Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-21

the rebellion Is, In tact, at an emu Inc
measure, therefore, seems to be as In
consistent with the actual condition OF
the country as it is at variance with the
Constitution of the United States. II,
in passing from general considerations,
we examine the bill in detail, it is open to
weighty objections.
In time of war it was eminently prop
er that we should provide for those who
were passing suddenly from a condition
of bondage to a state of freedom; but
this bill proposes to make the Freed
mems Bureau, established by an act of
1865, as cne of the many greet and ex-
traordinary military measures to sup
press formidable rebellion, perma-
nent branch of the public administra-
ton, with its powers greatly enlarged.
have no reason to suppose, and do not
understand 1t to be alleged, that the act
Of March, 1865, has proved deficient tor
the purpose for which it was passed, al
though, at that time, and for a consider
able period thereafter, the Government
of the United States remained unae-
knowledged in most Of the States where
in the inhabitants had been engaged in
the rebellion.
The institution of slavery, for the milf
tAry destruction of which the Freed
mems Bureau was called into exisience,
as an auxiliary for it, has been already
effectually and finally abrogated through
out the whole country BY an amendment
to the constitution of the United States,
and practically its eradication has re.
ceived the assent and concur ence OF
most of those States which at any time
had existed. / am not, therefore, able
to discern in the country anything to
Justify an apprehension that ihe powers
and agencies of the Freedmen Bureau,
which were effective for the protection
of freedmen and refugees during the ac-
tual continuation of hostilities, and of
African servitude, will now, in time of
peace and after the abolition of slavery,
prove inadequate to the same proper
ends.
If am correct in these views, there
can be no necessity for the enlargement
OF the powers of the Bureau for which
provision is made in the bill. The sec
! ond section of the bill authorizes gem
eral unlimited amount of support to the
destitute aud suffering refugees and
/
Succeeding sections make provision for
the rent or purchase of landed estate for
freedmen and for the erection, for their
benefit, of suitable buildings for asylums
and schools, the expenses TO be defrayei
from the treasury Of the whole people.
Congress hGs not heretofore thought
itself competent to establish any laws
beyond the limits of the District Of Co
lum bia, except for the benefit of our
disabled soldiers and sailors.
Il has never founded schools for any
class of our own people, not even for
the orphans of those who have fallen in
defense of the Uoion but has left the
| care of their education to the much
more competent control of States, of
communities, of private associations,
and of individuals 1t has never deemed
itself authorized to expend public mo
ney for rent or purchase of homes for
the thousands, not to say millions Of the
white race who are honestly toiIing from
day to day for their subsistence. A sys
tenn for the support of INDECENT persons
in New York was never contemplated
BY The authority of the Constitution, nor
: can any good reason be advanced why
as a permanent establishment it should
J be founded for one class or color OF our
: people, more than another.
Pending the war, many refugees and
freedmen received support from the Gov
, ernment, but it was never intended they
should heuceforth be fed, clothed, edu
J Gated and sheltered b. the United States
The idea on which the slaves we're assist
ed on to freedom was that, on being free
they would be self sustaining popula
{ ton. Any legislation that shall impll
, they are not expected to attain self
/ sustaining condition, must have ten
r dency injurious alike TO their character
D and their prosperity.
: The appointment of an-agent for ev
: cry county and parish will create an i'm
: mense patronage, and the expense o
the numerous officers and their clerks
II to be appointed by the President, viii b
q great in the beginning, with tendenc
y steadily toincrease The appropriation
q asked By the Freenmen's Bur zau as no
d established for the year 1866 amounts
8, $ll, 745, 900. 1t may be safely estimate
b that the cost to be incurred under th
10 pending bill will figure double ths
Dr. amount-more than the entire sum e.
IN pended in any one year under the a.
al minisiration of the second Adams.
a- the presence of agents in every paris
le and county is to be considered as
al measure in opposition, and even resis
j. ance might be provoked, so that to .gi'
10 effect to their jurisdiction troops wou
in have to be stationed within reach
I'd every one of them, and thus larG
al standing force be rendered necessar
y, Large appropriations would therefore
es required to sustain and enforce mIiital
e, jurisdiction in every county and pari
Id from the Potomac to the Rio Grande.
On The condition of our fiscal affairs
of encouraging, but in order TO sustain Il
y. present measures of public confidence
ry is necessary that we practice not. mere
ds customary economy, but, as far as pos'
No BILE, severe retrenchment
a In addition to the objections alrea
lie, stated, the first section of the bill pr
CT poses to take away land from its for
ses er owners without any legal proceedi
in being first had, contrary to that provisi
in of the Constitution which declares II
nat no person shall be deprived of life, lib
led ty or property without due process
md law. .D
he 1t does not appear that lands to whI
all this section refers may not be owned
minors or persons of unsound mind,
aud by those who have been faithful to
) to their obligations as citizens of the Ul
ion ed States If any portion of the lant
the held by such persons 1t is not compel
of for any authority to deprive them of
the If, on the other hand, is be found t
a in the property is liable to cou6scati
risk even then it cannot be appropriated
ouid public purposes until, by due process
less law, it shall be declared forfeited to
very Government. There are still further
the jections to the bill, on ground seriol
sion affecting the class of persons TO wi
cted it is designed to bring relief 1t will
that to keep the mind of the freedmen II
the state of uncertain expectation and T
eace lessness; while to those among whom
ID to was it will be source of constant
vague apprehension.
IN Of Undoubtedly the freedmen should
rant protected, but they should be prote,
.tion by the civil authorities, especially by
r we exercise of all the constitutional DO,
oc ,ha Courts of the limited Ctafas