Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-02-23


Freedmen's Bureau, which were effective
for the protection of freedmen aud refu-
gees during the actual continuation of
hostilities and of African servitude, will
now In a time Of peace, and after the abO-
Htion of slavery, prove Inadequate to the
same. proper ends IF I am correct in
these views, there can be no necessity for
the enlargement of the powers Of the Bu-
reau, for which provision Is made IN the
bill
The third section of the bill authorizes
a general and unlimited amount Of sup
port TO the destitute and suffering reIu-
gees and freedmen and their wives ard
children Succeeding sections make
provision for the rent or purchase of land
ed estates for freedmen, and for the cree
ton for their benefit of suitable buildings
for asylums and schools, the expenses to
be betrayed from the treasury of the
whole people. The Congress of the Uni
ted States has never heretofore thought
itself competent to establish any relief
laws beyond the limits Of the District
of Columbia. except for the benefit Of
our disabled soldiers and sailors 1t has
never founded schools for any class of our
people not even for the orphans of those
who have fallen in defense of the Union,
but has left the care Of their education to
control of the States, or communities, of
private associations. and Of individuals
1t has never deemed itself authorized to
expend public money for the rent or pur-
chase of homes for the thousands. not to
say millions, of the white race, who are
honestly toiling from day to day for their
subsistence A system for the support
of INDECENT persons in the United States
was never contemplated by the authors of
the Constitution. More, can any good
reason be advanced why, as a permanent
tablishment, it should be founded for
one class Of people more than another
Pending the war, many refugees and
freedmen received support from the Gov
ernmeut, but 1t was never intended that
they should heuceforth be fed clothed,
educated aud sheltered by the United
States. The idea on which the slaves
were assisted to freed ON, was that on be-
coming free they would become a self
sustaining population. Any legislation
that shall imply that they are not expec-
ted to attain a self-sustaining condition
must have a tendency injurious alike to
their characterand their prosperity. The
appointment OF an agent IN every county
and parish will create an immense patron
age, and the expense of the numerous Of
fcers and their clerks. to be appointed bv
ming with a tendency steadily to increase.
The appropriations asked by the Freed
mems Bureau, as now established, for the
year 1866, amount to 81, ,745, 800. tmay
be safely estimated the cost to be increas-
ed under the pending bill will require
double that amount, more than the en-
tire sum expended in any one year under
the administration Of the second Adams.
Iftbe presence Of agents in every par
ish and county Is to be considered as a
war measure, opposition, or even resis-
tance, might be provoked, so that to give
them jurisdiction, troops would have to
be stationed within the reach Of every
one of them, and thus a large standing
force rendered necessary Some apprO-
priation would then be required to sus-
tain and enforce military jurisdiction in
every county and parish from the POto-
mac to the Rio Grande. The condition
Of our fiscal affairs Is encouraging, but in
order to sustain the present measure of
public confidence, 1t Is necessary that we /
practice not merely customary economy. /
Out as far as possible, severe retrench- I
nent
In addition to the objections already I
stated, the 9TH section of the bill pro I
poses to take away land from its former I
owners, without any legal proceeding be- I
ng first had, contrary to that provision /
IF the constitution which declares that no /
person shall be deprived Of life, liberty
)T property without due process of law.
It does not appear that lands to which I
his section refers, may not be owned BY
minors or persons of unsoUnd mind, OF
ly those who have been faithful to all
heir obligations as citizens of the United
States 1t any portion of the land is held
ly such persons, it Is not competent for
my authority to deprive them Of it. If on
he other hand, it be found that the prop
.rty is liable to cOnfscation, even, then. it
annot be appropriated to public purposes
lntil by due process of law, it shall have
Deen declared forfeited to the Govern
nent.
There are still further objections to the
ill, on grounds seriously affecting the
lass of persons to whom it is designed to
ring relief; it will tend to keep the
lind of the freedmen In state of uucer-
ain expectation and restlessness, while
0 those among whom he lives it will be
Ouree ofcOnstant and vague apprehen-
ion. Undoubtedly the freedmen should
e protected, but they should be protec-
ed by the civil authorities, especially by j
be exercises of all the constitutional
overs of the courts of the United States. ;
nd of th5 States. His condition Is NOT
0 exposed as may at first be imagined
9 is in a portion of the country where {
IS labor cannot well be spared. Compe- 7
tlon for his services from the planters. s
'om those who are costructing or repair t
lg railroads, or from capitalists in his {
clnlty, or from other States, viii enable a
I'm to command almost his own terms. t
he also possesses a perfect right to /
lange his place of abode, and If there t
re he does not find in one community l
State mode of life suited to his de- t
re, or proper remuneration for his labor. 2
: can move to another where labor is /
ore esteemed and better rewarded. In r
nth, however, each State, induced bv e
own wants and interests will do what G.
necessary and proper to retain within O
border all the labor that is needed for Il
e develOpement of its resources. The b
vs. that regulate supply and demand a,
II maintain their force and the wages of "
e laborer viii be regulated thereby. el
lere Is no danger that the great demand 81
labor will not operate in favor of the er
'orer; neither is sufficient cOnsidera-
q given to the ability of the freedmen
protect and take care of themselves.
It's no more than justice to them to be-
We that as they have received their u
edOm with moderation and forbear- -
'e, they will distinguish themselves bv VI VI
ir industry, and that they will soon =.
Nv the world thatin a condition of free -
n they are self-sustaining and capable m msl'
their own employment and az
ir own places of abode; Of insisting for wi wi
mselTeS on DrODer remuneration 9Oi