Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-02-23
Illinois, February 18th, 1866.
Accompanying his Veto OF tne precd
mans Bureau Bill.

, To The Senate Qfhe tHaed ,Nates'
have examined with care the bill
which has been passed by the two
houses OF Congress to establish q bureau
! for the relief Of freedmen and refugees,
and for other purposes. Having " .th
much regret come to the conclusion that
! IT would not hc consistent with the pub
lie welfare to give my approval to the
measure, | return the bill to the senate
with my objections TO It's becoming II
/ law.
| might call to mind, in advance of
these -bJections, that there is no imme-
dtaie necessity tor the proposed meas
urC. The act to establish q bureau ior
the relief OF freedmen and rcfugCcs
which was approved in the ntoatn OF
March last, has not yet expired. Ii was
Thought stringent ana extensive enough
tor tlle purpose lii view. Before that
ceases to have elect, further experience
may assist ia guiding us ia a wise con-
ctuSiot as to the policy to he adopted IN
time OF peace. have, with CongTe-S.
the strongest desire 90 seCHre to freed
nen the free enjoyment o. thcit freedom
ana property, and their entire independ-
ence ANA equality in making contracts
for their labor. But the bIli before me
contains provisions which in my opin-
ion are not warranted by the constItu-
ton, and are not well suited to accom-
piiSh the end in view.
The bill proposes to establish, by the
authority OF Congress, military Juris-
dictiDn over all parts OF the lnlted
states. 1t would by its very nature APP
ply with most force to those parts Oi the
United States in which the freedmen
most abound and it expressly extern Is
the existing Temporary jurisdiction OF
tie freedmen Duleau, with greatly ell
!arEed powers, over those states in
which the OriInar. course si judiciary
proceedings has neen ilterru pied by the
rebellion. The source iTuA which tAC
military Jurisdiction is to eumLte Is
none Other than the President OF the
Jnited states, acting through the Var
Department and the Commissioner o
t.!e Freedmen Bureau. The agent. t.
carry out this military igris ,iictlon are
To be selected either from the army or
from civil Ii e. The country is 10 ne Ill
NiIe-i into district, AMI suD-dtstrictS,
and the manner oi Sstia..cI agents 10 oe
employed may he equal u tne n amber
OF counties or parishes in Il i the United
states where .fce linen ani reiu~ ecs are
10 be ,ouul.
I4ie 80. je. , uveY whDh Ills military
jlTlsuI cliun ~ IL eAtg4iI al eve. v ..,l.j.,l
the United > sstes, tHc.I,|e pr. v,t.uu 10
ali employees, 4,.viI,, anu UaI,,.- Di ,l.s
bureau, AZ tine exercise O. tnc d4..u,
.tuPvs,&i appa tueH ~ Lie j. II. IA
cIvTGii state. IL is isa.sRn. a. eACeuI
tNei al. G.. e saiIcCttuL .4Ee III y and
.e u-seeS, att4 ttIscI.iii s"ic.. 3D.. .H.t.t ~
law, custom or psrJ Juice. 81 lac G
states the DIti sub e"Gs al, HA L. per
sou, who may he charged wI.iI aep..v-
li 81
immunities belonging to white persons,
to imprisonment or fine, or botn, with
out, however, defining the eva rights
and immunitics which are thus To bc
secured to the freedmen 10y military law.
The military jurisdiction also extends
to all questions that may arise respect
ing contracts. The agent who Is thus
to exercise the Office OF Ii military Judge
may be 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 supervision by
so vast number OF agents Us coutem-
plated by the bill, must, by the very
nature of man, be attended by acts OF
caprice, injustice and passion.
The trials having their origin under
this bill are to take place without in
tcl Nttitlbii vi anu ilIiplt ANY
fixed rules OF law or evidence. The
rules on which oiiepses are to be heart
and determined by the numerous agents
are such rules and regulations Il, the
President through the War Department
may prescribe. No previous present.
ment is required, nor any indictment
changing the comm ,ssion of crime
agalnstthe laws. The punishment will
be not what the law declares, bat such
rs Il cOurt-nartiai may think proper.
= nn from these arbitrary tribunals there
lies no appeuI--no writ of error TO any
of the courts in winch the constitution
Of the United States vests exclusively
the judicial power of the country.
While the territory, and the class of
actors and Otlcnses subject 10 this meas
ure are so extensive, the bill itsel.,
should il become "a law, wall have no
limitation in point OF time, tut will
form part OF the permanent legisIa-
ton of the country. ! cannot reconcile
a syateIi of military Iurisdt ctIon Di this
kind with the words Of the constitution.
which declare that no person shall be
held to- answer for Il capital or other
wise infamous crime except on pre-
sentiment or indictment OF Il grand Jury.
except in case. arising in the land and
naval forces, or in the military when
i'm actual service in time OF war or pub
, lie danger, aud that in all criminal