ain whatever might be needed under that provision of the law,
and to make periodical reports as to the demands made upon the
Government through the bureau. Directions were given by the
commissioner to his assistant commissioners to make repeated reports
to him upon all the various subjects which had come under his
charge--with regard to the number of freedmen, where they were,
whether in camps or in colonies, or whether they were employed upon
Government works, and stating, if they obtained supplies, how they
were furnished, whether by donations or whether procured by purchase.
Reports were also required as to all lands which had been put under
the care of the bureau; and statements were called for showing
descriptions of the lands, whether, in the language of the law,
'abandoned' or 'confiscated,' so that the bureau here could have full
and complete information of all action of its agents throughout these
States, and upon examination it could be determined where any specific
lands which were under the charge of the bureau came from, and how
they were derived.

"In the course of the summer, it became necessary to issue additional
instructions. The commissioner found that his way was beset with
difficulties; he was walking upon unknown ground; he was testing here
and there questions involved in doubt. It was hardly possible at once
and by one order to designate all that it would be needful for him to
do, and, therefore, different instructions were issued from time to
time from his office. The assistant commissioners were called upon
thoroughly to examine, either by themselves or their agents, the
respective districts allotted to them, to make inquiry as to the
character of the freedmen under their charge, their ability to labor,
their disposition to labor, and the circumstances under which they
were placed, so that the aid, the care, and the protection which the
law contemplated might be afforded to them as quickly and as
economically as possible.

"The commissioner continually repeated his injunctions to his
assistants to be sure that no compulsory or unpaid labor was
tolerated, and that both the moral and intellectual condition of the
freedmen should be improved as systematically and as quickly as
practicable.

"When the bureau was first organized, indeed when it was first urged
upon the attention of this House, it was stated and it was believed
that the bureau would very shortly be self-sustaining. That was the
i