The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-01-08
WHOLE NO. 73O.
From the Washington Chronicle.
A Bureau Of Emancipation.

""' rouf miiiions OF our people oil At
rlcan descent are now in the chaos of a
transition state. Their future waits for
It's direction and impulse. Degraded
slaves they have been; what they shalt
be, under God, remains for the nation 10
determine. They may, through proper
guidance and aid, rise TO the condition of
industrious and loyal citizenship, or, by
neglect and further outrage, sink into a
chaotic mass Of pes,iferous idleness and
crime. They are the laboring population
OF more than half our settled terriorv--
and with their destiny is linked much Of
the future Of all that country. Three
hundred thousand of this people the ma
lions life absolutely demands for soldiers
to defend the flag upon that soil, and she
wants these 5ayonots now-now, when
our brothers are starving in rebel prisons.
All that country unparalleled richness
stretching along either bank of the Missis-
slppi,demands occupation by million of
these loyal laborers, that its navigation. -
OF such vital importance to the nation
may be safe and uninterrupted. Onr for:
eign interests call pressingly for the cul-
!lvalion Of our cotton fields, and here, and
here alone, are laborers for that work.
humanity and justice unite in their de-
mands upon the national Government for
the extension Of its protection and aid to
this deienceless people. They are but
children in experience and intellectual de-
velopment. Their rights should be Sc.
cured; their infrm and sick cared for:
Their children educated; their industry de-.
veloped and directed, and their eireng,h
trained tor the defence Of the common in
terests Of us all.
Something has already been done in all
these directions. The humane and sa-
gaclous Secretary Of the Treasury early
set his agents at work among the thous-
ands ol this people who fed 10 the islands
OF the Carolina coast, and the results of
'hese labors in that locality are Of the
most satisfactory character. And Col.
Hreene IS doing something. indeed, a
large work, with this beople about Wash.
lngton and Alexandria. And ON the
MlssIsslppl many OF the deserted planta.
lions are already in the occupation of
freedmen. And, under the persevering
and tollsome and patriotic labor of Adju-
tant General Thomas, thousands of those
black men are marching to the Emusic of
the Union" Honor and thanks to all
these 'ns'rumenialiIies for the good al
ready accomplished. Bat where to day
We have one thousand black soldiers
standing in the line of the defenders of
'he Union, we can and should, in three
mon'hs from this day. have Ten thousand.
nd,lnstead Of here and there cultivated
plantation on the Mississippi from Cairo
10 New Orleans, on both banks, should
live loyal population numerous enough
to ensure the navigation of that river be
yont all question.
Now, that Which is wanted is system.
plan, order, wise counsel, sweeping in its
vision The entire felG-aud prompt and
ethclent action. To this end there must
90 head-a Bureon Of Emancipation
presided over by man who has soul:
man who has faith in the negro; who
believes IN his capabilities; who recopni.
ses his manhood; who rejoices with him
in his emancipation, and with him hates
the memory OF the long years Of bis suffer-
ing and degradation; and man, likewise,
OF shreWd business tact and decisive ex.
ecutlve power; for this work must be
matter oi business, and, while securing all
this good TO all interests, pay not only it's
own way, but directly as well as indirectly
bring millions into the National treasury.
Let such bureau be connected with the
general departments o The Government
say with the Treasury Department
whose head has already shown sacacious
interest in the great problem. We have
Tor years had an Indian Bureau; bu. never
four millions OF Indians TO look after, say
ing nothing of the immensely more i'm.
portant connections of those freedmen
with the common interests of the country.
We have recently established other new
administrative departments, growing out
OF the exigencles OF the times; a Comp
troiler of The Currency and Commissioner
Of Internal Rsvenue-but here. waiting
organization. is an interest more i'm portant
thsn revenues even, for il is the source.
not only OF revenue, but OF all wealth, the
la5orious population of half the country,
! Can there, in anv quarter, remain any
question Of the feasibility of sny of these
suggestions? Take the one idea of the
protection OF the navigation OF the Missis.
ipPi by Aanking ii with loyal population.
Organize complete and clearly defined
system OF governmental leasing of those
deserted plantations; cut them up into
suitable farms, not so large as too sparsely
TO settle the country; and then le; il be
understood at the North and West that in
this cotton region is source of wealth
richer than the mines OF California and
Pixies Peak, and attainable at far less
risk and expense. Let it be known that
every acre Of this land cultivated means
from one to two bales OF cotton; and ihas
each bale means FROM two TO three hum
dred dollars at present prices. and that
one half OF that sum is clear profit; and
how many months would elapse before
you shall have planted both banks of that
river with an energetic and loyal popula-
iion ? Aud SO with every constituent
idea OF this grand central one Of Bureax
oil Emancipation. Investigation will dem
onstrate its eminent prsclieability.
Will not the earnestly loyal men OF our
Congress, the practical men. who know
how To mt breastnlata and traoes IN an