The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-02-24

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and ,t,cr the abo | ion of slavery, p'V'
I" w." 10 the ime proper elGs, oou
'" ", nm correct in these views, lntIu 4
u Necessity for the enlargement W. Z,
nowrrs of tho Bulc ". for WhIS.I plnctIon
lam i. made In the bill. Inc .'h,,u "mljm-
nr Fine lin autA6rizcsa general A.u ,,t" md
;t,d amount Of support 70 thc' 'a, n'i tthcir
.ntrerinp refugees and freedmen '''
wives and children. .,,,o ~nrovision
The succeeding sections MAKE tnte.
far the rent or purchase OF lanue' sor their
, % freedmen. and for the erection ~, inns
I%"nelit of suitable baildings ior rnveI
and schools. the expenses 10 Nv n,ao;ie.
ran The treasury OF the Wlio.o p.Y NV
The Congress Of the United slates n",ont to
90 heretofore thought itself con,p... - the
establish any laws beyond tlle ilai,a a honetlt
District of Columbia, except lor .ne H. h"s
of orr disabled soldiers ana sallolf' - "mr
never founded schools for any elani n
own people. not even for tne oip"" ~ tl,e
those who have fallen IN de!chsn i,cnS
Union. hut has left the care OIL tlc' . Ivy
ton TO the much more coilpe,enu vntnns.
of the States of communities OF prn.'T h,s
sociatlons. and of individuals. :. ,anJ
never deemed itself authorized w uMH.a
the public money for the REM VI ~ sav
Of houses for the thousands, not 10 say
mul,ons, of thc white race who are honest
iy toiling from day to day for tlietr s"''
sistcIcr. ;ror+ ner-
sons in the United States was never on
tcmplatpd by the authors Of the Constllu-
tioIl. Nor can my good reason be advan-
ccd why. az u permanent establishment ~
should be founded for one class or col0f Oh
orr people more than another. Pending
the war many refugees and freedmen re.
ceiyed s,,pport from the Government, DuI
It was never intended they should hence
forth be fed. clothed, educated and shelter
ed by the United States. The idea on
which the slaves were assisted to f1ecuonl'
was. that on becoming free. they would DC
u self-sustaining population. and any leg
islltion that shall imply that they are nov
expected to attain q sclf-sustaining cOnul-
ton must have tendency q injurious alike
to their character and their prosperity.
The appointment of an agent for every
county and parish will create an immense
patronage, and the expense of the numer-
Gus officers and clerks to be appointed by
the President, will be great in the begin
ming, with Il tendency steadily to increase.
The appropriations asked for by the Freed
mems Bureau. as now established, for the
year 1866. amounts to S1l.745.00O. 1t may
be safely estimated that the cost to be in
Cured under the pending bill will be dOu-
bic that amOunt-mOre than the entire sum
expended in any one year under the Ad-
ministration ofthe second Adams.
Ifthc presence of agents In every parish
and county is to be considered as u war
measure, opposition, OF even resistance,
might be provoked. so that to give effect
to their jurisdiction, troops would have to
be stationed within the reach of every one
of them; and thus Il large standing force
would be necessary, and large apprOpria-
lions would be required to sustain and en-
force military jurisdiction in every coun-
ty and parish from the Potomac to the
Rio Grande. The condition of our fiscal
affairs is encouraging, but in order to sus-
tain the present measure of public conf
dencc, it is necessary that we practice not
merely customary economy, but as far as
possible, severe retrenchment. In addi-
ton to the objections already stated, the
9TH section of the bill proposes to take a.
Gal proceedings being first had, contrary
to that provision Of the Constitution which
declares that no person shall be deprived
VI Nv. W. vi iopNltJ u utS
process of law"
1t does not appear that lands to which
this section refers may not be owned by
minors or persons of unsound mind, or by
those who have been faithful to all their
obligations as citizens ofthe United States;
If any portion Of the land is held by such
persons it is not competent forany author
ity to deprive them of it. II. Oh the other
hand, it be found that the property is LA
bic to c0ntiscation. even then it cannot be
appropriated to public purposes until, by
due process of law, it shall have been de-
clarcd forfeited to the Government. There
are still further objections to the bill, 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 n state of uncertain en-
Dectati0n and restlesSness, while to those
lmong whom he lives it willibc Il source of
and vague apprehension. IN
lonbtedly the freedman should be prOtect-
ID, but he should be protected by the civil
authorities. especially by all the constitu-
ional power Of the courts of the United |
states. His condition is not 20 exposed Us
nay ut first be imagined. He is in q por-
ion of the country where his labor cannot
yell be spared.
The demand for his services from plan
;erS. from those who are constructing or
repairing railroads. or from capitalists in
lis vicinity or from other States, will ena-
Die him to command almost his own terms.
he also possesses a perfect right to change
his place of abode. and ii, therefore. he
does not find in one community or State q
mode Of life suitable to his desires, or prop
remuneration for his labor, he can move
another, where labor is more extended
and better rewarded. In truth, however,
each State, induced by its W wants and
interests, will do what is necessary and
to retain within its borders all the |
that Is needed for the development of
Its resources. The laws that regulate sup
ply and demand will maintain their force,
ma the wages of the laborcr will be regu-
lated thereby. There is no danger that
the great demand for labor will not Ope-
rite In favor of the labOrer; neither IL sui
ficient consideration given to the ability
the freedmen to protect and take care of
1t is no more than justice to them to be-
lleve that, as they have received their free
ION with moderation and fOrbearance.
5hey VIII distinguish themselves by indus
Try and they feel and show the world that |
=" ~ VI llCCuOul tuCy dTe SELL |
sustaining and capable Of selecting their
'wn places OF abode, of insisting for them
ELVES. for a proper remuneration, and of
establishing and maintaining their own
and schools. 1t Is earnestly ho-
ped that instead of wasting away, they
Xill, by their own efforts, establish for
a condition of responsibility
md prosperity. 1t is certain they can at
ain to that condition only through their
'wn merits and eXcrtions.
In this connection the question presents
tself whether the system proposed by the
)ili Will not, when put into complete Ope-
alton. practically transfer the entire care.
support and control Of four millions of
'mailcipatcd slaves to agents, overseers or
askmastcrs, who, appointed at Washing
are to be located in every county or
parish In the United States containing
reednien and refugees, such an ASYLUM az
inevitably tend to such a concen-
ration Of power In the Executive. which
would enable him, If so disposed. to con-
rOl the action of Il numerous class, and
!se them for the attainment of his own DO
itical ends.