The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-07-24
VETO OF THE FREEDMEN'S BU-
REAU BILL.

! House of Representatives the Freedmen's Blu
reau Bill without his signature, giving his rea-
sons therefor as follows:
. To the House Of Representatives.
A careful examination of the bill passed by
the two Houses of Congress entitled IAN act
TO continue in force aud amend An act 20
establish bureau for the relief Of freedmen
and refugees, and for other purposes, mas con-
WINGED me that the legislation which IL proposes
would not be consistent with the welfare o1 the
country, and that it falls clearly within the rea-
sons ASST gued in my message oil the l9th OF
February last, returning without my signature
a similar measure, which originated in the Sen
ate 1t is not my purpose to repeat the objec-
tions which then urged They are yet fresh
10 your recollection and can be readily examined
as part of the records of one branch of the ma
tional legislature. Adheriug to the principles
set forth in that message now re-afirm them,
and the line Of policy therein indicated
The only ground upon which this kind OF
legislation can be justified is that of the war
making power The act of which this bill was
intend, d as amendatory was passed during the
" existence of the war. BY its own provisions It
is toterminate within one year from the cessa-
ton of hostilitiis and the declaration of peace.
1t is, therefore, yet in existence, and 1t Is Ike
ly that it will continue in force long as the
freedmen may require the benefit OF its proVls:
ions. 1t will certainly remain In operation as
law until some months subsequent to the meet
ing Of the next session Of Congress, when if ex-
perience shall make evident the necessity OF ad-
ditional legislation, the two houses Will have
ample time 20 mature and pass the requisite
measures. In the meantime, the questions
arise why should his measure be continued
beyond the period designated in the original
act and Why, in time Of peace, should military
tribunals be created to continue until each
State shall be fully restored TO It's constitution
al relations to the government and shall be duly
represented in the Congress Of the United
Staies?'
1t was manies. with respect to the act ap-
proved March 3, 1865, that prudence and wis
dom alike required that jurisdiction over all
cases concerning the free enjoyment of the i'm
munities aud rights Of citizenship, as we'll as the
protection Of persons and property, should be
conferred upon some tribunal in every State or
district where the ordinary course of judicial
proceeding was interrupted by The rebellion,
and until the same should be fully rcstored.-
AT that time therefore, an urgent necessity eX-
listed for the passage of such law. Now,
however, war has substantially ceaS' d. the ord
nary course OF judicial proceedings is 10 longer
interrupted; the courts, both State and Federal,
are in full, comp lete and successful operation,
and through them every person, regardless of
The prott ion granted to the white citizen is
already conferred upon the freedmen; strong
and stringent guards by way OF penalties and
punshments, are throwa around his person and
. property, and it is believed that ample prCtec
ton will be afforded him by due process IF law,
without resort to the dangerous expedient of
'miitary tribunals" now that the war has been
Brought to a close.
The necessity no longer existing for such tri-
bGDals, which had their origin in the war. grave
objections to their continuance must Yresen MT
themselves to the minds Of all IT hecting and
dispa>sionate men Independently Of the dam
ger in representative republics of comforting
upon the military in time of peace extraordinary
powers-so carefully guarded against by the
patriots and statesmen of the earlier days of the
4 republic, so frequently the ruiz of governments
founded upon the same free principle, and sub
rersive of he rights and liberties of he citizen,
the question of practical economy earnestly
f commeuds itself to the consideration of the law
Il making power. With immense debt already
. ourdening tho incomes Of the Industrial and
abOsing classes, due regard for their interests,
10 inseparably connected with the welfare of the
Il country, should prompt to rigid economy aud
etrenchnent, aud influence to abstain from
f Ill legislation that would necessarily increase
he public Indebtedness. Tested by this rule
# sound political wisdom, can see no reason
or the establishment Of military jurisdiction
conferred upon the officials Of the Bureau by
he fourteenth section of the bill
f BY thcaws of the United States and of th
+. different States competent courts, Federal and
State, have been established, and are now in full !
/. practical operation. 3y means of these civil
4 tribunals ample redress is afforded for all private
f wrongs, whether to the person or the property |
f the citizen, without denial or unnecessary
81 clay. They open 10 all without regard to |
4 olor / feel we'll assured that it will |
e better to trust the rights, privileges and i'm
L lunities Of the citizen to tribunals thus estab-
shed, and presided over by competent and
! IMPARTIAL judges, bound by fixed rules of law
II md evidence, and where the rights of trial by
Z airy is guaranteed and secured than to the Ca |
rice and judgment of an officer of the bureau,
Il tho, it is possible, may be entirely ignorant of
ne principles that undere the jus. admins |
alton of the law. There is danger, too, that
,nAict of Jurisdiction will frequently arise be-
Seen the civil courts and these military trbu- |
ais, each having concurrent Jurisdiction over
lie person and the cause Of action-the one iu-
: feature administered and controlled BY civil |
W, the other by the military How is the |
,uflict to be settled, and no is to determine |
,tween the two tribunals when it arises :? In |
opinion it is wise to guard against such con- !
ct By leaving to the courts and juries the pro-
ction of all civil rights and the redress of all |
vii grievances.
The fact cannot be denied that since the ac
lal cessation OF hostilities many acts of vio-
nce-such, perhaps. Is had never been wit
essed in their previous history-haye occurred
the States involved in the recent rebellion