The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-09

aecOnbCruCtlOn aclS nave Deen calcuiateQ 70
| impress these untutored people with the notion
that they may obtain all they want by asking
for it. We are not impugning the legitimate
work of the Bureau. For certain purposes il
| has doubtless been valuable, and as guide
rather than as o provider it's continuance for
| some time longer may be desirable. But the
| tendency of its influence has been to encourage
the freedmen in the delusion that they may for
all time rely upon the government instead oi
| trusting to themselves. The political power
conferred upon them by Congress has served
to strengthen this impression. Both causes
combined may be supposed to have had not a
little to do with the generally unpro6table
character Of their last years labor. They did
neither as much nor as well as formerly, and
their prevailing want of thrift explains the at
titude OF pauperism which they exhibit in the
cotton growing States. 1t is, therefore, of the
| utmost importance that the relief to be afford
ed this season shall be used as On auxiliary in
disciplining the freedmen to the steady, faith
ful labor which is, with them, the sole alterna-
tive of pauperism. The country, we doubt not,
will cheerfully, and with needfu liberality, pro-
vide for their present immSnent necessities, but
it is not inclined to maintain them in laziness,
or to encourage expectations which point to
shiftlessness and beggary.
The most wholesome help, then, which Con-
gress can give the freedmen is in the form of
work. Who're government must take actual
charge of this class, owing to q surplus Of
labor, from whatever cause, the Bureau should
allot 80 much food as the pay for 80 much
work. Every locality does not present facili-
ties for employment on public works; but
where these exist, as in tho neighborhood Of
the Mississippi and Red Rivers, they should
be turned to account in connection with aid
furnished through the Bureau. In other dis
tricts, arrangements are surely possible, in
conjunction with local municipal authority, for
ho oh ~ fba nff bo
Bureau in public improvements OF which, since
the war, every part of the South is in urgent
need. The best of all labor, however, is that
which the farmers and planters furnish and
direct. In no other shape will it be 80 econom-
cal or 80 Immediately productive. The diff
Guilty in this case is that the planters are una
bic to employ the freedmen unless they are
themselves aided by Congress, by loan, or by
the repayment of last years cotton tax. The
former plan, as we attempted to show, is open
so almost insuperable objections, and the latter
can scarcely be hoped for unless the Senate be
more liberal and more prompt than it hRs been
in regard to the measure which awaits its
action.
No finer opening can occur for the industrial
reconstruction Of the South at the hands Of
Congress. Planters and freedmen-both are
all but helpless if the government come not to
their relief Indirectly, indeed, il may assist
in the cultivation Of the next crop by taking as
security for advances to the freedmen lien
upon their interest. Such proceeding, al
though better than inaction, would be liable to
the objection that it interferes with the rela-
ton Of employer and employed, and lessons
the vigilant supervision and just authority on
the one hand, and the faithful service on tho
other, which are essential to profit. By ena-
bling the planter to make his own arrange
ments, and to cultivate bis land in his own
way-subject in one or two respects to the ap-
proval OF the Bureau-the return Of the South
to prosperity would be promoted, and foun-
dation laid for its future system OF labor. How
far it would foster the success Of the Congress
sional reconstruction plan we undertake not to
guess. But it would assuredly dispel some
fears and many misapprehensions, and would
promote kindly feeling and the healthy enter
prise which are essential to genuine recon-
struction.