Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-02-28

io' oSN. 80
3 have no reason o suppress, and II not
Understand 1t to be ALLEGED, that thesact OF
March, 1866, has proved deficient for the pur-
pose for which twas passed, although at that
time, and for q considerable period thereafter.
the government Of the. Unit ed States remained
unacknowledged inmostaof the States whose
inhabitants had been involved in the rebellion.
The institution Of slavery, for the military
destruction ot which the Freedmen's Bureau
was called into existence as an auxiliary for
ritY has been already e4fceeuaiy and finally
abrogated throughout the whole country by
amendment to the Constitution Of the United
States, and practically its eradication has re-
=ceived the assentand concurrence OF mostsof
,thos, States in which it any tin.e had existed,
a;il not, therefore. able,tu;, discern in the
country anything to Justify gu apprehension
that The powers and agencies of the Freed
mems Bureau, which wsre elective for the
protection of'theFreedmena ard refugees du
rings he actual 7continuation Of hostilties
and II. African seryitude, will row, in time
o! peace, and afterthe abolition of slavery,
prove mad quate to: the same proper ends.
II am correct in ttese views, there can
be no necessity for the enlargement OF the
Bureau, for which provision is made in the
oill. The third section OF t5e bill euthorzes
a general unlimited auount,of support to the
ns;i;u.icr, and suffering refugees and freed
| men aud their wives aud children. - -.
Succeed g ,eciions make proyi ion for the
rent or purchase Of l:,Hdcd os;atss 8 for freed
m n and tor the erection for their benefit Of
uiiable. e.6uildings for asylu;t.a and schools,
the 1expeases TO be dct:ayed from the treasu
ry OF the whole people. a
Tie Congress Of tie United States. llas
never heretofore thought Itself competent 10
establish any laws beyond. the limits of the
District Of Columbia, except for the benefit
of our disabled soldiers and sailors; it has
| never founded schools for any class of Our
people-not eyln for tie orphans of those
who have fallen in defence Of the Union, but
Las left the care Of their education to the
much more Competent control OF the States,
i communities, Of private associations, and
i iaGiviGuas. 5. - -.
II has aeyer deericd l;sri;f authorized 10
x. ead public money. for rer. or purchase oi
| hruscs for tie til usands, not TO say millions,
# the white race wio are honestly. toi!i:lg
from day to dag. for their subsistence. 4
>ys,em for the sapport OF INDECENT persons III
the United STATES was senever contemplated
oy tie authors Of the Constitution, nor can
aoy goud reason be advanced why, as per-
manent establishment, it should be founded
for one class or color of our people more
than for another
Pending the war, m9ny refugees and freed
mc! recsivcd support from the government,
butit was never nteaded they should hence
;orth be fed, clothed, educated, and sheltered
by the United States. The idea on which
the slaves Were assistetlto freedom, was. that
on becoming fsec theyywou!f bea .sel-sus
tanning population ;sanN legislation that shall
imply they are not expected 10 attain self
sustaining condition must have tendency
Injurious alike to their character and their
prosperity. 80 -
The appointment Of an agent for every
county and parish will create an immense
patronage, aud the expense Of the numerous
officers and their clerks to be appointed by
the President viii be great in the beginning,
with tendency to steadily increase.
The appropriation asked by TIE Freedmen's
Bareau as nov established, for tie year
1866, amounts to Sll,745,0 900 II may be
safc'y estimated that the cost 10 be incurred
unler the pending bill will require double that
amount, more thar the eatirc sum expended
in aay one year under the Administration OF
the second Adams.
II the presence Of agents in every parish
and county is 10 be considered as war.
measure, opposition, or evelyS;esstancs, nigh!
jurisdiction, troops wouldLave to be stationed
within reach Of every one Of them, and thus,
as a large standing force would be rendered
necessary; large appr 9priatious would be re
ouired to sustain and enforce military Juris-
d.c:icn iu every county and parish from the
Potomac to tile Rio Grande.
""he condition Of our fiscal affairs is ELI
courasing, but in erdercto sus ain the present
measure OF public confidence it is necessary
We practice 10. inerel y easlomary economy,
bu. as far as possible severe sretrcnah;aent.
In addition othe objections already stated,
che filth section Of tue bill proposes to take
away land from former owners, without any
Legal proceedings being fr't had, contrary to
that provision OF the Constitution which de-
clares that no person shall be deprived Of
life, liberty or property without due process
of law.
It does not appear that the lands 10 which
this section rDlerssmsy not be owned by mi
nors or persona Oh aasonnd mind, or by
these who have been faithful TO all their OBJ
legations as citz.n ms OF the United States. If
any portion Of the land is held by such per
sous it is not competent for any authority to
deprive them Of it.
ii, ,oe .be other hand, it be found that the
Il f> hnD
it canpot be appropriated to public purposes
until, by due process of lay, it shall have
been declared forfeited 10 the government.
There are still farther objections so the
bin on the grounds Of seriously affecting the
class of persons to whom it is designed to
bring relief 1t will tend to keep the mind
OF the freedman in a state of uncertain ex-
pectation aud restlessncss, while to those
amorg whom he lives it Will be u source Of
constant aid vague apprehension.
Undoubtedly the frt tedmen should be pro-
.ec.ed, but they should be protected by the
civil authorities, especially by the exercise
o.: al! .be constitutional powers Of the courts
OF the United States aud Of the States. Their
condition Is not 50 exposed as may at frs be
imagined. They are in o portion Of the
coaat.y where their labor cannot well be
spared. - ..
Competition for his services from planters,
from those who arc constructing and repair
ing railroads, or from capitalists in his yicini.
ty or from other States, will enable him TO
command almost Lis own ter:cs He also
possesses perfect right to change his place
of abode, and il, Therefore, he does not find
in one community or State Q mode OF life
suited 10 his desires or proper remuneration
for his labor, he can move to another where
labor is more esteemed and better rewarded.
In ruth. however, each State, induced by
its own wants end interests, viii! do what is