Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-03-01

aI an END. Inc medSuEc, StcsoC- oeeu' " ~
as inconsistent with the actual condition OF the
country as it is at variance with the Constitu-
ton of the United States.
If passing from general consideration we ex-
anime the bill in detail, it is open to wclghtty
objections. In time of war it was cminently
proper that we should provide for those who
were passing suddenly from condition OF bon
dage to a state of freedom but this bill propo-
scs to make the Freedmen's Bureau, established
by the act of 1865, as one Of many great and
extraordinary military measures to suppress a
formidable rebellion, a permanent branch OF
the public administration, with its powers
greatly enlarged. Ihavc no reason TO suppose,
and ] do not understand it to be alleged, that
the act of March, 1866, has proved deficient
for the purpose for which it was passed, al
though at that time, and for considerable pc
riod thereafter. the Government of the United
States remained unaeknowledged lmost of the
States whose inhabitants had been involved in
the rebellion. The institution OF slavery, for
the military destruction of which the Freed
mems Bureau was called into existence as an
auxiliary. has been already effectually and
finally abrogated throughout the whole country
by an amendment of the Constitution of the
United States, and practically, its eradication
has received the assent and concurrence OF most
of those States in which it at any time had an
existence. lam not, therefore, able to discern
in the condition of the country anything to
Justify an apprehension that the powers and
agencies of the Frecdmen's Bureau, which were
effective for the projections of freedmen and reiu-
gees during the actual continuance of bostflitics
and of African servitude, will now, in the dawn
of peace and after the abolition of slavery
prove inadequate to the same proper ends, Ii
/ am correct in these views, there can be no ne
cessity for the enlargement OF the powers OF the
Bureau for which provision is made in the bull.
The third section of the bill authorizes a
general and unlimited grant of support to the
destitute and suffering refugees and freedmen,
their wives and children. Succeeding sections
make provision for the rent or purchase oil IAN
ded estates for freedmen, and for the erection
for their benefit of suitable buildings for asy-
lums and schools, the expenses to be defrayed
from the Treasury of the whole people. The
Congress of the United States has never here
tofore thought itself empowered to establish
asylums beyond the limits of the District OF
Columbia, except for the benefit of our disabled
soldiers and sailors. 1t has never founded sncn
schools for any class of our own people, not
even for the orphans of those who have fallen
in the defence of the Union, but has left the
care of education to the much more competent
and efficient control Of the States, of commu-
mites, of private associations and OF lndiyldu-
ais II has never deemed itself authorized to
cxrend the public money for the rent or pur-
chase of rooms for the thousands, not to say
millions, of the white race who are honestly
toiling from day to day for there subsistence
Asyums for the support of INDECENT persons IN
the United States was never contemplated Dythe
authors Of the Constitution. Nor can any good
reason be adduced why permanent establish
ment should be founded for one class OF our
people moro than for another. Pending the
war. many refugees and freedmen received sup
port from the Government, but it was never
intended they should henceforth be fed, clothed,
educated and sheltered by the United States
The idea on which the slaves were assisted to
freedom was that on becoming free they would
be self-sustaining population. Any legsla-
ton that shall imply that they are not expect
ed to attain self-sustaining condition, must
have tendency injurious alike to their charac-
ter and their prospects. The appointment Of
an agent for every county and parish will Gre
ate an immense patronage, and the expense OF
the numerous officers and there clerks to be ap-
pointed by the President, will be great In the
beginning. with tendency steadily toincrease.
| The appropriations asked by the Freedmen S
Bureau. as now established, for the year 1866,
amount to Sll,745,0o0:
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 under the admins
tration of the second Adams. If the presence
of agents in every parish and county is to be
considered as war measure, opposition, or even
resistance might be provoked so that to give
effect to their jurisdiction, troops would have to
be stationed within reach of every one Of them,
and thus large standing force would be rem
dsred necessary. Large appropriations would,
therefore. be required to sustain and enforce
military in every county or 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 pubic conn
dence. it is necessary we practice, not merely
customary economy, but, as far as possible, Sc
we're retrcnchment.
In addition to the objections already stated,
the fifth section of the bill proposes to take
|
legal proceedings beirig first had, contrary to
that provision Of the Constitution which de-
cares that no person shall be deprived OF liie,
liberty, or property, without due process OF
law. 1t does not appear that part oil the
lands to which this section referred may not oe
owned by minors or persons Of unsound mind
or bv those who have been faithful to all their
obligations as citizens of the United States
If any portion of the land is held by such per-
sons, is not competent for any authority to de-
prive them Of it. If, on the other hand, it be
found that the property is liable to conflsca-
ton. even then it cannot be appropriated tc
public purposes until, by due process OF Law
it shall have been declared forfeited to the Gov,
ernment. There is still further objection to tho
bill on the grounds seriously affecting the class
of persons to whom it is designed to bring re.
lief: it will tend to keep the mind OF the freed.
men in state of uncertain expectation anc
restlessness, while to those among whom he
lives it will be source Of constant and vague
apprehension. -,
/ Undoubtedly the freedn Al should be protect