The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-02-28

apprehension that the powers aud agencies
OF the Freedmen's Bureau, which were ef-
fectlve for the protection of freedmen and
refugees during the actual continuance of
hostilities and the African seryitudr. will
nov. in time Of peace and after the abo.
lition Of slavery, prove insdequate 10 the
same proper ends. lam correct in these
views there can be no necessity for the en-
largement Of the powers of the Bureau. for
which provision Is made 10 the bill. ",
The third section Of the bill authorizes
q general and unlimited grant Of support
TO the destitute and suffering refugees and
freedmen, their wives and children. Sue.
ceeding sections make provisions for the
rent or purchase Of landed estates for freed
men. and for the erection for their benefit
Of suitable buildings for asyIams and schools.
the expenses to be betrayed from the treas.
ury Of the whole people. The Congress Of
the United States has never heretofore
thought itself empwere,l 10 establish asy
lums, beyond the limits of the District Of
Columbia, except FOR the benefit Of our dis
sbied soldiers and sailors. Il has never
founded schools for any class of our own
people--nnt even for the orphans Of those
who have fallen in the defence of the Un-
ion. hut has LEFT the care of education to
the much more competent and efficient con-
troll Of the States, of communities, of pri.
vate associations, aud of individuals. Ii
has never deemed itself authorized to ex-
pend the public money for the rent or pur-
chase Of homes lor the thousands, not 20
say millions, of the white race who are
honestly telling from day to day for their
subsistence. A system for the support Of
INDECENT persons in the United States was
never contemplated by the authors Of the
Constitution; nor can any good reason be
advanced why, asa permasent establish
nenl, IL should be founded for one class or
color Of our people more Than for another.
Pending the war. many refugees and
freedmen received suppor' from the Gov
ernmeni; but il was never intended that
they should thenceforth be fed, clothed, ed
ueated, and sheltered by the United States.
The idea on which the slaves were assist
ed 10 freedom was that on becoming Tree
they would be q self-sosiaining population.
Any Legislation that shall imply that they
are not expected to attain self.sustaining
condition must have tendency injurious
alike to their character and their prospects.
The appointment Of an agent for every
county and parish will create an immense
patronage, aud the expense of the numer-
our siEcers and their clerks. to be appoint.
ed by the President, will be great in the
beginning. with . tendency steadily to in
crease.
The appropriations asked By the Freed
mems Bureau, as now established, for the
ysaI 500. amount 10 81 .745,000. IL may
be safely estimated that the cost TO be in
Cured under the pending bill will require
double that amount more than the entire
sum expended 10 any one year under the
administration Of the second Adams. II
the presence Of agents in every parish and
county is 20 be considered a. 4 war mea-
sure, opposition, or even resistance. might
be provoked. 50 that TO give effect to their
jurisdiction trnops woul,l have to be station
ed within reach Of every one Of them, and
thus . large standing force be rendered
necessary. Large appropriations would,
therefore. be required 10 sustain and en-
torce military jurisdiction IN every coun-
" or parish irom the Potomac to the Rio
Gnnde.
The condition ol our fiscal affairs is On.
couraging but in order 10 sustain the pres
ent measure Of public confidence u is'ne-
eessary that We practice. not merely custo.
mary economy. but, as lar as possible, Sc
we're retrenehment.
10 addition to the objections already stat
ed. the fifth section Of the bill proposes 10
take away land from its former owners
without any legal proceedings being first
bad. contrary TO that provision OF the Con-
stitution which declares that no person
shall " be deprived Of life, liberty, Or pro-
perty without due process oflaw." II does
not appear that part OF tse lands 10 which