Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-02-20

military destruction of which the Freed
mems Bureau was called into existence, as
an auxiliary force, has been already effect
ually and finally abrogated throughout the
whole country by an amendment of the
Constitution of the United States, and
practically its eradication has receiv-
ed the assent and concurrence of
most of those States in which it had
at any time existed. / am not,
therefore, able to discern in the
country anything to justify an appre-
henson that the powers and agencies of
the Freedmen's Bureau, which were effect
i've for the protection of freedmen and ref
ugees during the actuaP continuation of
h0stilities, and of African servitude, will
| now, in time of peace and after the abo-
| lition, of slavery, prove inadequate to the
same proper ends. If | am correct in these
| views, there can be no necessity for the en-
| largement of the powers of the Bureau, for
which provision is made in the bill.
The Sd section of the bill authorizes a
| general and unlimited amount of support
to the destitute and suffering refugees and
| freedmen and their wives and children
| Succeeding sections make provision for the
rent or purchase of landed estates for freed
men, and for the erection, for their benefit,
of suitable buildings for asylums and
schools, tie expenses to be betrayed from
the treasury of the whole people.
The Congress OF the United States has
never heretofore thought itself competent
to establish any laws beyond the limits of
the District of Columbia. except tor 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 the defense OF the
! Union, but has left the care of their educa-
| tion to the much more competent and eili-
| cient control of the States of communities,
of private associations and of individuals.
| 1t has never deemed itself authorized
to eXpend public money for the rent or
| purchase of homes for the thousands, not to
| say millions OF the white race who are hon
esty tOiling from day to day for their sub
sistence. A system for the support of in
digent persons in the United States was
never contemplated by the authors of the
Constitution. Nor can any good reason be
advanced why, as a permanent establish
ment, it should be founded for one class or
color of our people more than another
Pending the war many refugees and freed
men received support from the Govern
ment, but it was never intended that they
should henceforth be ted, clothed, educated
and sheltered by the United States.
The idea on which the slaves were assist
ed to freedom was, that on becoming free
\ they would be a self-sustaining population.
| Any legislation that shall imply that they
are not expected to attain self-sustainng
condition, must have Il tendency Injurious
alike to their character and their prosper
| ity.
The appointment of an agent for every
county and parish will create an immense
| patronage, and the expense of the numer-
Gus officers and their clerks, to be appoint
ed by the President, will be great in the
| beginning, with tendency steadily to in
crease. The appropriations asked by the
| Freedmen's Bureau, as now established, for
the year 1866, amount to $ll,745000. 1t
may be safely estimated that the cost
to be incurred under the pending bill will
require double that amount more than the
entire sum expended in any one year under
the administration of the second Adams.
| IT the presence of agents in every parish
and county is to be considered as a war
measure, opposition or even resistance
might be provoked, so that to give effect to
their jurisdiction troops would have to be
stationed within reach of every one of them,
and thusa large standing force rendered
necessary. Some appropriations would
therefore be required to sustain and enforce
military jurisdiction in every county and
parish from the Potomac to the Rio Grande.
| The condition of our fiscal affairs is sencOur-
aging, but in order to sustain the present
measure of public confidence, it is necessary
that we practice not only customary ecOnO-
my, but, as far as possible, severe retrench-
ment.
In addition to the objections already
stated, the 9TH section of the bill proposes
to take away land from its former owners,
without any legal proceedings being first
had, contrary to that provision of the Con-
stitution which declares that mo person
shall be deprived of life, liberty or proper
ty without due process of law" 1t does
not appear that lands to which this section
refers may not be owned by minors or per-
sons of unsOund mind, or by those who
have been faithful to all their obligations
as citizens of the U. S. If any portion
of the land is held by such persons it is not
competent for any authority TO deprive
them of it. If, on the other hand, it be
found that the property is liable to cOntis-
cation, even then it cannot be appropriated
to public purposes until, by due process of
law, it shall have been declared forfeited to
the Government.
There are still further objections to the
bill, on grounds seriously affecting the class
of persons to whom it is designed to bring
relief. 1t will tend to keep the mind of the
freedmen in state of uncertain eXpecta-
tion and restlessness, while to those among
| whom he lives 1t will be source OF con-
slant and vague apprehension. Undoubt-
edy the freedmen should be protected, but
they should be protected by the civil
authorities, especially by the exercise
of all the constitutional powers of the
Courts of the United States and of the
States. His condition is not so exposed as
may be at first imagined. He is in por-
tion of the country where his labor cannot
well be spared. Competition for his servi-
ces from planters, from those who are con-
structing or repairing railroads, or from
capitalists in his vicinity, or from other
States, will enable him to command almost
his own terms. He also possesses perfect
right to change his place of abode; and if
therefore, he does not find in one cOmmu-
nifty or State mode of life suited to
| his desires, or proper remuneration for his
lab or, he can move to another where labor
Is more esteemed and better rewarded
In the South, however, each State, induced
by its own wants and interests, will do
what is necessary and proper to retain
within its borders all thslabor that is need
ed for the development of its resources. The
laws that regulate supply and demand will
maintain their force, and the wages of the
laborer will be regulated thereby. There
is no danger that the great demand for la
Dor will not operate in favor of the laborer.
Neither is sufficient consideration given