The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-07-25
VETO NO. 4.
FREEDMENS BUREAU BILL VETOED
The Presidents objections i'm n
Message.
ABLE AID CONCLUSIVE. Oh
JECTEONS.

y careful examination OF the bill passed
by the two Houses of Congress, entitled
An act to continue in force and to amend
act to establish a Bureau for the relief of
Freedmen and Refugees, and for other pur-
poses, has convinced me that the legisla-
ton which it proposed would not be consiS-
tent with the welfare of the country, and
that it falls clearly within the reasons AS
signed in my message pfthe 10th of FEBRUARY
last, returning without my signature a simi-
lar measure which originated in the Senate.
1t Is not my puapOse to repeat the objections
which | then urged. They are yet fresh in
your recollection, and can be readily exam
iued as a part of the record of one branch
of the National Legislature. Adhering to
the principles set forth in that message, |
now re-atfirm them, and the line of policy
therein indicated. The only ground upon
which the kind of legislation can be justl-
fed, is that fthe wal making power. The
act of which this bill is intended as amenda-
tory, was passed during the existance of the
war. BY its own provisions it is to termin-
ate within one year from the cessation of
hostilities and the declaration of peace. 1t
is, therefore, yet in existance. 1t likely
that it will continue in force as long as the
freedmen may require the benefits of its
provisions. 1t will certainly remain in OPP
Grafton as law until some months subsequent
to the meeting Of the next session Of Con
gress, when, if experience shall make evil
dent the necessity of additional legislation,
the two Houses will have ample time to ma
ture and pass the requisite measure.
In the meantime, the questions arise,
Why should this war measure be continued
beyond the period designated in the origi-
nal act, and why, in time Of peace, should
military tribunals be created to continue
until each State shall be fully restored its
constitutional relations to the Government
and shall be duly represented in the Con
gress of the United States? 1t was mani,
fest, with respect to the act approved March
3, 1865, that prudence and wisdom alike
required that jurisdiction over all eases con
corning the free employment OF lmmunltles
and rights of citizenship, us well as the pro-
lection of person and property, should be
conferred upon some tribunal in every State
or district. Where the ordinary course OF
judicial proceedings is no longer Interrupted,
! the Courts, both State and Federal, are in
full and complete and successful operation,
and through them every person, regardless
! of race and color, is entitled to and can be
heard. The protection granted to the
white citizen is already conferred, by laws,
upon the freedmen, and strong and strin-
gent guards by way of penalties and pun,
i3hncnts are thrown around his person and
property, and it is believed ample protec-
ton will be afforded him by due process al
law. without resort 10 the dangerous eXpe-
dent of military tribunals. Now that the
war has been brought to a close the neces-
sity nogIonger existing for such tribunals,
which had their origin the war, gave objec-
tions to their continuance must present
themsclvef to the minds eff all rejecting and
dispaSsonate men.
Independent OF the danger in representa-.
tive republics Of comforting upon the mill
tary, in time Of peace, extraordinary powers.
lawfully guarded against by the patriot,
aud statesman of the 6aly days Of the repub
lie so frequently the ruin Of governments
formed upon the same full principles, anc
subversive olthe rights and liberties of tbs
citizen, the question Of practical ec0nLml
earnestly commends itscIit to the con,idera
ton Of the law-making power. With al
immense debt already hurdeuening the in
comes ofthc industrial and laboring classes
IL due regard for those interests, 30 insepa
rable connected with the welfare Of tn,
country, should dispose us to rigid econom.
and influence us to abstain from all legiSla
ton that would unnecessarily increase tn
public indebtedness.
Tested by this rule of sound political wi.
dom, | can see no reason for the establish
mcnt Of the military jurisdiction c%onterre,
upon tic officials OF the Bureau in til
fourteenth section of the bill. BY the law
Of the United States and of the ditferen
States, com0etent courts, Federal and State
have been established, and are now in flu
practical operation, BY means Of thes
OWL tribunals ample redress is afforded tu
all private wrongs, whether to the person c
property Of the citizen, without denial {
unnecessary delay. They are open to a
without regard to color or race.
| fell well assured that it would be bette
to trust the rights, privileges and immun
/, ties Of citizens to tribunals thus establishe
and presided over by competent and impal
-, tial judges. found by fixed rules Of law an
, evidence, and where the right of tril by Jun
is guaranteed and secu,cd, than to the CT
=, price or Judgment Of an o~tficerof the Burea
|, who, it is I~osSibl-, may be entirely ignorar
Of the principles that underIie the Just az
, mini>tration of the law. There is dangt
too that conflict of jurisdiction will frequel
: Nv arise between the Civil Courts and thes
military tribunals, each having c0ncurrer
. jurisdiction over.the person and the cau'
Of action; the one jurisdiction administer
! and controlled by civil law, the other
: military. How is the conflict to be settlet
: and who is to determine between the tW
q tribunals when it arises? In my opinion
! is Wise to guard against such conflicts, |
leaving to the Court and iuries the prosecl
cution oiall civil grievances. The fact can
be denied, thai since the actual cessation
j hostilities, many acts of violence, such, pc
= haps. as had never been witnessed in the
" previous history, have occurred in tt
States involved in the recent rebellion.
believe, however, that public sentiment W
. sustain me in the assertion that such deco
Of wrong are not congned to any p"articuli
d section, put are manifested over the entil
country, demonstrating hat the cause tn,
= produced them does not depend upon ar
G particular locality, but is the result Of Il
e agitation and arrangement incident to
long and bloody war. While the prevalen,
of such di' orders must be greatly d3plo eC
q their occasional and temporary recurrenC
would seem to furnish no necessity for tt
ID extension OF the Bureau beyond the periC
fixed in the original act.
Besides the objection | have thus brief
IS stated, | may urge upon your considerable
the additional reason that recent devolo
ments in regard to the practical operate
r Of the Bureau in many of the States sho
that In numerous instances it is used by j
: agents as a means of promoting their i
dividual advantage; and that the freedmt
are employed for the advancement OF Il
personal ends of the officers, instead of the
own improvement and welfare; and tn,
confirming the fears originally entertaint
( by many, that the continuation of such
bureau for any unnecessary length Of tim
would inevitably result in fraud, corruptit
and oppression. II is proper to state tina
in cases of this character, investigation
have been promptly, and the offender pu
: ished whenever his guilt has been satisfa