Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-07-03
The Ereedmen's Bureau.

The bill to continue the Freedmens Bu-
reau for another year, but leaving 1t as
Dictionary with the Secretary OF War 10
terminate its operations in the States which
NAV be admitted to Congressional repre-
seutation. is now before the President, and
there seems 10 be no doubt that he will
veto it. Fearful, even should they be able
to pass it over the veto, that General SCHo-
FIELD may wind up the affairs OF the Blu
rea71 without due regard to their political
schemes, the Radicals are prepared to save
matters by flank movement.
Without waiting for the veto, bill has
been prepared by Mr.. Eliot, Of Massachu-
sets. Chairman of the House Committee on
Freedrnen's Affairs, which has already been
introduced in the Senate by Mr.. HOWARD,
which carries the Bureau absolutely over
until the first of January next Thus, the
valuable services Of General HOWARD, as
Chief of the Bureau, will be secured during
the whole of the campaign. His adrolt
nianipu34..nus Of his department for poll
tiea1 7,rr...-es, through the willy and supple
tools le Las employed throughout the
soo-l.i, AID his willingness to continue his
GisreDutable labors, render him most
powerful instrument in deciding Southern
elections. The new bill takes from Gen
eral SCHoFIELD the power TO discontinue
the operations Of the Bureau in the States
Which may be admitted, and confers it upon
General HOWARD.
Even amidst all this rascality there is
some consolation in the fact that in either
event the Bureau will expire on the first
day of January next and the admission on
the part of the Jacobin leaders, that after
that tine there is no longer necessity for
this institution, is confession that Its
continuance is only to help them in the
coming campaign. This Bureau, which |
swallows no annually so many millions of
the Peoples money, has long since dwin-
died into e. mere political hospital for
broken down place-hunters, who earn their
salaries by manipulating negro votes in the
interest of their party. Through it's opera
tons the officers of the army are degraded
into special policemen for party leaders,
and they do their allotted task with an
alacrity which shows that they were Sc
lected with view for the degrading work
for which they were intended.
As early as 1860 General GRANT became |
convinced of the utter uselessness of the
Bureau. In his report to President JOHN
son he said that its affairs ''have not been
conducted with Judgment or economy
He declared that it was a positive detri
ment to the freedmen, since the agents of
the Bureau had disseminated the idea that
the lands Of the South were to be divided
among the negroes 1.-THE effect" said
General GRANT, "of the belief in the
division of lands is idleness and accumula-
ton in camps, towns and cities. In such
cases think it viii be found that vice and
disease will tend to the determination, or
q great reduction, OF the colored race"
Whether pretended philanthropy for the
negroes, or regard for the white tax-pay-
ers, or both, have the necessary influence
on Congress to remove the Bureau at an
early day, its demise will be a joyful event.
Among the many disgraceful means used
for party success none has furnished the
National honor more than to witness an
officer of the army of high rank at the head
of leading department manipulating the
ignorant negroes at the behest of party
leaders, and using his subalterns, scattered
throughontthe South, as policemen in blue
clothes, to prevent white citizens from
voting and to marshal blacks to the ballot
boxes. IF the adventurers and impostors,
who seek and obtain Office by means of the
bayonet- controlIed ballots of Southern
negroes, are worthy the contempt of honor
able men, what must be thought of those
individuals, wearing the uniform of their
country, which should be the SYNONYM of
honor, gallantry and manhood, who de-
grade their official positions into mere
pinps Of unworthy aspirants-the bawds
of unprincipled and icentious political
profigates q?
Reconstructed North Carolina
General CANDY has promulgated in Off
cial orders the act of Congress admitting