Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-03-02

The appointment of an agent for eve
ry county and parish will create an
immense patronage, and the expense
Of the numerous officers and their
clerks to be appointed by the Presi
dent, will be great in the beginning,
with tendency steadily to increase.
The appropriations asked-by tn e
Freadmen's Bureau, as now establish
ed, for the year 1866, amount to SILL
10000. 1t may safely be estimated
that the cost to be incurred under the
pending bill will require double that
amOunt-more than the entire sum eX-
pended III any one year under the ad
ministratiOn 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 them, and
thus large standing force be render
ed necessary. Large appropriations,
would, therefore, be required to sus-
tain and enforce military jurisdiction
in every county or parish from the Po-
tOmac to the Rio Grande.
The condition of our fiscal affairs
is encouraging, but in order to sustain
the present measure of public con-
fidence it is necessary that we prac-
tice not merely customary economy,
but, as far as possible, severe retrench-
h.ent.
| OBJECTIONS TO THE APPROPRIATIONS OF
LANDS.
In addition to the objections already
stated, the fifth section of the bill pro-
poses to take away land from its for
mer owners without any legal pro-
ceedings being first had, contrary to
that provision of the Constitution
which declares that no person shall
be deprived Of life, liberty or proper
ty without due process of law. 1t
does not appear that a 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 been faithful to all their obliga-
tions as citizens of the United States.
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 c0nfscation,
even then it cannot be appropriated to
public purposes until by due process of
law. it shall not have been forfeited to
the Government.
OBJECTIONS On ACCOUNT OF THE FREED
MEN THEMSELVES.
There are still further objections to
the bill on grounds seriously affecting
I the class Of persons to whom it is de
! signed to bring relief 1t will tend to
keep the minds Of the freedmen in a
state of uncertain expectation and
restlcssneSs, while to those among
whom he lives it will be a source Of
constant and vague apprehension
/ Undouotedlv the freedmen should be
protected, but he should be protected
10y the civil authoilties-especially by
the exercise of all the constitutional
powers of the Court of the United
States and Of the States. His cOndi-
ton is not so exposed as may at first
be imagined; he is in a portion of the
country where his labor cannot be
well spared; competition for his serv-
ices from pIantels-from those who
are constructing or reOpening rail-
roads, or from capitalists in his vicin-
age. or from other States, will enable
him TO command almost his own terms.
He also possesses q perfect right to
change his place OF abode, and if, there
fore, he does not find in one communi
ty or State u mode Of life suited to his
desires, or proper remuneration for
. his labor, he can move 10 another, where
labor is more esteemed and better re-
warded. In truth, however, eac b
State, induced by its own wants and
interests, will do what is necessary
and proper to retain within its borders
all the labor that is needed 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 labor will not operate
in favor Of the laborer. Neither is
, sufficient consideration given to the
/ ability offreedmen to protect and take
, care OF themselves. 1t is no more
z than justice to them to believe that, as
they have received their freedom with
: moderation and forbearance, so they
. will distinguish themselves by their in
} dustry and thrift, and soon show the
world that in their condition of free
dom they are selfsustaining and capa-
ble of selecting their own employment
+ and their own place of abode; of liz
sisting for themselves on proper re.
/ muneration and of establishing and Of
c maintaining their own asylums and
Il schools. 1t is earnestly hoped that
y instead Of wasting away they will, by
t .heir own efforts, establish for them
! selves condition ofrespectabiiity and
4, prosperity. 1t is certain that they
{ can attain o that condition only
through their own merits and exer
/, tiOns,
d In this connection the query pres
it ents itselfwhether the system proposed
II 10y the bill will not, when put int
+. complete operation, practically trans
d fer the entire care, support and con
Il troll of four millions of emancipatet
l. slaves to agents, overseers or task
/, masters, who, appointed at Washing
le ton, are to be located in every count
Il and parish h throughout the Unite'