The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1866-03-01
Rrsedmen's Bureau Bill.
ETO MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
lcuNTINUED.1

tatcd, the fifth section OF the bill propo..
ses to take away land from it's former
owners without any legal proceedings
.being first had, contrary to- that provi.
sion OF the. Constitution which declares
that no person shall be deprived oflife,
liberty, or property, without due process
5of lags 1t does not appear shat,e pest
of the lands to,whicl this section referr.
ed may not be owned by minors or per.
sons 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 per
sons, it is not competent for any authori
ty to deprive them Of it. If, on the
other hand, it be found that the proper.
ty is liable to confscation, even then it
cannot be appropriated to the public
purposes until, by due process of law, it
shall have been declared forfeited to the
Government. There is still further oh.
lection 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. freedmen in
state of uncertain expectation and rest.
lesshess, while to those among whom
he lives it will be a source of constant
and vague apprehension
Undoubtedly the freedmen should be
protected, but he should be protected by
the civil authoities, 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 maginea.-
He is in portion Of the country where
his labor cannot well bessparcd. Com.
petition for his services from planters,
those. wEo are constructing or repairing,
railroads, and from capitalists in his vic,
mage or from other States will enable
him to command almost his own. terms.
He also, pneoosse- ,re-Gsot right, -,
change his place of abode, anu II, there.
fore, he does not find in one community
Or State mode of life suited to his de.
sires, or proper remuneration for his Ia.
bor, he can move to another where that
laboris thoreesteemed and better reward.
ed. In truth, however, each State, in.
duced by its own wants and interests,
will LIDO what is necessary and proper to
retain within its borders all of the labor
that is needed for the development of it's
resources. The laws that regulate sup.
ply and demand will maintain their
force, and the wages of the lahorer will
be regulated thereby.
The is no danger that the exceeding.
ly great demand for labor will notoper.
ate in favor Of the 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 aud forbearance. so they will
distinguish themselves by their industry
and thrift, and soon show the world that
in condition of freedom they are self
sustaining, capable Of selecting theit
own employment and their own places
of abode, Of insisting for themselves on
proper remuneration, and of establish
ing and maintaining their own asylirs
AID schools. 1t is earnestly hoped hat
instead of wasting away they will, w
theirown efforts, establish for themselves
q condition Of respectability and ,tos.
lperity.$ 1t is certain that they VI at.
tain to that condition only througItheir
own merits and exertions.
In this connection, the query plserts
itself, whether the system propfd by
the bill will not. when putinto cbplete
operation, practically transfer thentire
care, support and control of four iillions
Of emancipated slaves to ageb over
seers,or task masters,,n every cdty and
parish throughout the Unit States
containing freedmen and refugR Such
a system would inevitably temp a con.
centration of power in:the lecutive
which would enable him, if saisposed
to control the action of this hmerous
class,, and use them for the Iainment a
Of his own political end. cannot '
but add another very grave Sction to a
this bill. The Constitution ifratively n
declares, in connection witaxation, c