Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-01
THE NEW FREEDMEN'S BUREAU
BILL.

The Radical correspondent Of the Cincin-
natl Commercial, writing from Washington,
says of this new measure:
The new bill, to continue the Freedmen's
Bureau, reported in the House by Mr.. FL
hot, the Chairman of the Select Committee
on Freedmen's Affairs, seems likely to
achieve another legislative muddle, from
which it may make its escape alive, or in
which it may he smothered-it is not easy
to predict which, as yet.
The endeavor of the committee has been
to embody in the bill features so palpably
prudent, and so clearly necessary, and to
omit with such care every feature not palpa-
bly, prudent and clearly necessary, that no
ground for reasonable, or even plausible, OBJ
lection would be left ; confiding, that if such
a bill were introduced and passed by both
Houses it would command the moral sup
port of the country, and it was earnestly
hoped would secure the Executive approval;
but if it should fail of this last, as the Civil
Rights bill unfortunately failed, then it
could become a law as that did, and the
President would stand apart from the cOun-
try of his own deliberate choice
But the temper of the House was found
more courageous than that of the Commit
tee, and significant amendment, submitted
by Mr.. Stevens, was properly adopted by a
marked majority; an amendment, however,
of the very sort which the Committee sought
to exclude; probably wise and clearly Just,
but not absolute. Y necessary, and, therefore
dangerous The indications are that num-
Der of additional amendments of Il similar
character will be passed by each House; but
if the bill thus loaded is vetoed, there is no
certainty that two-thirds maorities can af-
terward be rallied to its rescue. NV own
Judgment is that no further legislation, in
tended to render the Bureau efficient, will
receive the Presidents approval, or even
momentary encouragement. He thinks the
negro is receiving already too much attCn-
ton and the white rebel too little; cOnfiding
apparently that the white rebel needs only
fair encouragement to become lOval and use
full to the Government as a readv-made citi-
zen, waiting employment, while the negro is
still chiefly useful as a labOrer only, and not
able to render valuable aid under the title of
citizen.
With these sentiments, he can pursue but
one course, and, so far as / can learn, he is
pursuing no other. He will reduce the
governmental recognition of the negro to
the narrowest possible compass, and bring
forward the candidates for early restoration.
1t will do us no harm, but much good, to
debate the Bureau and its administration in
Congress once more, and 10 pass a new bill,
whether or not it can be made law; but
the President will be able to make the At
rican far better acquainted with has theory
than with Mr.. Elliot's, whatever the law may
be. II he really is Moses, as he insisted in
his April address to the celebrating process
sion, we shall certainly find it out. He has
his Israelites rs safely cornered as Pharaoh
had those of his day, and if he does not
propose TO drive them into the sea, nor yet
to carry them back to Egypt, he can easily
prove his innocence.