Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-04-05
I WHOLE NO. 49I.

one or more suitable persons from time to time 10
execute warrants and other processes provided for
by the bill. These erous officials and agents
are made to constitute "a sort of police in addition
TO the military, and are authorized summon a
posse cOmtaias. and even TO call TO their aid such
portion OF the land and naval forces Of the United
States of the militia may be necessary to the
performance of the duty with which they are
charged. This extraordinary power is 20 be con
ferred upon agents irresponsible to the govern
ment or To the people, to whose number the discre
ton OF the commissioners is the only limit. and in
whose hands such authority might be m lds ter
rbe engine of wrong, oppression, and fran IL
Tho general statutes regulating the land and
val forces OF the United States. tho militia, and
the execution OF the laws, are believed 20 be ade-
quate for any emergency which can occur in time
OF peace. Ii il should prove otherwise, Congress
can at any time amend those laws in such manner
as while subserving the public welfare, not jeop-
ariZe the rights, Interests, and liberties Of the peO-
pie.
The seventh section provides tn It fee Of sI1
shall be paid TO each commissioner in everv case
brought before him. aud a fee of x5 to his. deputy
or deputies, for each person ne they may arrest
and take before auy such Commissioner, with
such other fees as may be deemed reasonable by
such Commissioner in General, for performing
such other duties as may be required in the premi
ses All these fees TO be all out Of the Treas
ury OF the United States, whether there is a con-
vlction or no.; but in of conviction they
TO be recoverable from the defendant. IL seems
TO me that under the influence of such temptations
btd men might convert any law, however beneh-
csl, into an instrument of persecution and fraud.
BY the eighth section of the bill the United
States Courts which sit onlv in place for white
citizens. must migrate with the NJ ,rshil and Dis
trict Attorney, and necessarily with the clerk. al
though he is not mentioned, to any part of tho
district up,n the order Of the President, ani they
shall hold court for the purpose OF the Dre speedy
arrest and trial Of persons ch Urged with a violation
ot this act; and there the Judge and officers OF the
Cour: must remain upon the orler Of the President
for the time therein designated
The ninth section authorizes the President, or
such person as he my empower for the purpose,
10 employ such part OF the lind naval forces
of the United States, OF the militia, AL be
necessary to prevent the violation and enforce the
due execution of this act. This language seems
tn imply perm rnent IN itsry force, that is to be
always at hand, and whose only business is to be
the enforcement, Of this measure over the vast
region where il is intended TO operate.
| do not propose TO consider the policy OF this
bill. To me the details of the bill are fraught
with evil. The white race AMI black race of the
South have hitherto lived together under the rela
ton Of master and slave. capitxl owning labor. Now
that relation i, changed ami to ownership. cap
ital and labor are divorced. They stand now each
m as.er for himself. In this relation, one being
necessary To the other, there will be new ad-
justment. which both are deeply interested in ma
king harmonious. Each has equal power in Set
Ting the terms. and if left TO the laws that regu-
ate capital and labor, il is confidently believed
they will satisfactorily work out the problem.
Capital, il is true, has m1., Intelligence, but labor
is never 80 ignorant not to understand its owu
interests, not to know its own value. and not
see that capital must pay that value. This bill
illustrates this adjustment. Ii intervenes between
capital and labor, and attempts to setsle questions
of political economy through the agency OF numer-
Gus Officials whose interest il will DC to ferment
discord between the two races. for the breach
widens. their employment will continue, and when
it is closed their occupation will terminate. In
all our history, in all our experience as a people
living under Federal and State law, no such sys-
TEN as that contemplated by the details Of this bill
has ever before been proposed or adopted. They
estlbish for the security Of the colored safe
guards which so infinitely beyond any that ths
Geleral Government has ever provided for tha
white In fact, the distinction cfrace and
color is by the bill m,de To operate in favor Of the
colotej. and against the white race. They inter-
fere with the municipal legislation OF the States,
with the relations existing exclusively between a
State and It's citizens, or between inhabitants OF
the same State. absorption and assumption of
power by the General Governmen which if ac-
quicsced in must sap and destroy fedcratre
system Of limited powers, and break down the bar
riers which preserve the rights of the States It
is another step, rather stride toward centrHiz,-
ton and the CONCENTRATION OF all legislative pow
ers iu the national Government. The tendency
OF the bill must be TO rcsusctate the spirit Of
oellion, and TO arrest the progress OF those infu
ences Which more closely drawing around the
States the bonds of union ani peace.
My lsmented predecessor, in his proclamation
of the lst OF January, 1863, ordered and declared
that all persons held slaves within certain States
and parts OF States therein designated, were and
theme eforward should be free; and further that the
Executive Government of the United States, in
cluding the military and naval authorities thereof,
would recognize aud maintain the freedom Of such
persons. The guarantee has been rendered espc
cally obligatory and sacred 10y the amendment of
the Cons titution abOshing slavery throughout the
United States. l, therefore. fully recognize the
legation to protect and defend that class of
people whenever and wherever il shall become
necessary, and to the full extent compatible with
the Constitution of the United States. Entertain
ing these ssn.imens. it only remsins for me To
say that will cheerfully CO operate with Congress
I'm an that may be necessary for the prescr
vation of the civil rights Of freedmen, well as
those Of all classes of persons throughout the Uni
ted States by judicial process under equal and
impartial laws. conformably with the positions
of the Federal Constitution. now return the bill
to the Senate, and regret that in considering the
bill and joint resolutions, az in number, which
have been thus far submitted for nv approval, l
am compelled to withhold my assent from Sec
ond measure that has received the sanction Of
both Houses Of Congress.
(Signed) ASIerw JoHSsoS.
WAsHISGros, ID. c., March 81, 1896.