The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-09
CHARLESTON, s. c., January 8, 1863.
The Southern Relief Questfon--Consi.
derations for Congress.
from the Now York Times,

Congress must do something to mitigate
Southern distress. ,a1aggeration there may
be in the published reports as to the condition
Of the freedmen and large numbers OF the
whites; but the substratum Of fact is too broad
and too deep to ALLOW Of denial. Even those
in excess of the actual truth, admit that pros.
pectively they are probably correct. Outside
help is therefore Indispensable, if the country
is not prepared to permit starvation to do its
work unchecked; and considerations OF econo-
my as well as Of humanity suggest the expe-
diency of graphing at once with difficulty
which proorastination would render infinitely
worse.
Were the question simply one OF relief, it
would be only necessary to determine the
precise nature and extent of the emergency,
and the best means CT rendering whatever re-
lief might be required. These points come up
now, and will have to be settled when Congress
enters upon the question practically. But they
are not unlikely to be encumbered with extrane.
ous issues. Politics will invade the domain of
philanthropy Partisan contingencies will
make themselves felt where prudent charity
alone should rule. The question will be in
vested with s'loyaI" and with "rebel" aspects.
Just as aid toward rebuilding the levees OF
Louisiana and Mississippi was frustrated by
politicians on the ground that these States
were not up to the radical standard in respect
of LOYALTY, so we expect to hear Of all manner
of reservations and provisos designed to pre-.
vent s:rebel advantages" in the distribution OF
help. Destitute blacks will, OF couse, In these
conditions, outrank the destitute whites. And
there will be strong effort to defeat PROPOSE
tions for utilizing resident Southerners in any
plan OF assistance for the planters. The pos
sible complexion of impending elections, and
the possible need Of all the appliances which
Congress may command to secure reconstruc-
ton in time for the Presidential vote, are mat
| ters which will not be overlooked when any
scheme Of relief invites decision.
Nothing is more certain, however, than the
mischief which any further attempts to make
pets OF the freedmen will involve. Tho nation
did owe great deal to them We admit. 1t as
sumed q temporary guardianship over them
when it deprived them OF the care and direction
which were incident to slavery. But the obli-
cation is not perpetual except in relation to
their rights. Civil equality they were entitled
to; political equality they have got; and they
may also claim protection against starvation
pending the organic alton of the new system oi
labor. They are not for this reason to be en-
couraged in the belief that they are permanent
pensioners upon the nations bounty-as many
of them have been led to conclude. And it is
against this error that Congress should care
FULLY guard. The opportunity should not be
lost for teaching the freedmen that emancipa-
tion was not the prelude to a gigantic system
Of psuperism, or to any system of protection
in reference either to the conditions or re-
wards Of labor.
The lesson is required. The operations o
the Freedmen's Bureau and the bearings of the