The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-03-07
Veto Of the Frecdmen's Bureau
Bill.
To the Senate of the United States:

.o tetSoHsh Dnre'u Tor the relief OF
freedmen and Refugees" and for other
purposes. llasing, with much r-gia at.
come To the conclusion that il would not
be consistent with the public welfar. to
giss my approval to the messure, | re
turn the bill TO tie Senate with nlv OBJ
sctions y, its beeoniug y law
might call TO mud, in advance of
these objections, that there is no immedir
as necessity for the proposed measure -.
The Ac, to establish Bnrean for the 70
lief Of freedmen d refugees, winch vas
approved in the month of March last.
has not yet expired. II was thought
stringent and extensive enough Tor the
purpose In view in time Of war. Before
Il ceHses to have ef-ct. further experience
may assist to guide us TO a wise conclusion
rs to the policy TO be adopted in time Of
peace.
| share with Congress the strongest ne
sire TO secure TO the fr-edrpsn the full en-
joymeut Of 'heir freedom and their pro
perty, an1 their eutire Independence and
equality in making contracts for their Ia
boz; hut the bill before me con, aims pro
visions which, in NV opmron, are not war
raSed by the Constitution, and are no:
well suised TO accomplish the end in view.
The bill proposes to ESTABLISH. hv An
thoritv OF Cnn9,e.s. military Jurisdiction
over all par,s of the United States coa
tanning refugees and freedmen Itwould.
by its very nature, apple with most force
10 those parts of the Uurel States in
which the freedmen most ahntN and i,
expressly sSteuds the EXISTING Temporary
juri.dcripn OF the Freeinen's Buraan
with greatly enlarged powers. over rhos.
states. "in which the ordinary course o.
julicisl proceedings has he-n inrerrupt.d
by the rebellion" Tha source from which
this military jurisdiction ia to emsna,. is
none other than the President ~ The
United States, acting through the War
Dspar fhent and The Com missioner of the
Freedman's Bureau. The agents to car.
~ ou, thn military jurisdiction are 10 be
selected either from the army o, from
civil life: the country is to bs.d vided In
80 districts and sub districts, asj he nun .
ber OF salaried agents to be- .mplry-d
lnst he equal Ia the number of Counries
or Parishes in all th. United States where
fretdmen and refugees are to he found
The subjects over which this military
Jurisdiction is TO exread in everr par, Of
the United States. inclUde p,o,ec,ion to
"-,i employees. agents and officers OF this
Bureau IN the exercise Of the du,i.s i'm
posed upon them 10y the b'l IN eleven
Stsses u is to iurtaer to extend over all
esses affecting freedmen and refugees dis.
crinin1ted against "bv"iucal law. custom
or prejudice" 10 these els,en S ate. the
bit subjects anv white person who NAV
be charged With drprlyiny y fr.edman of
"any, civil rights or immnni,ies belonging
to white persons" to imprisonment or
hue, or both without, however, defining
tho "civil rights and immunit,es" which
are thus TO be secured to tie freedmen hy
mililsSv law. This military Jurisdiction
a'so ext nds TO all questions that may
arNe respect 6g contracts. The agent
who is'shus TO exercise the office Of a mil
i'sry jidse may be = s'ran yer, entirely
iguoran, Of the laws Of the place, and .x
posed to the errors Of jnd dgmsnt TO which
all men are liable. The exercise Of now.
~, over which there is no legal supervis.
ion. by so vast Dumber OF agenst ~ is
contemplated Ivy the bill. must, wv the
very nature OF man. be attended by acts
ofseap'ice. Injustice sni passion.
The trials having their origin urder this
bill are to take pIscs ~irlont the inter
vention Of jury, and wiihoa anv fixed
e'es OF Law or evidence The rules on
which offences are 10 be "heard and de
termined" by the numerous agents. are
such rules and regulations as the Prrsi
dent, through the War Department, shall
prescribe. No previous pr-ssntnsnt is
required. nor any Indictment charc ciog the
con.'nission Of a crime aeain.t the avs:
but the trial must proceed on charges
and specifications The punishment siII
te--pot What the Law declares but such
= asa court martial may think proper and
from those arbitrary tribunals, ther. lies
no appeal. no writ Of error to sny Of the
courts in which the Constitution of the
United States vests exclusiveIy the juIr.
cisl power .of the country.
While the territory and the classes Of
actions and offences that are made sub
jsct 10 this measure are so extensive. the
tbsH itself. should il bseome a Law, will
have no limitation In point Of tio,e. bot
wll form part Of the pennsnent leeis
lation OF the country. cannot reconcile
sysiem OF military Jurisdiction Of thi.
kind with The words Of the Cons,itu,ion.
which declares that mo person shall be