Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1866-03-02

II
the public administration, with its powers e
greatly enlarged. I have no reason to :
suppose, and do not understand it to be :
alleged, that the act Of March, 1866. has {
proved deficient for the purpose tor which ;
it was passed although at that time, and !,
for a considerable period thereafter, the ,
Cox ornment of the United States remained :
unacsnoWedged III most of the States =
whose inhabitants have been involved in
the rebellion. The Institution of slavery,
tor the military destruction OF which the
Ereedme,.'s Bureau was called into exist
ence as an auxiliary force, has been alrea- !,
dy efectually and finally abrogated
throughout the whole country by an amend
ment of the Constitution Of the United |
States, and practically its eradication has
received the assent and concurrence of t
most Of the States In which it,at any time |
had existed. / am not, therefore, able to I
discern in the country anything to justify |
an apprehension that the powers and agen-
cies Of the FreedneIFs Bureau, which |
were effective for the protection of, freed |
men and refugees during the actual con-
tinnat!on Of hostillties, and of African SER
vitude, will now ina time Of peace. and
after The abolition OF slavery, prove made |
qnate to the same proper ends. Il l am
correct IN these views, there can be no
necessity for the enlargement of the pow.
ers OF the Bureau, for which provision is
made in the bill. The third section Of the
bill authorizes a general and unlimited
grant OF support tc. the destitute and sut-
! tering refugees and freedmen and their
wives and cilil1ren. Succeeding sections
make provision for the rent Or purchase OF
landed estates for freedmen, and for. the
erection, for their benefit, of suitable
/, buiidipgs for asylnlns and schools the ex-
penses to be delzayed from tue treasury of
the whole people. The Congress OF the
4 United States has never heretofore thought
itself competent to establishing laws be-
yond the District Of Columbia, except for
the benefit Of our disabled soldiers and
sailors. IG has never founded schools for
/ any class OF our own people, not even for
the orphans OF those who have fallen in
the defense Of the Union, but has left the
care OF their education to the much more
! competent and efficient contrc! of the
:, States, OF communists, Of private associa-
:, tions and ct individua It has never
: deemed itself authorized to expend the
:, :, public money for the rent or purchase OF
= homes for the thousands not to saw mill
= lions, OF the white race who are honestly
y toiling from day to day tor their subsist
!, ence. A system for the support of indi
}, gent persons in the United States was new
y er contemplated by the authors of the
# Constitution. Nor can any good reason
= be advanced why as a permanent es. alb
!. lisLmen:, it should be founded for one class
9 or color OF our people more thantor anoth
: er. Pending the war, many refugees anc
It freedmen received support from the Gov,
, ern,nent, but 1t was never intended tina
h they should henceforth be fed, clothed
q educated and sheltered by the Untet
= States. The idea On which the slave
4 were assisted to freedom, was that on be
}, coming free they would be self sustain
y ing population. Any Legislation that shall
:, imply that they are not expected to attain
a a self sustaining condition, must have
- tendency injurious alike otheir clraracte
- and their prosperity. The appointment Q
q an agent for every county and parish vii
10 create an iarlensa patronage, and the ex
II pense OF the numerous officers and tnei
;, clerks, to be appointed by the president
: will be great in the beginnings with a ten
dency steadily to increase. The appropri
} ati@ns asked by the Freedmen's Bureau
!, as now established for the year 1866, q
~ mount to 1,745, 900. It may be safel
:, !, estimated the cost to be incurred, unde
: the pending bill, will require double tha
9 amonnt more than the entire sum expend
IS, ed in. any one wear under the Administfa