United States House of Representatives

“ Your committee cannot conceive of any reason why this vast domain, paid for by the blood of white men, should be set apart for the sole benefit of the freedmen of African descent, to the exclusion of all others, and leased for an unlimited time, thereby preventing its occupation, except by them, at least for a long time to come. ”

“ Under the provisions of the bill, the freedman may he as effectually stripped of the proceeds of his labor to build up the fortunes of an avaricious superintendent, as though he were under the control of a master, without enjoying the benefits of the protection and support the system of slavery affords. ”

“ But if it is to be converted into a grand almshouse department, whereby the labor and property of the white population of the country is to be taxed to support the pauper labor of the freedmen and mendicant officials of the country, its operations cannot be too closely scrutinized.
The government have as yet been rather unfortunate in their efforts in behalf of the freed slaves, and it seems to your committee to be very desirable that legislation upon this subject, if it can be done legally, should be confined to the absolute existing wants of the country. ”

“ That a careful examination of the provisions of the bill under consideration has convinced your committee that it not only involves grave and important questions, but likewise a task of great magnitude to overcome the legal and apparently just objections which arise upon a fair scrutiny of its contents. Humanity may be pleaded in favor of the passage of the bill, but great caution will have to be exercised, not only that the plea be well founded, but that no unintentional injustice be perpetrated thereby. ”

“ The necessity to see that the numerous treaties made with the various Indian tribes were faithfully adhered to, and to facilitate our business relations with them, were among the motives which prompted government to establish a bureau for the purpose, under the provisions of the Constitution. Your committee know of no instance where Congress has undertaken to legislate for the exclusive benefit of the Indians, or of any other class of people. ”

“ The indefiniteness of the bill leaves you committee somewhat at a loss as to the subjects of its jurisdiction, or the method of its operation, but so far as its purposes are foreshadowed by the very general expressions used in the language of the bill, it seems to them liable to very great objections. It is well worthy of consideration whether legislation which is of vital importance to the existence of the nation should be interrupted to give place for the discussion and perfection of such crude and immature plans. ”

“ The system of government for freedmen proposed in the bill embraces the essential features of the administration of justice over a large portion of the resident population, and affects directly the rights and interests of all in subjects now protected by judicial action, the administration of which is secured by constitutional enactments. ”

“ An institution like this, which assumes the functions of the judiciary over a large portion of the population, and combines with it the domestic management of the master over the personal and household matters of the freedman, cannot be carried out without spreading a net-work of officials over all the conquered States, as numerous as the slave masters whom this system supersedes. ”

“ In the several States there is to be one commissioner to each State, but as many superintendents and clerks as are necessary, which necessity, of course, depends entirely upon the opinion of the head of the department, and their compensation is to be fixed by the same authority. ”

“ The establishing a bureau on Indian affairs cannot be cited as a precedent for the introduction of the bill on freedmen's affairs. Our relations with the Indians, which caused the establishing of a bureau, differed widely from those now existing between the United States and the freedmen of African descent. ”

“ After the transition state through which we are now passing shall have ended, and the character and position of this class of our population shall have become better defined, the rights of the government to the title of the confiscated property determined by competent authority, it will be time enough to initiate a system adapted to their wants and capacities, and calculated for their protection and humane treatment. ”