The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-03-02

J to be appointed by the President, will
be great in the beginning, with ten
dency steadily to increase. The appro-
priations asked by the Freedmen's Bu-
reau, as now established, for the year
1866, amount to 81, ,745,0 900, and it may
be safely estimated that the cost to be
incurred under the pending bill will re-
quire double that amount, more than
the entire sum expended in any one
year under the administration of the
/ second Adams.
/ If the presence of agents in every
parish and county is to be considered
as war measure, opposition or even
resistance might be provoked. 50 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 rendered necessary.
Large appropriations would, therefore,
be required to sustain and enforce mil
itary Jurisdiction in every county or pa
rish from the Potomac to the Rio
Grande. The condition of our fiscal af-
fairs is encouraging, but in order TO sus-
tain the present measures Of public con-
fidence, it is necessary that we practice
not merely customary economy, but,
as far as possible, severe retrenchment.
In addition to the objections already
stated, the fifth section Of the bill pro-
poses to take away land from its former
owners without any legal proceedings
being first had, contrary to that provis-
ion of the Constitution which declares
that no person shall be deprived of life,
liberty or property 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
ofuns0und mind, or by those who have
been faithful to all their obligations as
citizens of the United States. If any
portion of the land is held by such per-
sons, tits notcompetent for any author
ity to deprive them of it. II, on the
other hand, it be found that the prop
erty is liable to cOnfscatiOn, even then
it cannot be appropriated to public pur-
poses, until by due process of law, it
shall have been cIared forfeited to the
Government.
There is still further objection to the
bill, on grounds seriously affecting the
class of persons to whom it is designed
to bring relief; it will tend to keep the
mind of the freedman in a state of un-
certain expectation and restlessness,
while to those among whom he lives it
will be source of constant and vague
apprehension.
| Undoubtedly the freedman should be
protected, but he should be protected
by the civil authorities, and especially
: by the exercise of all the constitutional
; Lowers of the courts of the United
: States and Of the States. His condition
is Lot soexposed as may at first be imag-
ined, He is in a portion Of the country
: Whera his labor cannot well be spared.
COmpetition for his services from plan
ters. from those who are constructing or
: repairing railroads, and from capitalists
in his Vicinage or from other States,
will enable him to command almost his
: own terms. He also possesses a perfect
= right to change his place of abode, and
: if, therefore, he does not find in one
community OF State a mode of life suit
ed to his desires, or proper remunera-
: ton for his labor, he can move to anOth-
, er, where that 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 re-
sources. The laws that regulate supply
f and demand will maintain their force,
, and the wages of the laborer will be
regulated thereby There is no danger
that the exceedingly great demand for
f labor will not operate in favor OF the Ia
borer; neither is sufficient considera-
? ton given to the ability of the freed
? men to protect and take care Of them
= selves.
1t is no more than justice to them to
5 believe, that as they have received their
freedom with moderation and forbear-
ance, so they will distinguish themselves
by their industry and thrift, and soon
: show the world that in condition OF
freedom they are self-suStaining, capa-
bic of selecting their own employment
, and their own places ofabode, ofinsist-
, ING for themselves on a proper remun-
| Grafton, and of establishing and main
: tanning their own asylums and schools.
1t is earnestly hoped that instead OF
wasting away, they will, by their own
f efforts. establish for themselves a con-
: dition of respectability and prosperity.
1t is certain that they can attain to that
f condition only through their own mer-
its and eXerti0ns.
In this connection the query presents
itself. whether the system proposed by
the bill wilInot, when put into complete
operation, practically transfer the entire
= care, support and control OF four mill
lions of emancipated slaves to agents,
overseers or task masters, who, appoint
: ed at Washington, are to be located in