The weekly standard., 1866-03-03
Blanks of al Desert Dtasns,

Union, but has left the care of their
education to the much more competent
control of the States, of communities,
of private associations, of individuals.
It has never deemed it necessary TO ex-
pend the public money for the rent or
purchase of houses for the thousands
not to say of the millions Of the white
race who are honestly toiling from day
to day for their subsistence.
A system Tor the support Of INDECENT
persons in the United States was rev
er contemplated by the constitution,
nor can any good reason be advanced,
why, as permanent establishment, It
should be founded for one class or col
or OF our people more than for another.
Pending the war, many refugees or
freedmen received support from the
Government, but it was never intended
they should henceforth be fed, clothed.
educated and sheltered, by the United
States. The idea on which the slaves
were assisted to freedom, was that on
their becoming free, they would be o
self-sustaining population, and any
legislation that sLall imply that they
are not expected to attain self-sus-
tanning condition, must have tenden-
cy injurious to their character and their
prosperity.
The appointment of an agent for ev-
cry county and parish will create an
immense patronage, and the expense
of the numerous officers and clerks to
be appointed by the President, will bs
great in the beginning, with tendency
steadily to increase. The appropria-
tions asked for by the Freedmen's Bu-
reau, as now established, in the year
1866, amount to l1,745.0OO. 1t may
be safely estimated that the cost to be
incurred under the pending bill will
be double that amount-more than the
entire sum expended in any one year
under the administration of the second
Adams.
Ii the presence OF agents in every
parish and county is to be considered
as war measure, opposition, or even
resistance might be provoked; SO that
to giveefect to their jurisdiction, troops
would have to be stationed within the
reach of every one of them, and thus
large standing force would be neces-
sary, and large appropriations would
therefore be required to sustain and
enforce military jurisdiction in every
county and parish from the Potomac
to the Rio Grande.
The condition of our fiscal affairs 10
encouraging; but in order to sustain
the present measure of public conf
dence it is necessary that we practice,
not merely customary economy, but. as
far as possible, severe retrenchment
In addition to the objects already
stated, the fifth section of the bill pro-
poses to take away land from its own-
ers, without any legal proceeding h
ing first had, contrary to the provisic
Of the constitution which declares tha
no person shall be deprived of life, hb-
erty and property without she process
Of law. It does not appear that lands
TO which this section refers may not
be owned by minors, or persons of un-
sound mind, or by those who have
been faithful to oil their obligations as
citizens of the United States. If any
portion of the land is held by such per-
sons, it is not competent for any au-
bhority to deprive them of it. II, on
the other hand, it be found that the
is liable to confscation, even
then it cannot be appropriated to pub
ic purposes until by due process Of
aw it shall have been declared forfeit
ed by the Government.
There are st;n further objections 10
the bill, on the ground OF seriously af-
Fecting the class of persons to whom it
IS designed to keep the minds OF the
freedmen In state of uncertain expec-
bataon and restlessness, while to those
among whom he lives it will be source
Of constant and vague apprehension.
Undoubtedly, the freedman should be
protected by the civil authorities, espe-
cially by the exercise of all the consti-
power of the courts of the
United States, and Of the States. His
condition is not SO exposed as may at
first be imagined. He is in portion
Of the country where his labor cannot
well be spared. Competition for hin
services from planters, from those who
are constructing or repairing railroads,
Or from capitalists in his vicinity. or
other States, will enable him to com-
mand almost his own terms. He also