The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 11, July 1907 - April, 1908 Page: 291
vii, 320 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Presidential Reconstruction in Texas.
291
the local work had been carried on by the various post commanders.
From the beginning General Gregory addressed himself assidu-
ously to ameliorating the condition of the labor situation. In his
first circular order, October 12, after emphasizing their freedom
and making clear that it was the office of the Bureau not only to-
act for them and to adjudicate all cases in which they were con-
cerned if the civil courts failed them, but also to give them sub-
stantial protection, he urged upon the freedmen the necessity for
their going to work under contracts carefully drawn up and ap-
proved and registered by the Bureau. All officers and good citi-
zens were enjoined to disabuse the minds of the freedmen of any
idea of a Christmas division of property. In November, General
Gregory, in company with Inspector-General Strong, made a tour
through the eastern counties for the purpose of acquainting him-
self with conditions there. During the trip he endeavored to give
the blacks a knowledge of their true condition, especially with refer-
ence to the necessity for and the manner of making contracts for
the next year. He returned exceedingly optimistic with regard to
the character and promise of the sable populace.1
In the meantime, so many petitions had poured in upon the
Governor to forestall a threatened uprising of the blacks at Christ-
mas that he authorized the organization of county police.2
Furthermore, on November 17, he issued an address to the
negroes which he caused the chief justice of each county to read
to them. He told them in the plainest terms that they must go to
work, that they could not remain idle without becoming criminal,
that they would get nothing more from the government either at
Christmas or at any other time, and that if they disturbed the
property of others they would be severely punished. Reinforced
by the efforts of General Gregory and the army officials the ad-
dress seems to have had a very good effect, but many of the negroes
1In the light of over forty years subsequent history, the following
statement made soon afterwards, is highly diverting: "The freedmen are,
as a general thing, strongly impressed with religious sentiments, and their
morals are equal if not superior to those of a majority of the better in-
formed and educated. We find them not only willing but anxious to im-
prove every opportunity offered for their moral and intellectual advance-
ment," etc. It is also an example of the pathetic ignorance which some
of these high officials had of their wards. Report to General O. 0.
Howard, House E me. Does., 1st Sess., 39th Cong., No. 70, p. 375.
2See above, p. 287.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 11, July 1907 - April, 1908, periodical, 1908; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101045/m1/295/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.