Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-03-01

mot be owned by minors and per-
sons of unsound mind, or by those
who have been faithful to all their
obligations as citizens of the Uni
tied 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
lcon6scation, 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 objec-
tions to the bill on the grounds of
seriously affecting the class of per-
sons to whom it is designed to
bring relief. 1t will tend to keep
the mind of the freedman ina state
of uncertain expectation and rest
lessness, while to those among
whom he lives it will be q source
Of constant and vague apprehen-
sion.
Undoubtedly the freedmen
should be protected, but they
should be protected by the civil
authorities, especially by the exer-
else of all the constitutional pow
ers of the courts of the United
States, and of the States. Their
condition is not so exposed as may
at first be imagined. They are in
a portion of the country where their
labor cannot be we'll spared.
Competition for his services
from planters, from those who are
constructing 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 q per-
feet right to change his place Of
abode, and if, therefore, he does
not find in one community or State
q mode of life suited to his desires,
or proper remuneration for his Ia
Dor. he can move to another where
labor is more esteemed and better
rewarded. In truth, however,
each 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 great demand for
labor will not operate 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 believe that as they have
received their freedom with mod
esty and forbearance, and as they
will distinguish themselves by
their industry, and they feel and
will soon show the world that in
the condition of freedom they are
self-sustaining and capable Of Sc
lecting their own employment and
their own places of abode, of in
sisting for themselves a proper re-
enumeration, and of establishing
and maintaining their own asy-
lums and schools.
1t is earnestly hoped that III
stead of wasting away they will,
by their own efforts, establish for
themselves condition of respec-
liability and prosperity. 1t is GER
tain that they can attain to that
condition only through their own
merits and eXertions.
In this connection the query
presents itself, whether the system
proposed by the bill will not, when
put into complete operation, prac-
tically transfer the entire care,
support and control of four mil
lions of emancipated slaves to q
gents, overseers or task-masters,
who, appointed at Washington, are
to be located in every county and
parish throughout the United.
States containing freedmen and re-
fugees. Such an asylum would in
evitably tend to such a concentra-
ton of rower in the Executive,
which would enable him, if so dis
posed, to control the action of q
numerous class, and use them for
the attainment of his own politi-
cal end.