The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-07-19
EIeesionsssin,.g; /. Dodges.

OfuereG Tue INSTRUMENTATION OIL the
Freedman's Bureau &c South GaaToiii.
ma, and will, as speedily as possible,
close the Bureaus business in other
States "-Ne,o York Tribune. 9 ~
This sort of deception, says the
National huteHigencer, of the 10Th
instant, will hardly mislead even the
unwary. The trick has been repeat
ed too often to have the least merit
of novelty, and is now regarded as
only q barefaced attempt to impose
on the public by willful misrepresen-
tation. The Freedmen's Bureau has
just been extended another year by
the influence of Gen. Howard, who
first pretended to recommend its
abolition. That fact is the. best
answer to the false statement of the
Tribune, and reveals the real senti-
ment of the head of this corrupt
political machine, who has worked it
only for selfish and party purposes.
There is not the remotest intention
Of closing the Bureau now, and
never has been. The best proof of
it is the law recently passed by an
undivided radical vote in both
Houses of Congress. 1t forms an
essential element of their programme
in the Presidential campaign, and
was renewed for that object express
ly. The proof is to be found in the
Senate bill proposed by Mr.. Howard,
by which the President is deprived
of all supervising authority, and the
present Commissioner, General How
ard, is rendered independent of the
army regulations, and of proper ac-
countability, until the 1st of January
next, thus covering the Presidential
election. That proposition reveals
the plot; while another, introduced
by Mr.. Pomeroy as sequel, pro-
poses to transfer the Indian Bureau
to the Freedmen's Bureau, and thus
fasten it permanently on the Govern
ment. The Tribune is we'll aware of
these facts, and yet has concealed
them for party effect.
Radicalism has taken q sudden and
violent spasm of reform since the
New York Convention. But this pre-
tended zeal comes rather late in the
day, and exposes its own motive.
Nearly eight months have been
squandered in factious agitation and
in q desperate effort to get possession
of the Executive Office. All the
great material interests have been
treated with the utmost neglect and
contempt by the dominant party in
Congress. Precious time and money
have been wantonly wasted in perse-
cutting the President, and in attempts
to rule or ruin. And now, ut the
eleventh hour, when all is confusion,
when everybody is worn down with
fatigue, the session about closing,
and when the New York Convention
has framed its Indictment, the very
men who have all along treated with
scorn the serious public business,
rush forward with political schemes
for reducing the army, for q higher
protective tariff. and for other pur-
poses, all intended to counteract the
effect of their past criminal omis-
sions, and to propitiate O people
whom they have outraged by neglect,
extravagance and unparalleled cor
ruption. These electioneering expe-
dients have had their day, and can
succeed no longer. The eyes of the
country are at length opened to the
iniquities which have been practiced,
and the mischief which the rule of
radicalism has produced. Profes-
sions have no value from such O
source, because the most solemn
promises have been made only to be
violated. This affected repentance is
like that of the hardened criminal
who goes to the gallows protesting
his innocence, in the vain delusion
that his guilt may be doubted, and
his bad character redeemed. AS the
individual is estimated by his life, so
is q party judged by its recorded acts.
Seven years of bloated power and
unexampled tyranny confront radi-
calism, and demand its expulsion as
the only means left of rescuing the
country from most serious perils.
Inasmuch as the New York Post
and other papers have been deceived
by the artful "dodge" of General
Howard and his radical friends, we
publish his own testimony, to show
that the Freedmen's Bureau has not
been stopped, and that this whole
movement is sham, got up to deceive
the public:
"WAR DEPARTMENT,
~