The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-03-01

low from an almost countless number
Of agents, established in every parish
or county in nearly third of the States
of the Union, over whose decision there
is to be no supervision or control by
the Federal courts. The power that
would be thus placed in the hands of
the President, is such as, in time Of
poaco, certainly ougbtoneyer to be en-
trusted TO any one man. /. .ltai b p
Ifit be asked whether the creation
of such tribunal within o State is
warranted as q measure ofwar, the
question Immediately presents itself,
whether wc are still engaged in war?
Lot us not unnecessarily disturb the
commerce and credit and industry of
the country by declaring totbc Amer
ican people and the world that the Uni.
ted States are still in q condition of
civil war. At present thereis no part
ofour country in which tho authority
Of the United States is disputed. OF.
fcnses which may be committed by in
diyiduals should not work a forfeiture
ofthe rights Of the same communities
The country has entered, or is return
ing to, state ofpeace and industry,
ard the rebellion is, in fact, at an end.
The measure, therefore, seems to be as
inconsistent with the actual condition
of the country as it is at variance with
the Constitution of the United States.
If, passing from geneIal considera-
tionsywc examine the bill in detail, it
is open TO weighty objections. In time
Of war it was ominently proper that
wc should provide for those who were
passing suddenly from a condition of
bondage to a state of freedom. But
this bill proposes to make the Freed
mems Bureau, established by the act
of 1865 as one of tho many great and
extraordinary military measures to
suppress a formidable rebellion, q per-
manent branch of the public admins
tration, with its power greatly enlarged
| have no reason to suppose, and | do
not understand it 70 be alleged, that
the act Of March, 1865, has proved de.
ficient for the purpose for which it was
passed, although at that time, and for a
considerable period thereafter, the Gov.
ernmont Of the United States remain
ed unacknowlcdged in most Of the
States whose inhabitants had been in.
volved in tho rebellion. The institu.
ton Of slavery, for the military des.
truction of which the Frcedmon's Bp.
rcau was called into existence as an
auxiliary, has been already ctfcctually
and finally abrogatcd throughout the
whole country by an amendment" OF
the Constitution Of the United States,
and, practically, its eradication has re-
ceived the assent and concurrence of
most of those States in which, at any
time, ii had existed. am not, there.
fore, able to discern in the country any
thingt to justify an apprehension that
tho powers and agencies Of the Freed
mems Bureau, which were effective for
tho protection of freedmen and rcfu-
goes during the actual continuation OF
hostilitics and of African scrvitude,
will now, in a time Of peace, and after
the abolition Of slavery, prove made
quate to the same proper ends. If
am correct in these views, there can
be no necessity for the enlargement Of
the powers of the Bureau, for which
provision is made in the bill.
The third section of the bill author.
ICES q general, unlimited amount Of
support TO the destitute and suffering
refugees and freedmen, and their wives
and children. Succeeding sections
mako provision for the rent OR pur.
chase oflanded estates for freedmen,
AMI for the erection for their benefit
Of suitable buildings for asylums and
schools, the expenses to be betrayed
from the treasury Of the whole people
Tho Congress Of the United States has
never heretofore thought itself compe,
tent to establish any laws beyond the
limits of the District Of Columbia, ex-
ccpt for the benefit of our disabled sol
diers and sailors. 1t has never found,
cd schools for any class Of our own
people, not even for the orphans ol
those who have fallen in defense of the
Union, bnt has left the caro- OF thcil
education to the much moro compe
tent control Of the States, of communi,
tics, Of private associations, and of in.
dividuals. 1t has never deemed itscl
authorized to cxpcnd public money fti
the ront or purchase Of houses for the
thousands. not to say millions, of the
white race who are honestly toiling
from day TO day for their subsistence
A system for the support of INDECENT
persons in the United States was never
contemplated by tho authors Of the
Constitution, nor can any good reason
be advancedwhy, as a permanent cs
tablishment, it should be founded fol
one class or color of our people more
than for another. Pending the wal
many refugees and freedmen received
support from the Government, but |,
was never intended they should hence
forth be FED, clothoi. educated and
sheltered by the United States. The
idea on which the slaves were assisted
to freedom was, that on becoming free
they would be a self.sustaining popu,
lation. Any Legislation that shall i'm,
ply that they arc not expected to attain
a selfsustaining condition must have 9
tendency injurious alike to their char
actcr and their prosperity. as al
The appointment of an agent for ev-
cry county and parish will create an
immense patronage, and the expense Of