Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-02-28

for their benefit, OF suitable buildings 10:
asyIums and schools, the expenses to be
betrayed from the treasury OF The whole
people The Congress of The United States
has never heretofore thought itself compe
tell 10 establish any laws beyond The limits
of The District OF Colombia, except for the
benefit of our disabled soldiers and sailors.
II has never founded schools for any class
of our own people, not even for The orphans
of hose who have fallen in The defence of
the Union, but has elt the care OF their ed
ucaton 10 the much more competent and
efficisn, control OF the States, OF commun;
ties, OF private associations and of indvid-
ais. 1t has never deemed Itself authorized
TO expend the public money for the req, or
! the pnrchvse Of 'homok for the thousands,
/ not 10 say millions, OF The white race who
are honestly toiling from day TO day for
/ their subsistence. A system Tor the snp-
! port of INDECENT persons ia the United States
/ was never con tempaed BY the authors OF
/ the Constitution. Nor can all good reason
be advanced why, permanent esiab-
/ ishmeni, il should be founded loE.one class
or color of our people more than for anoih-
er. Pending the war many refugees and
| freedmen received support from the Gov
eminent, but il was never intended thar
they should hencsforlh be fed, clothed, ed
| ucaled and sheltered by the United States.
The idea on which The slaves were assisted
20 freedom, was that on becoming free hey
wonld be self sustaining population. Any
Legislation that sh all imply that they are not
expected 10 attain a self-susIaining condi-
iion, must have a tendency iniurious alike
10 their character and their perity. The
appointment OF an agent for every county
and parish will crea'e an immense patron
age, and the expense OF the numerous Off
GERS and the clerks to be sPpoinled by The
/ President will be great in the beginning,
! with a tendency steadily TO increase, The
/ appropriations asked by the Freedmea's
( Bureau as now established for the year 1866
1 amountt to ST., ,7l5 600. Il may be safely
estimated the cost TO be Incurred under the
! pending bill will require double that amoGnI,
/ more than The entire sum expended in any
one year under The administration OF the
second Adams. II the presence of agents
in every parish and county is 20 be consd
cred as a war measure, opposition or even
resistance might be provoked, so that to
give effect TO their jurisdiction troops wonld
have 10 be stationed within reach OF every
one OF them, and thus large standing force
be rendered necessary. Large appEopria-
tions would, therefore, be required 10 sus-
tain and enforce military Jurisdiction in ev'
cry county or parish from The Potomac to
! the Rio Grande. Ths condition of our fis-
cal affairs is encouraging, but in order to
sustain The present measure OF public cen
fidence, il is necessary that we practice not
merely customary economy, but as far as
possible severe retrenchment. Ia addition
10 the objections already stated, the fifth
section OF the bill proposes 10 lake away
land from lis iomer owners without any
legal proceeding. being first had, contrary
to that provision Of the Constitution which
declares that no person stall be deprived of
lie, liberty or properly without due process
of law. Ii does not appear that a part OF
the lands 10 which This section refers may
not be owned BY minors or persons OF un>
sound mind, or BY those who have been
faithful 10 all their obligations citizens OF
he Uoiled States II any portion of The
land is held by such persons, it is not com
peieni Tor any aulhoriiy 10 deprive them Of
it, If, on the other hand, ii be found that
the property is liable 10 confscalion, even
then it cannot be appropriated TO public
purposes, un.il, By due process OF law, 1t
shall have been declared forfeited 10 the
I Government.
There are slill further objections 10 The
bill. on grounds seriously affecting the class
OF persons 20 whom i! is designed to bring
relief: 1t will tend 10 TO keep he mind OF
the freedmen in a state of uncertain expec-
taiion and TeslIessness while to those
among whom lie lises it will be source
OF constant and vague apprehension Un-
1 doub,edly the freedmen should be protected,
bot he should be protected hy the civil aa-
ihorilies, especially by The exercise OF all
the constitutional powers ofthe courts OF The
Uniled States and of the States. His cond-
tion is not so much exposed as may at fret
be imagined. He is in a portion OF The
country where his labor can not well be
spared. Competition for his services from
planters, from those who are constructing
or repairing railroads, or from capitalists in
bis yicinage. or from other States, Will ena-
bic him to command aim osi his own terms.
He also possesses perfect rish: TO change
his place of abode, and it, therefore he does
not find in one community or State, mode
of lie suited 10 his desires, or proper renlu-
ueraiion for his labor, be can move TO
another, where labor is more esteemed and
better rev arded. In truth, however, each