Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-02-27

edged in most of the States whose inhabitants
had been involved in the rebellion. The insti-
tuition of slavery, for the military destruction of
which the Freedmen Bureau was called into
existence as an auxiliary, has been already eff
fectually and finally abrogated throughout the
whole country by an amendment of the Consti-
tuition of the United States, and practically Its
eradication has received the assent and concur
renee of most of those States in which it at any
time had an existence. am not, therefore, a.
BILE to discern, in the condition of the country.
anything to justify an apprehension that the
powers and agencies of the Freedmen Bureau,
which were effective for the protection of freed
men and refugees during the actual continuance
of hostilities and of African servitude, will now,
ip a time of peace and after the abolition of sla-
very, prove inadequate to the same proper ends.
If am correct in these views, there can be no
necessity for the enlargement of the powers Of
the Bureau, for which provision is made in the
BILL i.=t3ea
The third section of the bill authorizes gen.
eral and unlimited grant of support to the des-
titute and suffering refugees and freedmen, their
wives and children Succeeding sections make
provision for the rent or purchase OF landed es-
tates for freedmen, and for the erection, Tor
their benefit, of suitable buildings for asylums
and schools the expense to be betrayed from
the treasury of the whole people. The Congress
of the United States has never heretofore
thought itself empowered to establish asylums
beyond the limits of the District of Columbia,
except for the benefit of our disabled soldiers
and sailors 1t has never founded schools for
any class for our own people-not even for the
orphans of those who have fallen in the defense
of the Union, but has left the care of education
to the much more competent and efficient con-
troll of the States, of communities, of private
associations, and of individuals 1t has never
deemed itself authorized to expend the public
money for the rent or purchase of homes for
the thousands, not to say millions of the white
race, who are honestly toiling, from day to day,
for their subsistence. A system for the support
of INDECENT persons in the United States was
never contemplated by the authors of the Con-
stitution; nor can any good reason be advanced
why, as permanent establishment, it should
be founded for one class or color Of our people
more than another. Pending the war; many
refugees and freedmen received support of the
Government but it was never intended that
they should henceforth be fed, clothed, educa-
ted and sheltered by the United States. The
idea on which the slaves were assisted to free
dom was, that, on becoming free, they would
ton that shall imply that they are not expected
to attain.a selfsustaining condition, must have
tendency injurious alike to their character and
their prospects. sie
The appointment of an agent for every coun-
ty and parish will create an immense patronage;
and the expense of the numerous officers and
their clerks, to be appointed by the President,
will be great In the beginning, with a tendency
steadily to increase. The appropriations asked
by the freedmen s Bureau, as now established,
for the year 1866 amount to $ll ,745 600. 1t
may be safely estimated that the cost to be in
Cured under the pending bill will require double
that amount-more than the entire sum ex-
pended in any one year under the administration
of the second Adams If the presence of agents
in every parish and county is to be considered
as a war measure, opposition, or even resistance
might be provoked SO that, to give effect to
their jurisdiction, troops would have to be sta
toned within reach of every one of them, and
thus large standing force be rendered neces-
sary Large appropriations would, therefore,
be required to sustain and enforce military jul
rlsdlctlon In every county or parish from the
Potomac to the Rio Grande. The condition of
our fiscal affairs is encouraging; but, In order
to sustain the present measure OF public conf
dence, it is necessary that we practice not mere
ly customary economy, but, as far as possible,
severe retrenchment.
In addition to the objections already stated,
the fifth section of the bill proposes to take
away land from it's former owners without any
legal proceedings being first had, contrary to
that provision of the Constitution which de-
clares that no person shall 'be deprived of life,
liberty or property without due process oflaw."
1t does not appear that part of the land to
which this section refers may not be owned by
minors or persons OF unsound mind, or by those
who have been faithful to all their obligations
as citizens of the United States. If any por-
ton of the land is held by such persons, it is
not competent for any authority to deprive them
of it. IT, on the other hand, it be found that
the property is liable to conhscation, even then
it cannot be appropriated to public purposes
until, by due process of law, it-shall have been
declared forfeited to the Government.
There is still further objection to the bill, on
to whom it is designed to bring relief 1t will
tend to keep the mind of the freedmen in q state
of uncertain expectation and restlessness, while
to those among whom he lives twill be a source
of constant and vague apprehension.
Undoubtedly the freedman should be protec-
ted, but he should be protected by the civil au-
thorltles, especially by the exercise of all tho
constitutional powers of the courts of the Uni
ted States and of the States. His condition is
not SO exposed as may at first be imagined. He
is in portion of the country where his labor
cannot well be spared. Competition for his SER
vices from planters, from those who are con-
structing or repairing railroads, and from capt.
taSts In his vlclnage or from other States, will
enable him to command almost his own terms.
He also possesses a perfect right to change his
place of abode, and if, therefore, he does not
find in one community or State q mode of life
suited to his desires, or proper remuneration for
his labor, he can move to another, where that
labor is more esteemed and better REWARDED
In truth, however, each State induced by its
own wants and interests, will do what is neces-
sary and proper to retain within its borders all
the labor that is needed for the development 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 exceedingly great
demand for labor will not operate in favor ofthe
laborer. ,r1dsL no59--.-aF'
Neither is sufficient consideration given to the
ability of the freedmen to protect and take care
of themselves. 1t is no more than Justice IN