to meet requirements of your letter. I am General, Very Respectfully, Your Obt Servt, J J Reynolds, Bt. Maj Genl. U.S.A., Asst. Commissioner, State of Texas Head qrs. 5 Mil District. State of Texas, Bureau of R., F. and A.L. Austin, Texas. Oct 20. 1868. 817. Howard Maj. Genl. O.O. Commissioner &c, Washington, DC. 816/817 General: I have the honor to submit the following annual Report of the operations of the B.R.,F. and A.L. in this State. The report for last year became due about the same time I assumed the duties of Asst. Commissioner, but it was unavoidably delayed until the 20 Nov. 1867. This I apprehend is of no material importance save in so far as relates to disbursements. You will observe that the report of the A.A.Q.M. and D.O. embraces a period of only eleven (11) months Viz: from the 1st November 1867 to the 30 October 1868. Inasmuch as you inform me that you will at the close of the year require from me a supplemental report, I shall at this time be brief. The orders issued by me for the government of the Bureau have been few. They have been forwarded to you from time to time as they were issued. My constant aim has been to give to the freedpeople of the State all the protection possible with the means at my disposal and at the same time leave them free to act for themselves in all things pertaining to their material welfare. In all matters of contracts, whether for wages or a portion of the crop, and in the disposal of the results of their labor I have exercised no control save as in so far as they would be guided by the advise and council of the Sub Asst. Commissioner. The freedpeople look to this and are generally governed by it. The greatest difficulty I labor under, as I have often before reported, is in securing to the freedpeople justice in cases of a criminal nature. I have used every means I could employ to educate and force the civil authorities up to doing something near their duty, but the sentiment of the entire people is so demoralized and they are so specially averse to recognizing the equality of the Negro before the law, that I cannot report any very great amount of progress in that direction. Owing to this condition of affairs I have been compelled, in many instances, to authorize Sub Asst. Commissioners to arrest, try and punish certain classes of offenses committed upon the freedpeople. While the civil authorities and citizens so signally fail in punishing those of the white race who commit offenses upon the freedpeople
