Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-06
From the Illustrated London News.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND THE
FREEDMEN.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND THE
FREEDMEN.
The freedmen and refugees Of the United
States are greatly TO be commiserated. The
late war knocked off their fetters or furnished
them with the much-coveied opportunity Of
slipping out of them of their own accord.
Peace found them personally free but INDECENT
dependent and cause of quarrel between
two large sections Of the white population.
North and South are still at issue respecting
the treatment of the African race II hap
pens, unfortunately for the latter, that the
political party Of Northerners, whose peril
nacity and energy brought the civil struggle
to successful conclusion, identified the pro :
motion Of negro interests with the iniliction
OF revenge on their Southern ncigbbors.
Philanthropy and vindictiveness have be-
come strangely associated, and it is sought
to punish secession by the very means that
are employed to give civil status to the
emancipated slaves. Kindly efforts to pro-
tect sustain, comfort and elevate the black
people of the Southern States mingle in the
same process with passionate efforts to humi-
late, annoy, and impoverish the white peo-
pie who are held to have been guilty of the
crime of rebellion.
The Freedmen's Bureau is the name given
to the mechanism devised during the war TO
meet pressing necessity 1t is q sort of
extra-constitutiona organization
however, by law-the business of which,
during the continuance of the war, was to
provide for the welfare of that large number
OF the negio race whom military operations
10 the South set free from bondage, or who
escaped it by taking refuge within the lines
OF the invading armies. They could not be
Immediately set TO work. but it was neces-
sary that they should be fed. The Freed
mems Bureau was system of paternal
despotism constructed to shield them from
the dangers to which their new condition
exposed them. To this end it was invested
with legislative and executive powers. 1t
drew up regulations to guide the behaviour
of the newly -emancipated bondsman; it
sought employment for the able-bodied and
supplied daily rations to the unemployed; it
controlled all contracts between masters and
men 1t withdrew from the ordinary tribu-
mails all cases in which the rights of negroes
were involved, and it exercised martial law
with view to their well-beAg. On the
whole, and making due allowance for the
eccentricities of human caprice, it answered
the ends both of justice and benevolence
throughout transitionary period, when the
freedmen and refugees stood in sore need Of
both.
Then came the peace, and with It the en-
ancipation of the whole body of slaves. OF
course this gave increased importance to the
Freedmen's Bureau. No one interested in
the success OF the great experiment-the
greatest social revolution in modern times,
with the single exception of the abolition of
serfd0m in Russia-could desire an ABRUPT
cessation of the system by whose agency the
African race in America was being conduct
ed through the wilderness to final position
of freedom and self-dependence. But no
one, looking to the best interests of society,
whether black or white, in the Southern
States, could desire to erect this intermediate
machinery into a normal and permanent in
stitution. There needed other and far more
questionable motives to set on foot any move
ment with this object in view. The suppos-
ed interests Of political party whose work
is mainly done, but who are reluctant to lose
their ascendant position, and the intense
desire of that party to perpetuate the humi-
liation of the South, have come into play in
the United States Congress, ostensibly in
favor of the freedmen, but really in antagon-
ism to the Southern white population. Both
the Senate and the House of Representatives
chosen during the civil war, have large
majority Of ultra Republican members, and
strongly object to the policy of reconstruct.
ion laid down by President johnson, the
success of which win extinguish their party
supremacy. They deem it necessary, or. at
any rate, profess to do SO, TO deal with the
once seeded States as conquered territories,
and they can most conveniently and effect
ually subserve the purpose by retaining the
whole of their black inhabitants under a
martial administration exercised exclusively
by officers amenable to the North. Their
avowed purpose is to secure for the emanc-
pated millions the fruits of freedom of which
they profess to fear the old plantocracy will
deprive them. They, have, therefore, car
ried through both Houses a bill, which,
while 1t promises to attain this end, will
ais Niect the Southern people to an all
pc, military authority. The Presi-
dent l. ? "a 'rageously used his perogative
to veto the message, and hence the Executive
and the Legislature are in direct collision.
A few words as to the provisions OF the
measure just allnded to. It's scope was to
strengthen the authority still vested in the
Frcedmen's Bureau, 10 extend 1t over the
entire Union, and to prolong II indefinitely.
II would come into actual operation, how
ever, in those States only in which negro
refugees and freedmen formed an apprecable
portion of the population--namely, in what
had formerly been the Slave States. The
President was required by the bill TO divide
this part CT the country into districts, and
place over each Of them military officer as
Commissioner. This functionary was to-
subdivide his district, and an agent, selected
from the army, subject only to military juris
diction and entitled to military protection,
was to be appointed over each subdivision
All persons who, on account of race or color
were denied any civil rights, might appeal
to an agent of the Bureau for protection
against any such deprivation, or against be-
ing subjected, for offences of which they may
have been convicted, to any other punish
ment than that which might have been
awarded to white persons in like case, aud
the military agent was authorised TO hear
and decide such appeals, and 10 fue the
offender thousand dollars, or Imprisonment
for year, or both, il he saw fit. For the
sustenance of the unemployed, the Secretary
of War was to issue provision, clothing, fuel,
and other supplies, including medical stores
and transportation, and the President was 10
reserve in Florida, Mississippi, and Arkansas
three millions OF acres Of "good' unoccupied
public lands, which were to be disposed OF in
forty-acre lots to freedmen at such annual
rents as they and the commissioners might
agree upon, and the occupants of lands under
General Shermans order In the Sea Islands,
were 10 be confirmed in their possession.
President johnson, in returning this bill
to the Senate, appends 10 it an exhaustive
"a % Ear hts