The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-20
The Freedmen's Bureau.

The National IateUigencer, as already men,
toned in this paper, has an elaborate leader
on the Freedmen's Bureau bill recently passed
by the Congress. 1t is able and conclusive in
its exposition of the evils of the bill, and what
it says is all the more important because II is
now Justly regarded as the organ OF the
Administration. 1t will be dark day for the
Union when this Bureau-this "imperi,'m la
imperio'-is fairly established, with all its
dangerous powers under the bill. The InfeHi-
gencey, in the course of its article, very truly
sums up its obnoxious character as follows:
"We need not say that the pending measure,
by its terms converts the Government OF the
United States into the Oyerseer- General OF
Southern families, MONIES, ahd pian.a .n,i !"
Indeed, no house in the land which numbers
single refugee or freedman among It's inmates
is TO be protected from the domiciliary lntrn-
sion of this ubiquitous bureau. But the Soutn
will, of course, be the chief Held OF lts opera
tions, and there, in every county, the Govern
ment will be represented by "agents, en-
pIoyees, and otficers,' whose function compels
them to exercise a systematic espionage over
offcers.t are responsible for their conduct
only to the central power that appoints them.
Acting in regions remote from washington,
they are left TO follow the dictates OF tnelr
springs from the consciousness OF immediate
amenability TO superior and competent autho-
rity. The trainers of this bill have provided
only for the encouragement OF ln1ormers
against the whites, of the South. They have
not set any watch upon the demeanor, or any
limit upon the expenditures of the Bureau s
emissaries. They have never asked, Qais Gus
todfet ipSos custodesF'
The Iatelligencer, in concluding its article on
the subject, states that the objections to this
ill-advised measure are obyiated to some ex-
tent by the large discretion it vests in the Pre-
sident, with regard to its practical enforce
ment This discretion it feels sure the Pre-
sident would so use as to prevent the occur
renee of .ssome Of the dangers and abuses
(which would inevitably result from the dis
"charge Of its functions as authorized by the
"terms of the act" But it contends that the
fact that the chief defence against its evils is
TO be sought i'm the mere discretion Of the Chief
Magistrate is an incontestable evidence against
the propriety Of the measure.
We infer from the article that the President
will not sign the bill. 1t Is proper to say,
however, that the IateUigencer commences the
sentence, expressing It's faith In the pru-
dence with which the President would direct
the administration Of the provisions OF the bill
so ne TO prevent its greater evils, with the
words, III the President affix his signature
10 the bill"
Tnere can be no thorough reconstruction as
long as such an organization as this Bureau
SHAH De scattered through the States. II
would be in everlasting conflict with the Judi.
cial tribunals Of the States, and instead az
promoting harmony and restoring order
would be fruitful only Of dtscord and disorder
Established, as II professediy is, TO protect the
black and secure his rights and equality. n
would only engender strife and perpetuate bad
-.
mans tribunal In antagonism to the ordinary
tribunals for the administration Of justice TO
all, 1t thus impeaches those tribunals, and
informs the black man that he cannot get
Justice in them. 1t inspires him with distrust
and iiI-wiil towards the people with whom
his LOT L. cast and In the midst OF whom he
cannot live happily or prcsperonsly unless his
feelings be Of on entirely different character,