Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-30

property has been thrown away at prices
prepOsterolillY brlIw their real worth, and
what whei the ,hHfd blows by, they viii
again speedlj aiirin.ni bur II brti3rI1l "a
.f.r.n.f --l-------7 F1EUTUoi c'ialg0m.
b.. [From the n. Y. Times, Republican, y
The FreedUnen's Bureau-Hs FAR.
i. ther Inquiry Necessary =: ......
The House has passed another Freed
mems Bureau bill, which ought to receive
careful scrutiny before it becomes a law.
All loyal citizens approve OF the Organiza-
ton of the Bureau as q necessity OF the
war, and they accord 1t the credit of having
rendered the country, and especially the
newly liberated race, valuable service.
Aside from some errors of judgment, and
some abuse of power in its management,
it has promoted the interests OF humanity,
and contributed to the social and industrial
reorganization Of the South. But that
the Bureau has well nigh completed its
work, and that preparations should be
made for the early termination of its func-
tions-is the opinion OF most thinking peO-
pie among us, not because they are indif-
terent to the welfare of the freedman, but
because they believe that the Bureau, if
continued, would probably become Il mere
partisan machine, and that after brief
mony. and prosperity will proceed more
surely without the Bureau than under its
influence.
1t must be acknowledged that this view
of the question is sustained by more than
an average amoLnt of evidence. For
months past the Bureau has been a subject
of investigation. Had we no turthcr
knowledge of its working than has been
derived iron the observations of shrewd
newspaper correspondents, there woHld be
little difficulty in arriving at an Ineligible
conclusion We have. however, in addition,
large body OF official testimony, reported
by parties whose bias certainly cannot be
said to be on the side of the eN-rcbels.
MeSsrs. COvode aud Carl Schurz have told
the politicians version of the story. Over
looking the detects insGparable from hasti-
| Reconstructed machinery and the abuses
resulting from impertectly enforced re-
spOnsibility, they have done their utmost
to blacken the Southern whites and to
'whiten the SOutherI blacks. On the other
hand, Gen. Grant has furnished an ample
contribution to impartial history. lie has
done Justice to the Bureau by pointing ont
wherein 1t has been useful: he has
shown in what particulars its management
| has been mischievouS, and IN what manner
he would apply remedy; he has affirmed
the existence of kindly relations between
| the planters and those who were lately
lltheir slaves, and the consequent eXpedieucy
hof gradually restricting the active labOrs of
| the Bureau. To certain class, Gen. Grants
facts and opinions have been the reverse of
| palatable. But as between Gen. Grant, the
soldier of the Union, knowing nothing of
and caring nothing for political parties,
aud intent only upon the honest discharge
| of duty, and Mr.. SchurZ, the active ally of
| partsans, the country could not Tor q mo-
| ment hesitate. Who now hears of the re-
port of Mr.. Schurz? Who attaches the
value of feather to his opinions touching
the matter investigated! And who does
not feel that Gen. Grant said all that was
necessary to tue formation of sound esti-
mate as to the general merits of the ques-
ton under consideration? 70
| Is evidence yet needed in detail? Is Ii
necessary to exhibit the particulars of what
| General Grant presented in its totality p
| Well, the task is now being prosecuted by
men whose qualifications none have dared
| to impugn. Generals Steedman and Fuller
| ton are doing their work thoroughly. They
tell not only what they see and what they
think, but what is said to them by cOloTed
people themselves. They are examining
| the working of the Bureau in all its parts,
and with an evident regard for the rights
and happiness of the negroes; and they
are furnishinga record OF their conclusions,
and the facts upon which they rest with a
frankness and an impartiality that cannot
| be mistaken. Their facts, indeed, are not
| quite in accordance with the notion that the
| Bureau is a divine institution, but they are
facts, nevertheless, and we are bound to
heed them. And their conclusions are some-
what at variance with the pet ideas of those
who would perpetuate the Bureau and null
| tiply its powers, as part of the plan for
| governing the South as subiugated terrific
ry. But if these conclusions tally with the
evidence, Ofwhich all may Judge, shall they
not be accepted as the basis of action in re-
gard to the Bureau?
| Are the Congressional admirers of the
Reconstruction committee still unsatisiedf
Would they have Gems. Steedman aud Full
| lerton'S witnesses examined under oath
| Are they anxious to verify the representa-
| tions of these gallant soldiers with refer
ence TO the Fitz style of agents, ,sor the
agents who have gone into partnership aud
used the appliances of the Bureau for their
personal advantage? We apprehen that
on these points there Is no room for ankle
| ty. Trials for malfeasance are promised
| which will bring out the whole case, under
oath, with more precision thana Joint com
| mittee can hope to attain to. Why not
await in patience the result of judicial
inquiryG Is itsupposed that another par
| tisan performance will outweigh the calm
| discrimination of Gen. Grant, or the pains.
| taking, Impartial and eminently consider.
ate examination of Gems. Steedmhn and
Fullerton? is it really: imagined that any
| thing Which q committee OF politicians may
i ytriI In ~.