John F. Couts, member of a prominent Middle Tennessee planter family, confirmed that for many whites the Bureau's presence was a humiliation: The Agent of the Bureau ... requires citizens (former owners) to make and enter into written contracts for the hire of their own negroes... . When a negro is not properly paid or fairly dealt with and reports the facts, then a squad of Negro soldiers is sent after the offender, who is escorted to town to be dealt with as per the negro testimony. In the name of God how long is such things to last?