The most perplexing and least successful part of the Bu-
reau's work lay in the exercise of its judicial functions. The
regular Bureau court consisted of one representative of the
employer, one of the Negro, and one of the Bureau. If the
Bureau could have maintained a perfectly judicial attitude,
this arrangement would have been ideal, and must in time
have gained confidence; but the nature of its other activities
and the character of its personnel prejudiced the Bureau in
favor of the black litigants, and led without doubt to much
injustice and annoyance. On the other hand, to leave the
Negro in the hands of Southern courts was impossible. In a
distracted land where slavery had hardly fallen, to keep the
strong from wanton abuse of the weak, and the weak from
gloating insolently over the half-shorn strength of the strong,
was a thankless, hopeless task. The former masters of the
land were peremptorily ordered about, seized, and impris-
oned, and punished over and again, with scant courtesy from
army officers. The former slaves were intimidated, beaten,
raped, and butchered by angry and revengeful men.
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