Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-03-02
Congressional.
TIE VETO.

OF the bill, which was merely an amendmen
OF the original act, and does little more tha
give sanction Of law to what already is bein
done without statute or provision. He deno,
that the bill intended TO make the Buresl
permanent Il is not intended that the bill
shall 20 into States and control the domest
affairs Of the States. 1t is simply bill de
signed to provide, not for four million o
emancipated slaves or refugees but only fol
the lndigent, for those who are unable to TAX,
care OF themselves, SO that they could becomi
seltsupporting. The President says the bill
proposes to establish by act of Congress mill
iary jurisdiction over all parts Of the United
States containing refugees and freedmen.
desire to speak respectfully Of the Executive
but would like to know where in that bill
Is any provision that ex ends military juris
diction over all parts Of the United Statet
containing refugees and freedmen. The bill
contains no such clause. II is misappre.
hension Of the bill. What does it say the
clause of the bill upon that subject is this -
The President Of the United States, through
the War Department and the Commission,
shall extend military jurisdiction and protec-
ton over all employees and officers OF the
Bureau in exercise Of the duties imposed OF
authorized by this act to which this is amend
atory." Is not the difference manifest to
every body between bill that extends militia
ryJurisdiction over the officers aud employees
OF the Bureau aud bill which should extend
military Jurisdiction over all parts of the Uni
ted States containing refugees and freedmen
Why this bill makes the freedmen's Bureau a
part of the War Department. 1t makes its
officers and agents amenabe to the rules and
articles Of war. Does that extend military
jurisdiction over the whole oountryi How
do they differ from any other portion of the
army Of the United Statesi The army of the
United States is governed by rules and art-
eles wherever 1t may be, whether in Indiana
or Florida, and all operations in it are por-
ton OF the military establishment, and are
subject to the rules and articles Of war. But
did any body ever suppose that the whole
cnntry where they were was under military
Jurisdiction' II a company of soldiers are
stationed at one Of the forts in New York
harbor, and the officers and soldiers are sub
ject to military jurisdiction, was it ever sup
posed that the people Of New York were
therefore under military jurisdiction? it is
an entire misapprehension OF the provisions
Of the bill. 1t extends military jurisdiction
NJ where. 1t merely places under military
Jurisdiction those persons belonging to the
Freedmen's Bureau, who are nearly all of
them now under military jurisdiction. The
Commissioner at the head of that Bureau is
an officer Of the army and under military iu-
risdictlon. and | believe every Assistant Com
missioner is an officer of the army and under
military jurisdiction; but the bill does au-
thorize the President. II be thinks proper, in
stead OF detailing military officers, to appoint
civilians, and IL case be does appoint civilians
they are to be subject to military protection
In the performance Of the duties imposed by
the act. The next objection Of the President
which Mr. Trumbull noticed, was that the
counties are to be divided into districts and
suo-distric,s, and the number of sAlaried
agents to be employed must be equal to the
number of counties and parishes in all the
states where refugees and freedmen are to be
found. He denied that it was necessary to
appoint any such number, notwithstanding il
was provided in the bill that they might be
appointed. To appoint such number he
said would be an abuse of the power entrust-
ed in the President
Mr.. Trumbull continued. in reply to the
objection that this bill establishes military
jurisdiction IN civil cases. and denying that
1t created any military jurisdiction whatever
not now existing. The officers of the Blu.
reau were officers Of the army of the United
States, who are now holding military com
missions by authority Of the President ell over
the South. But a short time since in Geor-
gia two citizens we're arraigued for crime, not
before civil Court, by process of civil law.
but before military commission, and he
thanked God these culprits, being found guilty,
would be sentenced to death and hung in
the city of the President himself Was it
then unconstitutional to do by virtue of the
law OF Congress what is being done every day
without one He referred to the order is
sued by authority Of Gen. Grant, Jan. IL,
1866, to protect persons against civil suits
Tor tctions done in pursuance OF military au-
thority. Colored persons for offences are
punished as in the cases Of white persons, in
the same manner or degree. He alluded also
to an order issued by the Lieutenant General,
directing copies Of newspapers in rebellous
States, containing expressions of disloyalty,
to be sent to his headg quarters, and declaring
that persistant publication of such articles
could not be tolerated. BY what authority,
be would ask, in the time of peace, could we
confer this authority on one branch OF the
army and deny it to anothers II the rebell-
ION IS at an end, by what authority does the
President suspend the writ Of habea, corpus
II the President could not reconcile those un-
usual acts to the words of the Constitution,
why did he exercise it Would it detract
from its authority to give the sanction OF laws
lie reviewed the objection that the act would
establish permanent rank of administration,
having greatly pnlarUoH Ia HopfaI