The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-02-23

las q measure OF war, the question
Immediately presents itself, whether
we are still engaged in war. Let u:
not unnecessarily disturb the com
mercc and credit and industry of the
country, by declaring to the American
people and the world that the United
States are still in a condition of civi
war At present there is no part O
our country in which the authority
of the United States is disputed
OGenses that may be committed by
individuals, should not work for.
feiture of the rights of the same com
munities. The country has entered,
or is returning to state of peace and
industry, and the rebellion is in fact
at an end The measure therefore,
seems to be as inconsistent with the
actual condition of the country, as il
is ut variance with the Constitution
Of the United States. 1t, passing
from general considerations, we eX-
anime the bill in detail, it is open to
weighty objections. In time of war
it was eminently proper that VIC
should provide for those who were
passing suddenly from a acondition OF
bondage to a state Of freedom. But
this bill proposes to make the freed
mems bureau, established by the act
of 1865, as one of many great and
extraordinary military measures to
suppress q formidable rebellion, n
permanent branch of the public al.
ministration, with its power greatly
enlarged.
| have no reason to suppose, and |
do not understand it to be alleged,
that the act OF March, 1868, has prov
ed deficient for the purpose for which
it was passed, although at that time
and for considerable period there.
after, the Government Of the United
States remained unacknowledged in
most of the States whose inhabitants
had been involved in the rebellion.
The institution of slavery, for the
military destruction of which the
treedmen's bureau was called into
existence rs an auxiliary, has been
already electually and finally abro.
gated throughout the whole country
by an amendment of the Constitution
Of the United States, and practically
its eradication has received the ass ent
and concurrence 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 the powers and
agencies of the frcedmcn's bureau,
which were effective for the protec
ton of freedmen and refugees during
the actual continuation of hostilities
and of African servitude, will now in
a time ofpeace and after the abolition
of slavery, prove inadequate to the
same proper ends. If am correct
in these views, there can bc no ne
cessity for the enlargement of the
powers of the bureau for which pro
vision is made in the bill.
The third section of the bill au.
thorzes general and unlimited
amount of support to the destitute
suffering refugees and freedmen,
and their wives ard children
Succeeding sections make provision
for the rent or purchase of landed
estates for freedmen and for the cree.
ton. for their benedt, of suitable
buildings for asylums and schools
the expenses to be betrayed from the
treasury of the whole people.
The Congress Of the United States
has never heretofore thought itselI
competent to establish any laws be.
yond the limits Of the District of Co
Iumbia, except for the benefit of oul
disabled soldiers and sailors. 1t ha:
never founded schools for any elias;
of our own people; not even for TIL,
orphans Of those who have fallen il
defense Of the Union, but has left til,
care of their education to the mucl
more competent control'of the States
of communities, of private associa
tions, and of individuals. 1t has nev
er deemed itself authorized 10 eX
pend the public money for the rem
or purchase of homes for the thou
sands, not to say millions, of tn
white race who are honestly toilin
from day to day for their subsi,
tCncc.
a system for the support of indie
ent persons in the United States wa
never contemplated by the authors {
the Constitutions; nor can any goo
reason be advanced why, as pei
mancnt establishment, it should /
founded for one class or color OF OF
people more than for another PenC
ing the war many refugees and freeC
men received support from the Coy
ernment, but it was never intendc
that they should henceforth he fec
clothed, educated and sheltered by til
! United States. The idea on whic
the slaves were assisted to frcedoi
was that on becoming free they woul
be a sell sustaining population. An
legislation that shall imply that the
are not expected to attain n self sus
tanning condition, must have q ten
dency injurious alike to their charac
ter and their prosperity, Tho ap
polntment of an agent for ever
county and parish will create an i'm
mensc patronage, and the expense O
the numerous officers and their clerk
to be appointed by the President
will be great in the beginning, wit
u teusssHey steadily to increase, TIL
appropriations asked by the freed
mems bureau, as now established, 70
the year 1866, amount to Sll,T45,