The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-02-17


train the Hudson River Railroad met with an &C
cdent Thursday night BY which one car was thrown
from the track and two burned The oonduotor and
woman were sligh.ly injured
Tho Freedmcn's Bureau BIZ Before tho
Prestdent-W hat Ought He to Do with
Ite
The new bill to eslarge the powers of the
Freedmens Bureau, which finally passed the
House Of Representatives win the Senate
amendments on the 9th Of this month, now lies
before the President for his action. He has
ten days from its passage, according to law, to
consider it. IF within that time be should
neither sign nor veto it the bill will become
Law. But it is not likely be will allow such an
important matter to 60 by default He will
doubtless either approve the bill by signing
it, or veto 1t and give his reasons for doing so.
This he must do, if at ell, by next Tuesday.
We shall soon know, therefore, his decision.
In the meantime there is a great deal of specu-
lation and nervous anxiety among the politi-
clans, and good deal of solicitude among the
people, where the measure is understood, as to
what he will do. The radicals are particularly
nervous, because this bill is trap they have
set with which to catch the President. The
Tribune and other kindred egro-worshipping
sheets, as well as members of Congress Of that
stamp, have been very coaxing and persuasive
to the President since last Friday. No poacher
ever watched tho snare he had set to catch his
prey with more anxiety than they do Mr.. John
sons action on this bill. The old ditty of
"sWill you walk into my parlor? says the
spider to the fly" aptly illustrates the whecd-
ling and Woodworking process of these radical
writer's and Congressman. The prey il not so
easily to be caught, however; and we believe
they will not be able to entangle him in their
web. He will veto, probably, this monstrous
piece of legislation, and give full and conclu-
sive reasons for doing 60.
The bill ought to be called an act to support
the negroes in idleness by the honest labor of
white people, or an act TO establish gigantic
and corrupt political machine for the benefit
Of tho radical faction and q swarm of Office
holders. Either would be its correct1Itle There
might have been some excuse for tf$ establish
ment of freedmens bureau during the war
and before the negroes were placed on an
equal footing with white people by the amend
ment to the constitution. There is not the least
excuse for 1t now. Instead Of enlargiug Its
powers as this bill enlarges them, the former
act ought to be repealed. In whatever point
Of view we look at the measure IL IL full of
s TIE I 8E0iss s 2btsst q us b EhiiAa
benefit the negroes-eannot be attained by
any such legislation. On the cpntrary, It
will destroy that very independence Of char
acter and action which inspires feeling Of
manhood, by making them dependent upon
government Never disposed to work more
than they could help, and having always been
taught TO rely upon others TO provide for and
direct them, they naturally will be shiftless,
idle, dependent and useless to themselves or
others under tho special guardianship and con-
troll Of government This has been found to
be the case with white people in tho Old World
under the poor laws, and is so everywhere
under great cleemosynary institutions. How
much more so will it be so with the negroess
Then, how cen the planters and other employers
get along with these people as laborcrs when the
caprces corruption, passions or arbitrary will of
the thousands Of agents Of the bureau scat
tered all over the country stand in the way!
The system would be bad enough If we were
sure of having honest and intelligent agents;
but we know this will not be the case except
in few instances. The greater part would
be ignorant, arbitrary or corrupt, and the
temptation to exercise undue power or to
make money out Of both employers and en-
ployed, would be too great to resist And
where could the victims Of this gigantic and arbi-
trary machine find redress! Let tho negroes and
white people Of the South-the laborers and
employers-make their own arrangements, con-
duct their own affairs and take care Of them
do. They know what il best 10 be done for
their mutual interest. The negroes are free
and cannot be enslaved in any manner what
ever. Their old masters are willing to employ
them, and indeed wish to do so, a. free labor
era They understand the negroes better than
shy other people do, and, as q class, are more
kindly disposed toward them. Why then
should we not allow the natural laws that
govern labor and capital, employer and en-
ployed at the North, to operate therei Why
should we be burdened with great charitable
institution to support the negroes in idleness
ct cost Of many millions--msybe twenty
millions or more--a yeari Why should the
white working people of the North pay for
this, as well as the necessary army Of once
holders that would be required to carry out
the lawf Hwould really be monstrous fraud
upon the country and great evil to both ne
MI ~ L.. a.