Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1866-03-01
The Freedmen's Bureau Bill,
Veto Message from President johnson
WAsHISGroS, February 10. 1866.


WASHINGTON, February 10, 1866.
To the Senate Of the u. States =
have examined with care the bill
which originated in the Senate, and
has been passed by the two Houses
or Congress, to amend an acG enti-
tied can act to establish a Bureau
for the relief of freedmen and refll-
gees, and for other purposes. >
Having, with much regret, come TO
the conclusion that it would not be
consistent with the public welfare to
give my approval to the measures,
| return the bill to the Senate with
my objection to its becoming a law.
| might call to mind, in advance Of
these objections, that there is no I'M
mediate necessity for the proposed
measure. The act to establish a
Bureau for the relief OF freedmen
and refugees, which was approved
in the month of March last, has not
yet expired. 1t was thought strin-
gent and extensive enough for the
purpose in view. Before it ceases
to have effect, further specimens
may assist to guide lis to a wise con-
clusion in the policy to be adopted
in time OF peace. | have, with
Congress, the stringent desire to Sc
cure TO the freedmen the full enjoy
ment OF their freedom and their
property and their independence
and equality in making contracts for
their labor. But the bill before me
contains provisions which in my
| opinion is not warranted by the
Constitution and are not well suited
to accomplish the end in view. The
bill proposes to establish, by author
ity Of Congress, military jurisdiction
over all parts OF the United States
III Which the freedmen most abound,
and it expressly extends the existing
temporary jurisdiction Of the Freed
mems Bureau with greatly enlarged
powers over IL hOse States in which
the ordinary course OF judicial pro-
ceedin@s has been interrupted by the
rebellion. The source from which
this military jurisdiction is to emf
nate is none other than the Presi-
dent OF the United States, acting
through the War Department and
| the Commissioner Of the Freodmen's
Bureau. The agents to carry out
this military jurisdiction are to be
selected either from the army or
from civil life. The country is to
be divided into districts and sub
districts, and the number Of salaried
agents to be employed may be equal
| to the number OF counties or parish
es in all the United States where
freedmen and refugees are to be
found. The subjects over which
this military jurisdiction is to extend
in every part OF the United States,
includes protection to all employees,
agents and officers Of the Bureau
in the exercise Of the duties imposed
upon them by the bill in eleven
States. 1t Is further to extend over
all cases effecting freedmen and ref
ugees where Disseminated against
by the local law, customs or prelu-
dice, in those eleven States, the bill
subjects every white who may be
charged with depriving freedman
Of any civil rights or immunities be-
longing,to white persons to impress
ment or fines, or both, without, How
ever defining their civil rights and
immunities which are thus to be Sc
cured to the freedmen by military
law. This military jurisdiction also
extends to all questions that may
arise respecting contracts. The
agent who is thus to exercise the Of
flee of a military judge, may be a
stranger entirely ignorant Of the
laws of the place and exposed to the
errors of Judgment, to which all men
are liable. The exercise Of power,
over which there is no legal super
vision, by so vasta number OF agents
rs is contemplated by the bill, must
by the very nature Of man, be at
tended by acts of caprice, injustice
and passion. .tThe trials having their
origin under this bill, are to take
place withoGt the Intervention of a
jury, and without any fixed rules Of |
law or evidence. The rules on
which offences are TO be heard and |
bv 4hc numerous agents /