Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-03-28
". T. SHERMAN, Maj. Gen.
Intelligent Views npon the Freedmen's
Bureau.

Intelligent Views upOn the Freedmen's
Bureau.
Major Henry G. Lawrence, agent of the
Erecdmen's Burcsu at Fayetteville, North
Carolina, a,Rsprbgcan, in politics, and an
army officer, writes letter to the Phisdel-
phia Age presenting very strong argument
against that institution. The following is
an extract:
FAYETTEVILLE, N. c., Feb. IA, 1866.
confess | am tired out aud half worn out
with the annoyances of my position, and
need rest and am so fur from having any
sympathy with the views that seem to pre-
rail in Congress, that am unwilling to be
even an humble instrument 10 aiding to car
~ them out. Whilst there WAS, and could
be. no law but military law, or rather au.
thorily, the bureau was necessity to some
extent. But to continue it after the States
sh all have given the blacks their civil rights,
seems to be the very tesepie OF sound policy,
considered simply with reference to that. 1t
will engendcr hatred towards the blacks on
the part of tho whites as favored class to
whom extra legal protection is given by the
Federal GovernmeEt-hatrcd towards the
Government itself, which, by this system.
pronounccs the people regardless Of justice,
and brands courts and juries, in advance, as
ready pcriurers. 1t substitutes for mon learn
ed IN the law, and soon to administer it-for
trial by jury and right of appeal-the decis-
ion OF men who, in many cases, If not moSt,
will know nothing Of law; who will often be
prciudccd, and some, Judging from the past,
viii be corrupt ]: will incite in the blacks,
TO some extent, sense or independence Of
the local laws sanction their distrnst Of
them. the courts aud people, and certainly
cannot tend to educate them in the duties OF
citizens. Iustead Of allaying, it will beget
jealousy and ill.will between the races to a
greater degree than now exists, ana finally
Produce the yerv evils it is intended to guard
against. And how such o system can be ex-
ercised except as temporary military me-
cessity in q conquered country, cannot con.
csiye. 1t is liable to all our old objections
to the fugitive slave law" and, unlike that,
will be an ever present, ever acting; and its
provisions are very incomplete for the end
proposed, unless it is assumed that military
authority is to remain paramount. For in.
stance. i can fine man $50, and imprison
him thirty days; but in case of murder of
black, the district or department military
Commander must order trial by court martial.
Upon conviction the case may, Of course, go
to the Secretary of War for review. Such
trial is 10 progress now at Raleigh. If this
system is to DO retained after the States shall
he Observation-Disclosures that may be-
and if this is republicanism or self govern
,nent, shall despair of ever being able to
comprehend the first principles of political
,c;epee. But if State should establish
such judicial system, think the Federal
Government might well bo called upon to en-
force its guarantee of republican government
to the people of that State. think it would
be q les outrage upon the principles of solf-
government and upon the Constitution to
treat the South as conquered territory, and
govern it BY our territorial system, than to
DO what is proposed to be done; in that case
Mr. Sumner might secure juries composed d
eouaIly of Nhisc and black men. / felt
ashamed for myself as On American, and for
INV Government, when, few days ago, Judge
Baxtou, Of the Supreme Court of this State
called ct my office to inquire as to thetxtent
of the jurisdiction lie would be permitted to
exercise in term he was about to hold.