Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-03-10

/ bill authorizes q general shh uhhm"oa
agency Of support 10 the destitute and SUI
feripg refugees and freedmen, and their
I wives aud children. The succeeding SEE
/ tons make provision for the rent or Pur,.
chase Of landed estates for feedmen, ana
. for the erection for their benehi OF suitable
buildings for ssylums and schools, the en-.
penss 70 be betrayed from the treasury OF
the people.
l never heretofore thought itself bouha 70
establish any laws beyond the limits OF Tue
District Of Celumbis, except for the bensh'
OF our disabled soldiers and sailors II has
MAYER founded schools for any class OF cur
own p.opls-not even for the orphans OF
those who have fallen In the defence OF tho
Union, but has left the care Of their sduea.
lion 10 the much more competent control OF
the States, Of communities, OF private as
sociations, and Of individuals. II has new
or deemed IL necessary TO eIpend HE pup.
lilo money for the rent or purchase OF
houses for the thousands, not to say mli'
lions, Of the white race who are h'nssuy
toiling from day TO day for their suosis'
tence. A system for the support OF nut
gent persons in the United States was new
or contemplated BY tho Constitution, nor
can any good reason be advanced why, as
a permanent establishment, II should 90
founded for one class or colorof our people
more thai for another. Pending the war
many refugees or freedmen received sup
mort from the Government, but 1t wac new
or intended that they should heneefor'h DO
fed, clothed, educated and sheltered by the
United States.
The idea on which the slsyes were assist.
ed to freedom was that on becoming FREQ
they would be a self.sustaining population,
and any legislation that would imply that
they are not expected 10 attain Q self sus.
| tanning condition must havca tendency in
furious alike to their character and their
/ prosperity. The appointment OF m agent
for every county and parish will create an
immense patronage and the expense OF the
numerous officers and clerks to be sppoint-
ed by the President will be great in the be-
ginning with the tendency stesuily to IN
crease. The appropriations asked for by
tho Freedmen's Bureau ~ now established
for the wear 1866, amounts to l,745,OOO.
Il may be safely estimated that the cost 10
be incurred under the pending bill will be
double that amount--more than tho entire
sum expended in any one year OF the aa-
ministration Of the second Adams. II me
presence Of agents in every parish and
county Is to be considered as q war measure,
opposition, or even resistance, might be
provoked, so that, to give effect to their Ju-
risdiction, troops would have to be station
ed within the reach Of every one OF them,
and thus large standing force would be
necessary, and large appropriations would
therefore DO required to sustain and enforce
military jurisdiction in every county ana
parish, from the Potomac to the Rio Grande
The condition Of our fiscal affairs are en-
couraging, but in order to sustain the pres
snt measure Of public confidence 1t ia moo
essary that we practice not merely custom
AIRY economy, but ss far as possible severe
retrenchment In addition to the objections
already stated, the fifth section OF the bill
proposes to take away land from its owners
without any legal proceeding being first
had, contrary to the provisions OF the Con-
stitution which declares that no person
SHALL DO deprived Of life, liberty or prop
erty without due process Of law. 1t does
not appear that lands to which this section
rsferi may not DO owned by minors or per-
sons Of unsound mind, or by those who have
been faithful in all their obligations as
citizens Of the United Ststss-if any por.
ton Of tho land is held by such persons it
is not competent for any authority to de-
prive them Of it. II, on the other hand it
can be found that the property is liable to
confiscation; even then it cannot be appro-
pristed to public purposes until by due
process Of law it shall have been declared
forfeited to the Government. There are still
further objections to the bill on the grounds
Of seriously affecting the class OF persons
to whom it is designed to bring relief. IL
will tend to keep the minds Of the freed
men in o state Of uncertain expectation
and restlessness, while to those among
whom he lives it will be source OF con-
slant and vague apprehension. Undoubt-
edly the freedman should be protected, but
they should be protected by the civil su-
thorities, especially by the exercise Of all
the Constitutional power Of the courts OF
tho United States and Of the States. His
condition is not so exposed as may at first
be imagined.
He is in q portion Of the country, whore
his labor cannot we'll be spared. COMPETE
ton for his services from planters and those
who are constructing or repairing railroads
or from capitalists in his vicinity, or other
States, will enable him to command almost
his own terms. He also posstssesa perfect
right to change his place Of abode, and II
therefore, he does not find in one communi-
" or State mode of life suited to his de-
sires, or proper remuneration for his labor,
he can move to another where labor is more
extended and better rewarded. In truth,
however, each State, induced by its own
wants and interests, will do whut is neces-
ssry and proper 10 retain within its Dor
ders oil the labor that is needed for the de-
yelopmepts 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 the great demand for labor
will not operate in favor Of tho 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 moderation and
forbearance, they will distinguish them
selves by their industry, and feel and sho"
the world that in their condition OF free
dom they are sclf-sustaining, and capable.
Of selecting their own employment and
/ their own places Of abode, or insisting for
themselves on proper remuneration, ahu
Of establishing and maintaining their own
asylums and schools. II isearnestly hoped
that, instead Of wasting away, they will, by
their own efforts, establish for themselves
q condition Of responsibility and prospect
". It is certain they can attain to that
condition only through their own merits
and e1ertious. In this connection the query
presents itself whether the system proposed
by the bill will not, when put into complete
operation, practically transfer the entire
care, support and control Of four million'
Of emancipated slaves to hard ovsrseers oil
task masters, who, appointed st Washing
ton, nre to be located in every county anC
parish in the United States containing
freedmen and refugees. Such an asylum
would inevitably tend to such q coneentra
ton Of power in the Executive, which
would enable him, IL 90 disposed, 10 contro