Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-11
THE FREEDMEN,s BUREAU.

In its passage through the House of Rep
resentatives at Washington, the bill to con-
tinue and extend the powers of the Freed
mems Bureau received some immaterial
amendments. With these the bill was re-
turned to the Senate and the Senate promptly
concurred in them. IL has yet to receive
the approval Of the President. Whether it
shall receive his sanction or not, more than
two-thirds Of each House voted for it, and
the probabilities are that it will become the
law. 1t is unfortunate that it should be
deemed necessary to perpetaate this institu-
ton in the Southern States. 1t has been the
source Of much vexation and annoyance,
and the good it may have accomplished
has been, in great measure, counter
balanced by the evils that have grown out of
it. In its new form we can discover no ma
terial improvements. The States interested
have been in some respects, perhaps, too
sluggish in making proper provision for Sc
curing under their own laws the rights Of the
negro. But they are, as far as we can learn,
being given the right TO testify, and to as
sert their rights in the courts. When they
are thus protected, we can see no earthly
benefit the Bureau can confer upon them.
Besides this, il is cumberous and expen-
sive piece Of furniture-one which the coun-
try is i'll able to sustain pecuniarily, while
the government is so burdened with debt.
And we regard its continuance as useless
imposition.
But IL we are 20 have 1t amongst us it is
our duty to make the best Of it. It is our
duty to afford it no occasion 20 oficiously in
terfere with our affairs. five will mete out
exact justice to the negro we viii rob il of
its protested objects. In this State we have
far less reason to complain than seems to be
the case with some Of our neighbors. The
Superintendent in this State has availed
himself Of our own citizens as his Agents.
We have, as general thing, got along as
smoothly under the circumstances as we
could expect In Kentucky, affairs are
quite the contrary. There, excitement is
running high and increasing. General
Fisk, upon going to that State to or
game the Burean, was met with great in
dignation. He proposed, as we are inform
ed, to carry out the same policy in the Sc
lection Of Agents he had already adopted in
this State-placing'in the position Of Agents
citizens Of Kentucky instead of military
snbalterns. This was met by the Legisls-
ture proposing to render any citizen who
would accept such a position incapable
of holding any Office of honor or profit in the
State. These proceedings have produced
intense feeling among the people. General
Rosscau a Representative from Kentucky,
pending the discussion of the Bureau Bill in
the House, went so far as 10 declare that he
would put to death any officer who should
undertake 10 make arrests in his family un-
der the authority of the Freedmen's Bureau.
Governor Bramlette declares that il has no
legal existence in the State. Such are some
OF the leading facts in the case Of Kentucky.
This excitement is, Of course, fruitful of evil,
and only evil. Preiudices are engendered
and deepened against the negro, and he Of
ten feels their effect in violent usage. The
longer il is continued, the worse it win be-
come. The only hope that we can sec to
restore order, is for Kentucky to do as Ten
nessee has done--give the negro his essen
tial and necessary rights, and thus take
AWAY the vocation of the Bureau.