The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-02-23

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 prop.
erty, without the process of law. 1t
does not appear that lands to which
this section refers, may not be owned
by minors, or persons of unsound
mind, or by those who have been
faithful to all their obligations as cit.
izens 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 confiscation,
even then, it cannot be appropriated
to public purposes, until, by due pro.
cess of law, it shall have been de
clared forfeited by the Government.
There are still further objections
to the bill, on grounds seriously af
fecting the class of persons to whom
it Is designed to bring relief 1t will
tend TO keep the mind of the freed.
man in state of uncertain expecta.
ton and restlessness, while TO those
among whom he lives, it will be q
source of constant and vague apprc.
hension. Undoubtedly the freedmen
should be protected, but they should
he 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
Ills condition is not so exposed as
may at first be imagined. He is in a
portion OF the country where his labor
cannot well be spared. Competition
for his services from planters, from
those who are constructing or re.
pairing railroads, or from capitalists
in his vicinity, or from other States,
will enable him to command almost
his own terms. He also possesses u
perfect right to change his place OF
abode, and il. therefore he does not
find in one community or State Il
mode of life suited to his desires, or
proper remuneration for his services,
he can move to another, where labor
is more esteemed and better reward
ed. In truth, however, each State,
induced by its own wants and inter.
ests, will do what is necessary and
proper to obtain in its borders all the
labor that is needed for the develop,
ment of its resources. The laws that
regulate supply and demand will
maintain their force, aud the wages
Of the laborer will be regulated there
by. There is no danger that the
great demand for labor will not op.
crate in favor of the laborer, neither
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 be-
lieve, that rs they have received their
freedom with moderation and for.
bearance, so they will distinguish
themselves by their industry; and
they will ieel and soon show the world
that in q condition of freedom, they
are self sustaining and capable of sc.
lecting their own employment and
their own places of abode; OF insist
ing for themselves on q proper re.
muneration, 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 fol
themselves a condition of respectable
ity and prosperity. 1t is certain
they can attain to that condition
only through their own merits and
eXcrtions.
In this connection the query pre-.
sents itself whether the system pro
posed by the bill will not when put
into complete operation, practically
transfer the entire care, support and
control of four millions OF emancipa
ted slaves to agents, overseers o.
tasllmasters, who, appointed at Wash
ington, are to he located in every
county and parish throughout til,
| United States containing Freedmen
and refugees, such q system woul,
inevitably tend to such n concentra
ton of power in the executive, whicI
would enable it, if so disposed, t
control the action of q numerou
class, and use them for the attainmen
of his own political ends.
] cannot but add another yer
grave objection to this bill. Th
Constitution imperativcly declares
} in connection with taxation, tina
each State shall have at least on
representative, and fixes the rule 70
the number to which, in future times
each State shall be entitled. 1t ais
provides that the Senate of the I'm
ted States shall be composed of tw
Senators from each State, and add
with peculiar force, that no Stat
without its consent, shall be depri,
, ed of its suffrage in the Senate. Til
original act was necessarily passe
in the absence Of the States chief
interested, because their people the
were contumaciously engaged in tn
rebellion. Now the case is changed
and some at least of the States ar
attending Congress by loyal Repre-
scntatiyes, soliciting the allowance
of the constitutional right of repre-
sentatlon. At the time. however O
the consideration and passing of til
bill there was no Senator or Repre-
sentative in Congress from the eleve