The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-02-28
McGREGOR, IOWA. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 49, 1866 "

estates for freedmen, and for the erection for
their Benefit Of suitable buildings for asylums
and schools, the expenses to be betrayed Out
OF the treasury of the whole people. The
congress Of the United States has never here
tofors thought itself competent to establish
any laws beyond the limits of the District oil
Columbia, except for the benefit Of our disa
bled soldiers and sailors. 1t has never found
ed schools for any class Of our own people, mol
even for the orphans Of those who have fallen
in the defense Of the union, but has left the
care of their education to the much more com.
petent and efficient control of the states, OF
communities, Of private associations and of in.
dividuals. 1t has never deemed itself author.
lied to expend the public money for the rent
or purchase o. houses for the thousands, not
to say millions Of the white race who are hon
estly toiing from day to day for their subsist.
persons in the United States was never con.
templated by the authors of the constitution,
nor can any good reason be advanced why, as
permanent establishment, it should be found.
ed for one class or color Of people more than
another Pending the war many refugees and
freedmen received support from the govern.
ment, but it was never intended that they
should be henceforth fed. clothed and sheltered
by the United States.
The idea on which the slaves were assisted
to freedom, was that on becoming free they
weuld be self.sustaining population. Any
legislation that shall imply that they are not
expected to support a self sustaining condition.
must have a tendency injurious to their pros.
perity. The appointment Of an agent for ev
cry county and parish will create an immense
ofrop opd 80 ~.
officers and their clerks to be appointed bv the
President, will be great in the beginning, with
a tendency ste adily to increase. The appro-
prlations asked by the Freedmen's Bureau. as
now established, for the year 1866, amount to
$ll l,745,OOO. 1t may be safely estimated that
the cost to be Incurred under the pending bill
will require double that amount; more than
the entire sum expended in any one year un.
der the administration of the second Adams.
Ii the presence Of agents in every parish and
county is to be considered as q war measure,
opposition, or even resistance, might be pro.
voked, so that to give effect TO their jurisdic-
ton troops would have to be stationed within
reach OF every one of them, and thus large
standing force be rendered necessary. Large
appropriations would therefore be required to
sustain and enforce military jurisdiction in ev.
cry county and parish from the Potomac to
the Rio Grande. The condition Of our fiscal
affairs is encouraging, but in order to sustain
the present measure Of public Conscience, it is
necessary that we practice not merely custom
ary economy. but, as far as possible, severe
...
In addition to the objections already stated,
the 9Th section Of the bill proposes to take
away land from its former owners, without
any legal proceedings being first had, contrary
to that provision of the constitution which de-.
clarcs that no person shall be deprived of lite,
liberty or property, without due process of law.
Il does not appear that lands to which this sec.
tion refers may not be owned by minors or per.
sons of unsound mind, or by those who have
been faithful to all their obligations as citizens
Of the United States. II any portion of the
land is held by such persons, it is not compe.
tent for any authority to deprive them of it,
4 on the other hand, it be found that the
property is liable to confiscation, even then it
cannot be appropriated to public purposes until
BY due process Of law it shall have been de.
clared forfeited to the government There
are still further objections to the bill on
grounds seriously affecting the class Of persons
20 whom it is desired to bring relief.
1t will tend to keep the mind OF the freed
men in a state Of uncertain expectation and
'estlessncss, while to those among whom he |
ives, 1t will be source Of constant and vague |
apprehension. Undoubtedly the freedmen
should be protected, but they should be pro.
ected by the civil authorities, especially by
he exercise Of all constitutional powers Of the
courts OF the United States and Of the states
his condition is not so exposed as may Mt
irst be imagined. He is in the portion Of the |
country where his labor cannot well be spared. |
for his services from planters,
rom those who are constructing or repai ring
ailroads, or from capitalists in his vicinity, or
rom other states, will enable him to command
lmost his own terms He also possesses a
crfect right to change his place Of abode,
nd it therefore he does not find in one com.
nunity or state mode Of life suited to bis
esires, or proper remuneration for his labor.
c can move to another where labor is more
stcemed and better rewarded. In truth, how.
yer, each stare, induced by its own wants
nd interests, will do what is necessary TO re-
ain within its borders all the labor that is
eeded tor the development Of its resources
he laws that regulate supply and demand
vii maintain their force. and the wages of the
aborer will be regulated thereby. There is
20 danger that the great demand for labor
vii not operate in favor of the laborer; nei-
her is sullicien: consideration given to the
bility OF the freedmen to protect and take
are OF themselves; it is no more than Justice
o them to believe, that as they have received
heir freedom with moderation and torbear-
nee, they will distinguish themselves by their
Industry; and they feel and soon will show
0 the world that in condition of freedom
hey are selfsustaining, and capable Of select
ng their own employment and their own pla.
es OF abode. of insisting for themselves on a
roper remuneration, and of establishing and
maintaining their own asylums and schools.
1t is earnestly hoped that instead Of wasting
way. they will by their own efforts, establish !
or themselves condition of rcspectablity aud
prosperity. 1t is certain that they can attain
o that condition only through their own merits
nd exertions. In this connection the query
resents itself, whether the system proposed by
he bill Will nos- when put into complete ope-
alton, practically transfer the entire care,
upport and control Of four millions of eman-
ipated slaves to agents, ovcrseers or taskmas.
ers, who, appointed at Washington, are to be
ocated IN every county and parish through.
'ut the United States containing freedmen and
efugees, such system would inevitably tend
. such concentration of power in the exec.
ltive which would enable him il so disposed
0 control the action of numerous class, and
lse them for the attainment of his own politi.
al end. l cannot but add another very grave
objection to this bill. She constitution ilDper.
lively declares, in connection with taxation.
hat each state shall have at least one repre-
entativc, and fixes the rule for the number to
which in future times each state shall be enti-
led. 1t also provides that the senate of the
United States shall be composed Of two sena-
ors from each state, and adds, with peculiar
orce, that no state, without its consent, shall
e deprived Of its equal suffrage in the senate
The original act was necessarily passed in the
bsence ut the states chiefly to be affected, be.
ause their people were then contumaciot sly
ngaged in the rebellion. Now the case is
hanged, and some at least of the states are
ttendins Congress BY loyal representatives
oliciting the allowance OF the constitutional
ight of representation. AT the time, however.
4 the consideration and the passing of the bill,
here was no senator or representatives in cOn.
rcss from the eleven STATES which ara tn he |