Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-03-09

words OF the Constitution, which declares
that "no person shall be held to answer
for capital or otherwise Infamous crime
unless on presentment or indictment of
grand jury, except in cases arising in the
land and naval forces, or in the militia,
when in actual service in time of war or
public danger" and that (" in all criminal
prosecutions, the accused shalI enjoy the
right to speedy and public trial. by an
impartial jury of the State. d District
wherein the crime shall have been com
mitted." The safeguards which the expe-
rience and wisdom of, ages taught our,
fathers to establish as securities for the
protection Of the innocent, tho punishment
of the guilty, and the equal administration
of justice, are to be set aside, and, for the
sake Of more vigorous iuterposi,ion in:
behalf of justice, we are to take the risk of
the many acts of injustice that would me-
cessariy follow from an almost countless
number Of agents, established in every
Parish or County in nearly third of the
States Of the Union, over whose decisions
there is to: be no supervision or control BY
the Federal Courts. The power that would
be thus placed in the hands Of the Presi-
dent is such, as in time of peace; certainly
ought newer 70 b entrusted ), to any one
man.
If it be asked whether the creation Of:
such tribunal within a State is warranted
as measure Of war, the question imme>
diately presents itself, whether we arc still
engaged in war. Let us not unnecessarily
disturb the commerce and credit and in.
dustry of he country, by declaring to the
American people and to the world that the
United States are still in a condition of
civil war. At present, there is no part of
our country in Which the authority of the
United States, is disputed. Offences tha,
may be committed by individuals should
not work a forfeiture Of the rights of whole
communities. The country has returned,
or is returning, to a state of peace and in
dustry, and the rebellion is, in fact, at m
end. The measure, therefore, seems to be
as inconsistent with the actual condition Of
the country as it is at variance will, the
Constitution of the United States.
IT, passing from general considerations,
we examine the bill in delail, it is open to
weighty objections.
III timo of war, it is emincntly prop.
er that we should provide for those who are
passing suddenly from condition of bond
age 10 state of freedom. But this bill
proposes to make the Freedmcn's Bureau,
established by the Act of 1865, as one of
many great and extraordinary military
measures to suppress formidable rebellion,
a permanent branch of the public admins
tration, with its powers greatly enlarged.
have no reason to suppose, and l
do. not understand it to he alleged.
that the Act of March, 1865, las prov
ed deficient for the purpose for which it
passed, although at that, and for a consider.
able period thereafter, the Government of
the United States remained unscknowl--.
edged in most of the States whose inhabi-
tants has been involved in the rebellion.
She institution of slavery, for the military
destruction of which the Freedlnen's Bu-
reau was called into existence a. an aux
Hilary, has been already efsctually and
finally abrogatel throughout the whole
country by an amendment of the Cons.itu.
ton of the United States, and practically its
eradication has received the assent and con.
currence Of most Of those States in Which it
at any time had an existence. I am not,
therefore, able to discern, in the condition
Of the country, anything to justify an appre-.
bepsion thatthe powers and agences Of the
Freedmen's Bureau, which were effective
for the protection Of freedmen and refugees
during the actual continuance of hostilities
and Of African sesvitude, will now, in
time OF peace and after the abolition of
slavery, prove inadequate to tue same pro.
per ends. Il am correct in these views,
there can be 9osnecassity for the; enlarge
ment OF the powers of the Bureau, for
which provision IS made in the Bib =
The third section Of the bill authorizes
general apd pnliimn.ited gran. .of support y.
the destitute and suffering refugees .and,
freedmen, Their, Yives; and children, Sue
cesding sections make provision, FOR the
rent or purchase of landed estates for freed
pep. and for the erection, for their benefit,
Of suitable bpidings for asylum. aud
schools-tbe expense to be betrayed from
the treasury Of the whole people The
Congress Of the United s.stssr has uever