Mr. LEBLOND. There are persons who desire to debate this bill. I hope, therefore, the gentleman will not put the bill upon its passage now, but let it go over for a day or 5. There are some very important features contained in this bill, and I think it should at least be amended in these respects. Whether intended or not, it is nevertheless true that this bill confers a power which I think is very objectionable. It is all objectionable, in my opiu ion, because Iam opposed to the entire principle and theory of this bill. But the 4th section is exceedingly objectionable. In that section there is a provision that authorizes this Government to furnish supplies to these colored people in the South. It is true it only purports upon its face to confer the power to furnish medical aid; yet the POWER is there given not only to feed but to clothe the colored people who have been slaves. T but of itselfis objectionable. It is class legislation; it is doing for that class of persons what you do not propose to do for the widows and orphans throughout the length and breadth of this whole country. In my judgment the entire theory of this bill It is mise hievous and it ought not to pass. by no means ought to pass with a provision of the kind to which I have referred. This system encourages idleness; and that is one of the great objections to the entire theory on which this bill is based. The evidence of this fact is brought before the American people in the report of Generals Steedman am Fullerton, siowing that the system which ou have already inaugurated is objectionable in every form in which you can view it. I am personally acquainted with General Steedman; and I know him to be a high minded, honorable, and intelligent man. whatever those 2 men have presented to the American people as facts existing in the southern States may be received as entitled to the fullest respect. I If, sir, that report be true, then it becomes the duty of this Congress to strike down that system at once, leaving these colored people, free as they are, to make a living in the same way that the poor whites of our country are doing. Give them no encouragement beyond the encouragement to industry which the resources of the country offer to every man who will labor. Why, sir, when we look at these galleries, and see them crowded day after day with stout, hearty, ablebodied colored men, who, to all appearance, draw their rations from the Government, and who seat themselves here in our frallcries during the entire day, it is but an evitIbnce that the system itself is mise hiev ous, and ought not to be encouraged by the Congress of the U.S. Let those people be thrown upon their own resources, and wherever labor is in demand you will find them oing there seeking employment, and they Will obtain it. Gentlemen may appeal to the passions and prejudices of the people, and urge that this system should be continued as a punishment to be inflicted upon the southern people. But. let me say to gentlemen that the period hm gone by when the American people, taxed as they are almost to death for the purpose of supporting this Government, are goin to contribute longer to the maintenance oft is class of persons for the sole purpose of inflicting a punishment. upon the southern people, who wrongfully un( ertook to destroy his Government. Sir, we do not prepose to destroy ourselves in order to crush the southern people.