The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-18

| AHS II6EUmcn T. - Ahc ~ r~'te-'
Test .nony.
/ The following < an extract from 6
letter from Major henry O. Lawrence
Assistant QuarteFIaaster, and agent o.
the Freedmen's sureau at Fayette-
vile, North Carolns. The letter was
addressed to fsnd, at present so
journing in this city.
Major Lawrence is 3 gentleman oi
fine intellectual endoWments and st
tainments. H.
He belonged tathe orginal FFee-soil
party, united with the Repebliean par
ty at its formation, and has ever since
| been, and still Is an active and inila
ential member ol that party. he has
had much experience in the Freed
mems Bureau, and many opportunities
of observing the state OF affairs in the
South as regards both whites and
blacks, and of forming correct opinions
as TO the best policy TO be pursued lie
expresses his views with great frankness
and force:
FAYETTEVILLE, y. c., Feb. IA, 1866.
/ confess | am tired and half WORE
out with the annoyances of my posi-
ton and need rest. and am SO far from
having any sym@athy with the views
that seem to pre- Al i1s SSEgRoss, that.3
am unwilling TO he even an humble IN
strument in aidiag TO carry them out
While there was, and could be, no law
but military law, or, rather, authority,
the Bureau was a necessity to some ex-
tent But to continue it after the States
shall have given TO the blacks their
civil rights, seems to be the very
reverse of sound policy, considered
simply with reference to that
1t will engender hatred toward
the blacks on the part of the
whites, as "a favored class to whom ex-
ira legal protection is given by the
Federal Government-hatred toward
the Government itself, which, by this
system, pronounces the people regard
less of Justice, and brands courts, bars
and iuries, in advance, as ready PERU
rers. 1t substitutes for men learned in
the law, and soon to administer it-for
trial by jury, right of appeal-the deci-
sion of men who, in many cases, if not
most, will know nothing of law; who
will often be prejudiced, and some
Judging from tie past, will be corrupt
1t will inciLe in the blacks, to some ex-
tent, a sense of independence of local
laws; sanction their distrust of them,
the courts and people, and certainly
cannot tend TO educate them in the
duties of citizens. Instead of allaying,
it will beget jealousy and ill-will be-
| tween the races to a greater degree
than now exists, and finally produce
the very evils it is intended TO guard
| against And how such q system can
| be exercised except as q temporary
military necessity in a conquered coun-
try | cannot conceive. 1t is liable to
all our old objections to the Fugitive.
slave Law and unlike that, will be an
eYer-present, eVer-acting evil, and its
provisions are very incomplete for the
end proposed, unless it is assumed that
military authority is to remain para
mount For Instance, can fine man
fifty dollars, md imprison him thirty
days; but il case of murder of a
black, the district or department mill
tary commander must order trial by
courtmartisI Upon conviction, the
case may, of course, go TO the Secretary
OF War for review. Such a trial is in
progress nov at Raleigh. If this sys-
TEN Is TO be. retained after the States
shall be reconstructed--whst that
may be-aud if this is republicanism
or self-government, l shall despair of
ever being able to comprehend the first
principles OF political science. But if a
State should establish such a judicial
system, think the Federal Govern
ment might well be called upon ia. en-.
force its guaranty of republican gov
ernment to the people of that State. l
think it would be less outrage upon
the principles of self-government and
upon the Constitution to treat the
South as conquered territory, and gov
ern it by our territorial system, than to
do what is proposed to be done; and in
that case Mr.. Sumner might secure ju-
ries composed equally Of white and
black men. | felt ashamed for myself
as an American, and for my Govern
ment, when a few days ago, Judge
Buxton, of the Supreme Court of this
State, called at my Office TO inquire as
TO the extent of the jurisdiction he
would be permitted TO exercise in q
term he was about TO hold.