The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-08-21
WHO Foors TIE NILS?

10y 80 - a. HhH -
Republican journal of note, asks and ans
wers thus:
WHO FouTs THE RIILS?
\ circular IS said to have been issued
from the ofice Of the Bureau Of Refugees
Freedmen and abandoned l.and', which
/. directs that, in accordance with the net
of Congress estab ishing the bureau re
terred 10. Assistant Commissioners of
Refugees. &c., viii at once make estimates
of the amount of provisions, clothing.
Re, as may be needed fer the supply vi
such classes of persons within their res
lpcetive departments. 1t also states that
%ratienS VIII not be gratuitously issued TO
teachers Of freedmen aud refugees. but
such rs ate duly authorized by the Com
nisSionerS OF the Bureau may purchase
l%rations in the same manner rs commission
ed officers Of he army. and viii receive
free transportation en- Government trans
ports and railroads. Public buildines,
or those seixed hy the Governmcn, from
idisloyal persons, not roqaired for military
purposes, may be used tor schools, teach
ierS. soldiers wives aud reiueees.
We know nothing of TIE accuracyNi
this statement ard give IL in the words
we find in print. 81 tat III what we may
have to say upon this subject the text may
be liable 10 no question. We neel n,
better rrooi than is afforded BY Ibis cir
%leular of the correctness IL I'M previously
IexpresseA belief. that this Freedmelfs Bn-
reau is likely. unless closely watched and
restricted carefully within specified
bounds, 10 become as great Il sink Of mon
ley rs anything connected with the war.
1t seems, from the wording OF this doe
ument, that the United States Govern
ment Is to cluthe, feed and house thou
sands Of persons not in the military. nava
or civil service Of the Republic. not EN-
ployed upon the public works. not doing
anything. IN fact, but receiving an educa.
tion.
We have not before MS the act IF Con
gress creating the Bureau. but the circu
lar refers to ii as requiring these thing,
to be done, and we find no fault viii
General Howard or the Government fol
endeavoring to perform properly the du
ties thus enjoined. But in behalf of III,
taxpayers Of the Republic. we ID mes.
earnestly protest against this whole schem,
as unnecessary aud. in view of The ire
mendouS financial embarrassments 81 in,
nation, little short Of outrageous. Guard
ed, as the language Of the circular wculd
lead may persons 10 think. the provision.
of clothing, feeding. &c, are. the term.
are guarded only in form, while in real,u,
the widest notions connected with til,
ischeme may easily be carried into efiec
under them. When We spoke Of thu
subject on n recent occasion, it was ureet
in reply to our structures. that the plat
did not contemplate the clothing Of tbs
freedmen at the pnplie expense. Blu
by reference to the language Of Genera
Towards circular. rs quoted above, i
Will be seen that he instructs his subordi
mates at once 10 make estimates Of iii,
amount of provisions. clothing. &c. asma'
be needed Tor the supply Of such classe.
of persons within their respective depart
ments." Not only are they 10 be fed ans
clothed, but all the necessaries Of lite. ant
some Of It's Injuries. may be furnishe,
them under this convenient clause.
When the war broke out there wert
four millions Of slaves. and. though Their,
has been a considerable less during th
war. it must not be forgotten that tia
race is very prolific. There can not noy
be less than three and a half million .
freedmen. If the United State Gcvern
ment assumes the burden Of taking ear
of these, as well as educating them. is j
to be supposed thai any large portion Q
them would rather accept the plantation
offers of " Eve dollars a month and found,
under which they have to work hard an
get no education The thing speaks 70
Itself, and requires no special remarks a
our hands. Ne consider it an arrange
ment to encourage idleness at the South
to take the agricultural laborer away iron
his employment. and to support a va.
swarm of teachers, &c. Of no earthly yalu
to uSa