The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-04-04
An Officers Opinion Of tbs Freed
mems Bureau

Major Henry c. Laurence, Agent Of the
Freednien's Bureau at Fayetteville, North
Carolina, writes the following letter, which
is published in the Philadelphia Age:
FAYETTEVILLE, N. g., Feb. IA, 1866.
I confess | am tired out and half worn
out with the annoyance OF my position,
and need rest; and am SO far from having
any sympathy with the views that seem to
prevail! in Congress, that am Unwilling to
be even aa humble instrument in aiding to
carry them out Whilst there was, and
could be, no law but military law, or rather
authority the Bureau was a necessity to
some exteht. But to continue it after the
States shall have given the blacks their
civil rights, seems to be the very re-
verse Of sound policy, considered SIM
ply with reference to that. 1t will en-
gender hatred towards the blacks on the
part of the whites as favored class to
whom extra legal protection is given by the
Federal Government-hatred towards the
Government itself, which, by this system,
pronounces the people regardless OF justice,
and brands courts and bar AND juries, i'll
advance, as ready perjurers. IL substitutes
for men learned in the law, and soon to add
minister it--for trial by jury and right OF
appeal-the decision of men who, in many
cases, if not most, will know nothing OF
law, who will often be prejudiced, and some
Judging from tile past, will be corrupt. VT
will incite in the blacks to some extent,a
sense of independence of the local laws;
sanction their distrust of them, the courts
and people, and certainly cannot tend to
educate them III the duties of citizens. In
stead of allaying, it will beget jealousy and
ill-will between the races to q greater de-
gree than now exists, dnd finally produce
the very evils it is intended to guard against.
And how such system can be exercised
except as temporary military necessity in
conquered country, | cannot conceive.
1t is liable to all our old objections to the
"fugiutive slave law" and, unlike that, will
be an ever present even acting evil; and
very incomplete for the end proposed, un-
less it is assumed that military authority is
to remain paramount For instance, can
fine man $50, and imprison him thirty
days; but in the case Of murder of a black
the district or department military conf
mander must order trial by court-martial.
Upon conviction the case may, of course,
go to the Secretary Of War for review.
Such trial is in progress now at Raleigh.
If this system is to be retained after the
States shall be Observation-Disclosures
that may be-and if this is republicanism
or self-government, shall despair Of ever
being able to comprehend the first princi-
pies Of political science, But if q State
should establish such q judicial system, |
think the Federal Government might well
be called upon to enforce its guarantee of
republican government to the people of
that State. think it would be a less out
rage upon the principles Of self-goyerhment
and upon the Constitution to treat the
South as conquered territory and govern
it by our territorial system. than to do
what is proposed to lie done; and in that
case Mr.. Sumner might secure juries COM
posed eqdally Of white and black men. l
felt ashamed for myself as iii American
and for my Government, when a few days
ago, Judge Baxton, of the Supreme Court
Of this State, called at my Office to inquire
as to the extent of the jurisdiction he
would be permitted to exercise in term
he was about to hold.