Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-03-09


Of the States, Of communities, of private as,
sociations and of individuals. It has never
deemed itself authorized to expend the pub
lie money for the rent or purchase of homes
for the thousands, not to say millions, of the
white race, WHO are honestly toilipg from
day to day, for their subsistence. A sys.
tenn for the support of INDECENT persons in
the United States was never contemplated
by the authors of the Constitution nor can
any good reason be advanced why, as
permanent establishment, it should be
founded for one class or color Of our REQ
plo more than another. Pending the war,
many refugees and freedmen received sup
port of the government, but it was never
intended that they should henceforth be
fed, clothed, educated and sheltered by the
United States. The idea on which the
slaves were assisted to freedom WIS, that, on
becoming free, they would be selfsustain-
ing population. Amy legislation that shall
imply that they are not expected to attain
n selc-sustaining condition, must have Ten.
dencY injurious alike 10 their character and
their prospects.
The appointment Of an agen: for every
County and Parish will create an immense
patronage; and the expense Of the MINER
GUS officers and their clerks, to be appoint.
ed by the President, will be great in the
beginning, with tendency steadily to in
crease. The appropriations asked by the
Freedmen's Beareau, as now established,
for the year 1865, amount to S1l,745,OoO
1t may he safely estimated that tue 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 fagents in every Parish
and County is to be considered rs a war
measure, opposition, or even resistance,
might be provoked !; SO that, to give effect
to that Jurisdiction, troops would have 10
be stationed within reach of every ono Of
them, and thus large standing force be
rendered necessary. Large appropriations
would, therefore, he required to sustain and
enforce military jurisdiction in every County
or Parish from the Potomac to the Rio
Grande. The condition of our fiscal affairs
is encouraging ; but, in order to sustain the
present measure of public confidence, it is
necessary that we practice not merely Gus.
tomary economy, but, as far as possible,
severe re,renchmen:.
In addition to the objections already
stated, the fifth section of the bill proposes
to take away land from its former owners
without ary legal proceedings being first
had, contrary to that provision of the Con.
stitution which declares that no persos
shall be deprived Of life, liberty or prop
s.ty without due process of law 1t does
not appear that part of the land to WHICH
this section rei,rs may not be owned by
minors or persons OF unsound 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
persons, it is not competent for any au :
thority to deprive them of it. II, on the
other hand, it be found that the property
is liable to confscation, 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 is still further objection to the
bill, on grounds seriously affecting tile 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 upcertain expecta-
ton and restlessness. while to those among
whom he lives it will be source of con-
slant and vague apprehension. '~-
Undoubtedly the freedman should be pro.
tected, bur he should be 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.
His condition is not so exposed as may at
first be imagined. He is in portion Of
the country where bis labor cannot we'll be
spared. Competition for his services from
planters, from those who are constructing
or repairing rsilFoads, and from capitalists,
in his vicinages or from other States, will
enable him to command almost bis own
terms. FL also possesses. 2 perfect right
to change his place of abode, and II, there.
fore, he ,does not find in one community
orstate, mode Of life Suited to bis desires.
or proper remuneration for his labor, he
can move to another, where that labor is
more esteemed and better rewarded. IN
truth, however, each Stale, induced By iss
own wants and interests, will d. what il
NECESSARY and proper TO retain within i.s
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