The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-02-28

throughout the whole country by an amend I
mcnt Of the Constitution of the United
States, aud practically its eradication has
rec, iyed the assent aud concurrence Of most
ofthosc States in which 1t at any time had
existed ] am not, therefore, able to dis
ccrn in the country any thing to justify an
apprehension thar the powers and agencies
OF the F,cedn;en's Bureau which were eff
fcctive for the protection of freedmen and
refugees during the actual continuation OF
hostlitics and of African servitude, will
now IN a time OF peace and after the aHoli-
tion ef slavery pI0se inadequate To the same
proper ends. Ill am correct in these views
there can pc no necessity for the enlarge
mcnt OF The powers of the Burcau, for
which provision is made in the hill.
| The tbiul section of the bill authorizes
general unlimited amount Of support to the
destitute aud suffering refugees and frccG-
men and their wives and children.
! The succeeding sections make provision
| for the rent or purchase of landed estates for
| freedmen, and for the erection, for thcir ben
| eft, Of suitable buildings for a,yumS aud
| s'haolS, the expenses to he dciiayel from
! the treasury of the whole people. The
| Congress of the United States has never
| heretofore thought itself competent TO cs-
I
| District Of Columbia, except for the benefit
| of our disabled soldiers and sailors 1t has
never founded schools for any class of our
own people, not even for the orplansof those
| who have fallen in defense OF the Union, but
ha. left the care of their education to the
much more competent control Of the Sta cs
of communities, of private associations, and
of individuals. 1t has never deemed itsc.f
authorized 80 exrcnd public money for rent
or purchase Of homes for the thousands not
to say millions, NJ the white race, who are
n.,N..:'7y ling, from day to day, for their
subsistence.
A system for the support Of in ligeat per
sons in the United States was never CON
| tcmpated by the authors OF the Cmstitu-
ton. Nor can any good reason he advan-
ced why, as permanent establishment, 1t
should be founded for one class or color OF
our people more than for another. Pend
ing the war many refugees and freedmen re-
ceived support from the Government. but
it was never intended they should hence.
forth be fed, clothed, educated and shc!tcr'
ed by the United States
The idea on which the slayes were assist
cd to freedom was that on becoming free
they would be self-sustaining population
and any legislation that shall imply they are
not expected to attain sclEsu>taning con.
dit,on, must have tcndcrcy injurious alike
[, heir character and their prosperity
The appointment AN agent for every conn'
ty and parish Will create an immense patron
age and TIE expense CT the numerous
officers and their clerks to be appointed II!
the p es lent, will be great in the lightning
with tendency steadily to increase.
&hc appropriation askcd ty the Freed
mems Bureau, as now established for thu
year 1S66, amount to slI, ,74l, 900. ltma,
be safely estimated that the cost to lie incur
red under the pending bill, will require dou
bie that amount more than the entire sun
expended in any one year under the admin
istra ion Of the second Adams. 1t the Pre-
scnce Of agent in every parish and county I
to he considered as a VIZ 7 measure, oppoel
. tion, or evening resistance, might be pro
voked 50 that, to give effect to their .i,lris
diction. troops would have to be stationed
within reach of every one of them, and thus
!, a large st2ndi@g for:rb be render, d neccs%a
ry.
Large appropriations woald therefore b
required to sustain and enforce military iu
! risdction in every country parish from thu
Potomac to the Rio Grsndc. The conli
= ton Of our fiscal affairs is encouraging, Eu
:, in order to sustain the present measure O
!, public confidence, it is necessary we practlc
f not merely customary economy, lut, as Ia
;. as possible severe rGtrenchmcnt.
In addition to the objections already stat
ed, the fifth section Of the bill proposes t,
. take away land from its former owners with
out legal proceedings being first had; contra
! ry to that provision Of the Constitution
which declares that no person shall he dc
pryed Of life, liberty or property withou
due process Of law.
1t does not appear that the lands to wlicl
this section refers may not he owned by mi
: nors or persons of unsound mind, or by
those who have faithful to all their oblga
tions as citizens of the United States.
any portion of the land is held by such per
sons it is not competent for any authority t.
deprive them of it. If, on the other hand
it be found that the property is liable II
contiscatiun, even then 1t can not be appro
pria'ed to public purposes until by due pro
cess of law i: shal have been declared for
! tcitcd to the Government.
There are still further objections to til
bill, on grounds SERIOUSLY affecting the cai
Of persons TO whom it is designed to Lin
relief, 1t will tend to keep the mind I
the freedman i'll Il state Of uncertain eXpct
:. taton and rcstlcssncss while to those anon
3 whom he lives, it will be source of COZ
y y stant aud vague apprehension. Undoubt
;, edly the freedmen should be protected; bu
:, - they should be protected by the civil author
a tiles, especially by the exercise of all tn
! constitutional powers Of the United State
- and of the States
! Ills condition is not so exposed as may
+" first be imnagincd lie is in portion
the country where his labor can not well |
), pared. Cosn,ei,on for his services fiol
= plan ers, from those who are cunStrcrir
II or repairing raj roads, or from capitalists
his vicinity, or from other States, will eli;
bic him to command almost his own term
He also ro.seS cS a perfect right to chang
!, his place OF abode, and if, therefore, he doc
u not find III one community or State mod
y Of life suited to his desires, or proper rent
neration for his labor, he can move to III
9 other, where labor is mere esteemed all
= better rewarded.
;. In kuth, lower, each State, induced y
a its own wants and interests, will do what
q nccessa and proper to retain within il
!. borders all the labor that is needed for tI
+ development ofits resources. The laws tn;
a regulate supply and demand Will mantai
= their force, an the wages of the laborcr wi
:, BE- regulated thereby. There is no dangC
: that the great demand for labor will nc
f operste in favor of the laborcr neither
j sufficient con Iteration given to the abilit
! Of the freedmen to protect and take care
themselves.
) Iti M more than justice to them to b,
v l;cye that as they have received their fre
n dom with moderation and torbearancc, 5
:. they will distinguish themselves by their il
It lustry; and they feel and viii soon show II
n world that in a condition of f!eedeM the