The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-03-02


shall be deprived Of life, liberty or property,
without the process OF law. II does not
appear that lands to which this section
refers. may not he owned by minors, or
persons OF unsound mind, or by those who
have been faithful to all their obligations
as citizens OF the Uuitcd States. II any
portion OF the laud is held by such persons.
il is not competent for ahy authority TO de.
prive them OF il. L. on the other hand, il
be found that the property is liable to con.
hscation, even then, it cannot be appropri.
ated to public purposes, until, 10y due pro.
cess OF law, It shall have been declared for
foited by the Government.
There are still further objections 10 the
bill, OF grounds seriously affecting the class
of persons TO whom it is designed to bring
relief. twill tend to keep tile mind of tho
freedman in n state OF uncertain expectation
and rcstlessuess, while to those among
whom lie lives, il will he source Of con.
slant and vague apprehension. Undoubt.
edly the freedmen should be protected, but
they should bc protecte 10y the civil au-
thorities, especially by the exercise of all
the Constitutional powers of the courts of
the United States aud Of the States. His
condition is not so exposed as may at FIRST
be imagined He is in a portion Of the
spared, Competition for his services from
planters, from those who are constructing
or repairing railroads, or from capitalists
in his vicinity, or from other States will
enable him to command almost his own
terms. lie also possesses perfect right
TO change his place Of abode, and it.
therefore, he does not find in one community
or State mode OF life suited TO his desires,
or proper remuneration for his services, he
can move to another, where labor is more
esteemed and better rewarded. In truth,
however, each State, induced by its own
wants aud interests, will do what is neces
sary and proper to obtain within it's bord.
ers all the labor that is needed for develop
mcnt of its resources. The laws that regu-
late supply and demand will maintain thei:
| force, and the wages of the laborer will be
regulated thereby. There is no danger
| that the great demand for labor will not
operate in favor of the laborer, neither is
sufficient consideration given to the ability
of the freedmen to protect and take care Of
themselves. 1t is no more than Justice to
them tc believe, that as they have received
their freedom with moderation and for
bearauce, so they will distinguish them.
selves'by thoir industry; and they will feel
and soon show tho world that in condition
of freedom, they are self sustaining and ca
pahle of selecting their own employment
and their own places Of abode; of insisting
for themselves on q proper remuneration,
and of establishing aud maintaining their
owE asyluns and schools. 1t is earnestly
| hoped that instead of wasting away they
will, by their own efforts, establish for
themselves condition of responsibility
and prosperity. 1t is certain they can
| aft tnf hnt NIL ia al,asr
own merits and exertions.
In this connection the query presents
itself whether tie system proposed by the
bill will not, when put into complete opera
ton, practically transfer tho entire care,
support and control of four millions of
emancipated slaves to agents, overseers or
taskmasters, who, appointed at Washing ion,
are to be located in every county aud parish
throughout the United States containing
freedmen and refugees, such n system would
! iuevtlbly tend to such n concentration OF
power in the Executive, which would enable
it, if so disposed, to control the action Of q
numerous class, and use them for the attain.
ment Of his own political ends.
cannot but add another very grave OBJ
| lection TO this bill. The Constitution i'm
peratively declares in connection with
taxation, that each State shall have at least
one representative and fixes the rule for the
number to which in future times each State
shall be entitled 1t also provides that the
Senate of the United States shall be com.
| posed Of two Senators from each State and
adds, with peculiar force, that no State,
without its consent, shall be deprived OF
its suffrage in the Senate. The original
act was necessarily passed in the absence
of the States chiefly interested, because
their people were then oontumaciously en-
gagged in the rebellion. Now the case is
changed, and some at least of the States
are attending Congress by loyal Repre-
sentatves soliciting the allowance of the
constitutional right OF representation. AT
the time, however, of the consideration and
passing of the bill, there was no Senator or
Representative in Congress from the eleven
States which are 10 lie mainly affected by
its provisions. The very fact that reports
were and are made against the good dispo.
sition of the country is an additional reason
why they need aud should have Represent.
atvcs of their own in Congress to explain
their condition, and assist by their local
knowledge in the perIeoting of measures
Immediately affecting themselves, while the
liberty OF deliberaton would then be free,
and Congress would have full power to
decide according to its Judgment. There
could be no objection urged that the
States most interested had not been per-
mitted to be heard. The principle is firmly
fixed in the minds of the American people
that there could be no taxation without
representation. Great burdens are now to
! be borne by all the country, and we may
bost demand that they shall he borne with
out murnur when they are voted by a
majority of the Repres eEtatives of all the
| people. ] would not interfere with the
! unquestionahlo right of Congress to Judge,
each house for itself, of the election, returns
and qualifications of its own members; hut
that authority cannot be construed as H..
! cluding the right to put out in time of peace
any State from the representation 10 which
it is entitled by the Constitution. A I pres
ent, all the people OF the eleven States are
| excmded-thOse who were most faithful
during the war not less than others. The
State of Tennessee, for instance, whose
authorities were engaged in the rebellion,
was restored to all her constitutional rela-
tons TO the Union, by tho patriotism and
energy Of her injured and betrayed people.
Before the war was brought to a ternina-
ton, they bad placed themselves in relations
with the General Government, had esiab.
lished State Government Of their own. AS
they were not included in the emancipation
proclamation, they. by their own acts, have
amended their Constitution so as 10 abolish
slavery within the Limits Of their own State.
J know no reason why the State Of Tennes.
see, for example, should not fully enjoy her
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