Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-02-02
rHE rREEp,IEN.s BuREAu.

ElsBWneEe we give y lAopSiS VI 1AAs AiNhA-
bulls bill regulating the operations of this
Bureau. The immense Importance of the
measure is not perceived by casual reading OF
its provisions. The following extract from the
New York Times indicates some of its more
important bearings. But the magnitude of its
consequences, should the bill become a law,
can hardly be imagined:
The suffrage might doubtless be of benefit
10 the intelligent negroes, but for the whole
race at this time land is of more value than
votes. This bill is really an act to raise up a
suddenly emancipated race from their condition
of dependents or prOletaiTes, to that OF land
owners and freeholders. 1t recognizes the
great economical fact that the possession of
land is one of the principal elements in the ad-
vance and elevation of poor peasantry. 1t
offers TO the negro what the government has al
ready offered to the emigrant white peasant
from Europe-the stimulus of land to induce
him To settle and labor Observing the fearful
effect in Jamaica Of throwing obstacles before
an emancipated race, in their purchase and
renting of real estate, the trainers of this bill
have made it as easy as possible. All can have
ground, If they viii; even the paupers are to
be put on farms, and all can secure the fee of
their little plots by proper industry and econ
omy. The act secures the protection of the ne
gro, and really thus aids the white. If the
black laborer be badly treated by the planters,
he will inevitably retreat to the unoccupied
lands, and rent his plot from the government,
leaving the large estates To shift for themselves.
If unjust laws are passed against him, solely
on account of his color, he can appeal to mill
tary protection, and the President (if he choose)
can defend him against iniquitous State or To-
cal legislation. If efforts are made to re-en-
slave him, the authors are liable to punish
1nent. The education and shelter of those des-
titute persons so dependent on the government
are secured bv this bill, its trainers recognizing
In this abnormal state of things certain duty
of the United States toward those unfortunate
freedmen, though such matters ordinarily ought
TO belong to the State and local authorities
We are glad to see, also, that Gen. Sherman's S
most wise arrangement for his destitute freed
men aud for other loyal freedmen is to be con-
firmed. The owners of the Sea Islands were
the most rabid rebels; they opened this wicked
rebellion; their lands have been cultivated by
loyal blacks who trusted to Gen. Sherman's
orders and to the promises of our officers. We
do not believe in any general confscation; but
in this particular case, the black loyalsts being
settled on the plantation, it seems Just that the
owners should be the sufferers. When we
speak of the importance of this bill, we are
looking to the future of the white as well as
the black race We believe that the real inter
est Of the planters is in it as much as that of the
negroes.
From the beginning, the great effort of this
iournOl has been to harmonize labor and capital
in the South. If the two are permanently sep
arated, (as the mad passion of so many at the
South would inevitably bring about) then fare
well for generation to the peace the prosper
ity and the wealth of the Southern States.
The great use of the Freedmen's Bureau is
lust this-to reconcile the master and his paid
Iaborer. 1t is third power five may SO call
itl put in by the government between the en-
ploying class and the laboring, TO guard the in
terest Of both.
The freedmen need some authority in whose
advice they can have confidence some power
beside the courts of planters to arrange their
contracts and to compel them to observe them,
and force them TO labor; some department TO
discourage pauperism and idleness, promote ed
ucation, arrange wages, protect rights, and force
the planters also to fulfill their arrangements
In ordinary times, the local authorities would
be sufficient for this. But after such terrible
war as the late one, with emancipation forced
by the bayonet, we cannot expect the old slave
holding class to do full justice TO those who
were once their property. 1t would not be in
human nature. The, government comes in for
e time, till matters settle themselves. Under
the Bureau (if wisely adnlinistered) the South
NAV vet heal the wounds of war, and the indus
trious blacks may be source of greater wealth
to the country than they were in slavery
without some such administration, we fear only
confusion, disorder, disorganization of labor,
poverty and revolution.
As matter of fact, we trust that the blacks
will never be driven to the "unOccupied lands.
They are worth vastly more on the large es-
tates than as pioneers. But their continuance
in cotton and sugar and rice labor will depend
on the wisdom, justice and kindness of their
employers. The government can merely pro-
tect them and punish idleness.