Georgia marks Civil War’s ‘40 acres and a mule’

Military leadership in the United States does not set establish national policy. They help implement and enforce it. Sherman overstepped his authority as he did several times.

On August 16th, President Johnson ordered the land turned over to all pardoned Confederates but this order was largely ignored. Secretary of War Stanton and General Howard encouraged assistant commissioner General Rufus Saxton not to turn over the property. As a result, President Johnson relieved General Saxton. By 1866, ex-Confederates had their property returned from the Freedmen’s Bureau, however, freedmen were allowed to purchase government land on the islands. The Homestead Act also had provisions to allow freedmen to purchase or homestead land in the east but this land was poor and the opportunity was taken little advantage of.

 Labor shortages were immediately felt after the close of the war.  Large migrations of blacks throughout the countryside and into the cities took the labor forces away from the agricultural areas.  The Freedmen’s Bureau worked with the laborers and the contractor in contract disputes in the type of work, duration, benefits, and wages.  They acted as labor mediators, court advocates, and sometimes as judge and jury.  Their influence in labor helped ensure a somewhat reliable labor force was available to rebuild.

 The conflict of the powers and influence in state affairs had President Johnson questioning its legitimacy.  Congress and the President struggled over the extension of the life of the Bureau.  In February 1866, Congress agreed to extend its life but Johnson vetoed the bill, which was overridden in July 1866.  This revised bill allowed the bureau to act as a military tribunal until 1868.  It helped overrule discriminating laws passed by local governments against the freedmen.

 Clearly the Republican Party used the Freedmen’s Bureau as a partisan tool.  It was used to recruit members into the Republican Party via the Union League.  John M. Langston and W.J. Armstrong were two employees of the Freedmen’s Bureau that promoted the Union League.  They also worked to educate the freedmen in the political process.

 Probably the most successful and positive influence the Freedmen’s Bureau has was its benevolent endeavors.  It coordinated and worked with aid societies, volunteers, and church affiliated groups to educate, clothe, and provide medical care for both freedmen, and whites.  A full one-third of the Bureau’s budget was directed to education.  By 1870, 9,000 teachers were working with 200,000 pupils in 4,000 schools throughout the South.  The Bureau also helped establish several church affiliated colleges and universities, and forty hospitals.  The Bureau also issued 21 million rations during its lifetime to help prevent starvation of both freedmen, and whites.

Black folks got there mule and the 40 acres but still they find some reason to complan and keep the misery going.

Get your @ss out and at lease attempt to work hard toward an education for crying out loud. Plus because of the death rate in that community behind drugs and what not......stop selling crack cocaine.....and blowing your brains out in drug wars that get you no damn where at all.

Most inportantly of all place your trust in the Lord because he and he alone can do wonders