The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-02-28
SENATOR TRUMBULL ON THE VETO,


Senator TRuNBuL., as is we'll known, is one
of the sblest lawyers, as we'll as most mode
rate, honest and clear minded statesmen il
the country. To him it has never been
charged that radicalism biased his action el
perverted his judgment. His speech In the
Senate in review of the veto message is digni
fed logical and able. We give the following
summary of his propositions as condensed by
the Washington Chronicle, and which propo
sitions he supported with great force and
cogency of reasoning. While answering forci
bly, some of the Presidents s objections. it fail:
to convince us that the Freedmen's Bill is ths
best thing for the freedmen that can be adopt
ed. We have objected to that bill chiefly
ing TO fix to certain extent, the social status
and civil government of the negro fol
peace, and during an indefinite time after the
termination of military administration be.
cause it was a wrong and insufficient pro-
lection to the freedmen who have won the
rights of freerneh; because it gives to the
President an unwonted power of patronage,
and because the agency system is peculiarly
liable to abuse.
We hav'n any doubt Of the power Of the
Government, as the condition Of these freed
men is the result of condition of rebellion
and the edict of the Government, TO protect
them so long as the South is hostile to them
and to the decree By which they were freed,
4 fb h. >,
protection, by the military. Protect under
the war power of the nation so long as nee
essary but when you try to fix for them their
condition for peace, and provide civil protec-
ton for them, let it be by courts and due pro
cess of law. But this may require Constitu-
tional amendment of the Judiciary power of
the Government Well, let it be So But
what will you do to prevent the freedmen from
being wronged while you are getting your
courts properly constituted? Why, protect
them by the military, of course.
At any rate, we cannot help feeling glad,
that if President JOHNSON intends TO aposta-
tie politically and give us Copperhead and
rebel.favoring administration, that he has by
his veto debarred himself OF such an engine
for negro oppression as this Freedmen bill
would be with Copperheads and slave drivers
as the agents appointed. Here are the points
that Senator TRUNBrLL makes:
|. That the bill Itself was inspired by the
annual message of the President ofthe United
States, delivered to Congress at the com
mencement Of the present session. That
message, it will be remembered, expressed O
desire upon the part OF the President to secure
all men in their rights and to protect the
freedmen in all the privileges guaranteed
to them under the Emancipation Proclama
ton; and. in the Judgment of Mr.. Trumbull
and thirty. six Senators who voted with him
for i, on the 25th of January, the provisions
of this bill were eminently calculated to ac-
complish these objects.
II. That it was not as the President av ers,
an original measure, but simply au amend
ment to the bill under which the Freedmen 5
Bureau is now acting. and which had the
sanction of the Executive himself. as well as
the approval of the great maj ajority of the loyal
people OF the country. AS an amendment II
removes many the Objectionable features OF
the Bureau as now organized, simplifying
its ramihcations and making it the more eff
cient.
Ill That il was not intended as a perma-
nent part of the administrative policy of the
Government-one of its sections expressly
stating, on the contrary, that 1t shall remain
in force until otherwise provided by law,
inst as ell other laws of Congress are sup
posed to do. The wonder is that the Presi-
dent ever thought of making such an objee-
ton to it as this. No such idea ever entered
the mind of any person who supported and
voted for it.
". That, instead of being an extravagant
and unnecessary expense to the Government,
it has indirectly saved us millions of dollars
which would otherwise have been wasted.
Y. That the Bureau did not contemplate
feeding. clothing and educating the refugees
and freedmen, but was rather intended to
assist them in doing all these things for them
selves.
VI. That, instead of it being designed ex
clusively for negroes, more whites have, III
some sections and in many instances. been
benefited by it than blacks, aud that the pro-
portion of whites still needing assistance is
equal to that OF the negroes.
VII. That there was an immediate necessi
ty for the passage of the bill, because the
original act creating the Bureau expires by
limitation in the month of May, 1866
VIII. That, instead of establishing military
jurisdiction over all parts ofthe United States
containing refugees and freedmen 1T simply
extends IL over the officers and employees OF
the bureau And that in accordance with the
recommendation Of Gen. Grant, IN his repor
to the President of his tour through ths
South, transmitted to the Senate with mes
sage q few weeks ago, it makes the bureau &
part of the War Department of the Govern
ment
TX. That the bill did not contemplate ths
appointment of agents or other officers II
every county or parish except the President
should in his judgment, deem such appoint
ments necessary.
X That what the President terms the un
constitutional features of the bill, conferrln&
arbitrary powers upon the officers OF th'
Bureau. 90 no further than the Presiden
himself and the officers of the army acting
under him have already gone; and that 1t II
competent for Congress TO provide all rule
and regulations for the government OF tht
army and navy, to which all are subject, iron
the Commander-in- chief to the humblest sol
der or sailor.
XI. That if the rebellion is In all respects
at end, the President is still exercising th'
war power, such as the suspension OF the wri
OF habeas corpus, contrary to the Constitution
which expressly states that this shall only bs
suspended IN time of invasion or rebellion
and, as we have no invasion, and the writ u
not IN operation in portion of the States
we must have a rebellion.
XII That, according to the census of 1860
there were not four million Of slaves in the
United States, and that instead Of this beins
ameasure to feed, clothe, and educate fouii
million of freedmen, the report of Genera
Howard shows that at no time was there NOR,
than one hundred and forty seven Thousand
persons under the care of the Bureau, ffty