The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-08-01

ssme rlgnt, IN every STATE anu territory In
the United States, to make and enforce
contracts. to sue, to be parties. and give
evidence, TO inherit. purchase, lease, sell,
hold and convey real and personal proper
y, and to full and equal benefit Of all laws
and proceedings for the security Of person
and property. as is enjoyed BY white citi-
zens, and shall be subject to like punish
ment, pains, and penalties, and to none
other, any Law, statute. ordinance, reguls-
tion, or custom 10 the contrary nstwith-
standing"
BY the provisions Of the act full protec.
tion is Afforded. through the district courts
Of the United States. to all persons injur-
ed. and whose privileges, as there declsr.
ed, are in any way impaired, and heavy
penalties are denounced against the person
who wilfully violates the law. / need not
state that that law did not receive my ap-
proval vet, its remedies are far preferable
to those proposed in the present bill; the
one being civil and the other military.
BY the sixth section Of the bill herewith
returned, certain proceedings BY which the
lands in the "psrishes Of Ssint Helena and
Saint Luke, South Carolina" were sold
and bid in. and afterwards disposed of by
the tar commissioners. are ratified and con-
6rned. By the seventh. eighth. ninth.
tenth and eleventh sections. provisions by
law are made for the disposal Of the lands
thus acquired TO particular class Of clti-
vens. While the quieting Of title is deem
ed very important and desirable. the dis
examination made in the bill seems objee-
tionabe, as does also the attempt to confer
upon the commissioners judicial powers,
By which citizens Of the United States are
TO be deprived Of their property in mode
contrary to that provision Of the Censtitu-
tion which declares that no person shall
be deprived Of life, liberty. or property.
without due process Of law" As q gene
rsl principle such legislation is unsafe. un.
wise, partial. and unconstitutional. II may
deprive persons Of their property who are
equally deserving objects Of the nations
bounty as those whom, by this legislation,
Congress seeks 20 benefit. The title to the
land thus to be portioned out TO a favored
class Of citizens must depend upon the re.
gularity Of the tax sale under the law as II
existed at the time Of the sale, and no SUBJ
ssquent legislation can give validity 70 the
right thus acquired As against the original
claimants. The attention Of Congress is
therefore invited to more mature consi.
dersti0n ofthe measures proposed in these
sections Of the bill.
| In conclusion. I again srge upon Con.
gress the danger Of class legislation. 50 vel
calculated 70 keep the public mind in
state Of uncertain expectation. .,disquiet. and
restlessness, and to encourage interested
hopes and fears that the National Govern
ment will continue 20 furnish 10 classes o.
citizens in the several States means fol
support and maintenance, regardless o
whether they pursue life Of Incidence OF
/ Of labor. and regardless also Of the censti
tntional limitations Of the national autho
rity in times Of peace aud tranquility.
/ The bill is herewith returned TO tn
House of Representatives, 70 which u origi
mated for its final action.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
i Washington. July 10. 1866.