The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-22

Some thing else than clamor and oenunola-
ton will be needed to excite public sentiment
against President johnson for his veto of the
frsedmsn's bureau bill. lie was careful to
riddle it in his veto message. No bill has
ever been returned to the American congress
with clearer. stronger and more convincing
reasons tor disapproval. Mr.. Johnson shows
that it is unnecessary for the protection of
the freedmen that the iodicisl powers it pro.
poses TO bestow upon the officers of the bu-
reau are of q character which no civilized
government would grant to suoh agents; that
the trials provided for by it are TO take place
without the intervention of jury and with
out any fixed rules of law or evidence that
from these arbitrary tribunals there lies no
appeal to any of the courts In which the con
sttution vests exclusively the .iudicisl of the
country; that the extent Of patronage and
power it pisces in the hands of the president
are such "a in tinle OF peace ought never to
De intrusted to any one man; that it will re-
ouire for it's enforcement an increase In our
expenditures OF from ten 60 twelve millions of
dollars that it will encourage the blacks in
idleness that it proposes so confer on them
privileges and benefits which have never
been granted to any Class OF our citizens, not
even to the orphans of those who have fallen
in the defence of tbs Union and that to all
these objections, either of which should be fa-
tai to it, and which, combined render it lit
orally bill of denominations, there is to be
added yet one other stamping it as one of the
most infamous devices of legislation ever con-
cocted by deliberative body. This obiec-
ton is thus stated by the president:
"The constitution ImperatIvely declares I'm con-
nection with taxation, that each state shall have
at least representative, and fixes the rules for
the number to which in future times each state
shall be entitled. 1t aise provides that the
of the United States shall be composed of two sen
ators from each state and adds with peculiar force
that mo state, without Its consent, shall be de-
prVed OF it's equal suffrage in the senate.n The
original act necessarily passed in the absence
of the states chiefly to be affected, because their
people we're then contumaciousy engaged in the
rebellion. Now the case is changed, and some, at
least, of the states sending to congress loyal
representatives. soliciting the allowance of the
constitutional right Ut representation. AT the
time, however, of the consideration and passage
of the bill, there was senator representative
ID congress from the eleven states which to be
mainly affected by its provisions. The very fact
that reports were and are made against the good
disposition OF the country is an additional reason
why they need and should have representatives of
their own IN congress, to explain their condition,
knowledge, IN the pertecting of measures lmmedl-
ately affecting Themselves
The president may very we'll be willing to
60 before the country on the issues presented
to him by congress in the bill. Aside from
all questions of policy or expediency or alb
stract right involved in these issues, there is
one standing prominently out upon which the
judgement of the people cannot too soon be
taken, and that one is, whether congress may
at it's pleasure place it's heel upon the consti-
tuition from whence its authority is derived.
President johnson does not believe that ''un-
acts may become lawful" I'M
der any circumstances. Had there been no
other objection to the bill. he would have We
toed 1t for this reason, but when, in addition
to this, the measures 1t purposes are palpably
im polite. misohievous and unjust, who can
doubt that his action will be sustained by the
people?
Now. what are congress and the radical
press going to do about it? What can they
do but answer the presidents arguments BY
inveotive? He has laid bare their work and
it to the house in which it origina-
ted. All its DISCUSSES are torn away. His
are his own complete justification
and the complete condemnation OF the BILL
They cannot be answered by dsnouncing him |
40 traitor to his party and country and to |