The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-03-01
EBENSBURG, PA, THURSDAY, MARCH !. 1866

ASSo IudI 6ndIl
imply that they are not expected to attain
self-sus tanning condition, must have a
tendency injurious alike to their character
and their prosperity. The appointment
OF an agent for every county and parish
Will create an immense patronage, and the
expense OF the numerous officers and the
clerks to be appointed by the President
VIII be great In the beginning, with a ten
dency steadily to increase The appro-
prlatlons asked by the Freedmen's Bureau
as now established for the year 1866,
amount to $11,745,0O0 1t may be safely
estimated that the cost to be Incurred
under the impending bill will require
double that amount, more than the entire
sum expended in any one year under the
administration Of the second Adams If
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
thom, and thus a large standing force be
rendered necessary. Large appropriations
would, therefore, be required to sustain
and enforce military jurisdiction In every
SOOhSJ Va p0AASh IIOUl L OtOuldG IO iUG
Rio Grande. The condition of our fiscal
affairs is encouraging, but in order to sus-
tain the present measure of public conf
dence, 1t is necessary that we practice not
merely customary economy, but as far as
possible severe ratrenchment. In addition
to the objections already stated, the fifth
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 Constitution which
declares that no person shall be deprived
OF life, liberty or property without due
process OF law. 1t does not appear that
part of the lands to which this section
refers may not be owned by minors or
persons Of unsound mind, OF by those who
have oeen faithful to all their obligations
as citizens of the United States If any
portion of the land is held by such per-
sons, 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 c9nfscation, 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 pe:sous to whom it Is designed
to bring relief 1t will tend 10 keep the
mind of the freedman in state of uncer-
tain expectation and restlessness; while to
those among whom he lives it will be
source of constant and vague apprehen-
sion. Undoubtedly the freedman should
be protected, but he 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
TIE States. His condition is not so much
exposed as may at first be imagined He
is in aportion of the country where his
labor cannot we'll be spared Competition
for his services from planters, from those
who are constructing or repairing rail
roads, or from capitalists in his vicinage,
or from other States, vii! enable him to
command almost his own terms. He also
possesses a perfect right to change his
place of abode, and if, therefore, he does
hot find, in one community or State, a.
mode of life suited to his desires, or prop
er remuneration for his labor, he can move
to another, where labor is more esteemed
and better rewarded In truth, however,
each State, induced by its own wants ard
interests, will DO what is necessary and
proper to retain within its borders all the
labor that is needed for the development
of It's resources The laws that regulate
supply and demand will maintain their
force, aud the wages of the laborer will
be regulated thereby. There is no dan
ger thatthe great demand for labor will
not operate in favor of the laborer. Nei-
ther is sufficient consideration given to the
ability of the freedmen to protect and take
care OF themselves. 1t is no more than
justice to them to believe that, as they
have received their freedom with modera-
lion and forbearance, so they will distin-
guish themselves by their industry and
thrift, and soon show the world that in
condition of freedom they are self-sustain-
ing and capable of selecting their own
employment and their own places of
abode; of insisting for themselves on a
proper remuneration, and of establishing
and maintaining their own asylums and
schools. 1t is earnestly hoped that instead
of wasting away, they will, by their own
efforts, establish for themselves a condi-
tion of responsibility and prosperity. 1t
is certain that they can attain to that con-
dition only through their own merits aud
exertions. In this connection, the query
presents itself whether the system pro-
posed by the bill will not, when put into
operation, practically transfer
the entire care, support and control of four
millions of emancipated slaves TO agents,
overseers or taskmasters, who, appointed
at Washington, are to be located in every
county and parish throughout the United
States containing freedmen and refugees.