The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-02-28
THE PRESIDENTS VETO MESSAGE.

TO ihe Senate efhs United STATES; 4 -
have examined with care the bill which
originated in the Senate, and has been pass
ed BY the two Houses of Congress, TO- 4
mend an act entitled /" An act 10 establish
bureau for the relief ri freedmen and ref.
sgees,p and for other perposes. Having.
with much regret. come 10 thslconclusion
ihst il would not be consistent with the
public welfare 10 give my approval TO .he
measure, / return the bill 10 the Senate
with my objections TO lis becoming law.
! might call to mind. in advance Of these
objections, that there is no Immediate ne
cessity for the proposed measure. The act
to establish bureau for the relief Of freed
men aud refugees. which was approved in
the month Of March last. has not yet sxpir.
ed. X vas thought stringent and exten.
sive enSugh for the purpose in view. in
time Of war. Before IL ceases 10 have ef.
iect, further experience may assist to guide
us 20 wise conclusion ss 70 the pulicy TO
be adopted in time Of peace.
share with Congress the strongest de.
sire 20 secure 10 the freedmen the fall en-.
joymrnt Of their frredo,n and their proper
". and their entire independence and E.
quality in making contracts Tor their "a.
Dor but the bill before ine contains provi.
slons which. in my ep,ni-n. are not war
rantsd by the Constitution. and are not
we'll saitsd To accomplish the end in view.
The bill proposes 10 establish. BY author.
i,y Of Congress. military jurislictisn over
all parts Of the United States containing
isfugees and freedmen. IL would, BY is
very ratars, apply with most force 10 those
parts vf the United States 10 which the
freedmen mos. abound and u expressly
extends the existing Temporary jurisdie-
tion Of the Fresdnen's Bureau. with great.
~ enlarged powers. over THOSE States sin
which the ordinary course Of judicial pro.
esediags has been interrupts BY the re-
oellion." The source from which this mil
itary jurisdiction Is 10 emsnate 10 none 9th.
er han the President ei the United States,
acting through the War Department and
the Commissioner Of the Freedmen's Bu.
rsau. The agents 70 carry out this militia.
ry Jurisdiction are 10 be selected either
tom the army or from civil life; the coan-
try is to be divided into districts aud sub.
districts, aud the number sf salaried agents
10 be employed may be equal 10 the nun
Der Of counties or parishes IN ali the Uni.
ted States where ireedmen snd refugees
are to be found.
The subjscts over which this military 10.
risdiction IS TO extend. in every part Of the
United States, include protection 70 "all
employees. agents. and officers Of the b..
reau In the exercise ef the duties imposed"
upos them BY the bill. In eleven States
u Is further to extend ever all cases Affect
ing irsedmen and refugees Disseminated
against by local law, custsm. or prsju-
dice" In those eleven Statas the bill sub.
jse,s any white person who may be charg.
Ell with depriving freedman oi "any civ.
u rights or immpnitiss belsnging To white
persons' 10 Imprisonment or fine. or both.
~ithsui, however, defining the |. civil rights
and immunIties" which are thus To be &C..
cured 10 the freedman by military Law.
This military Jurisdiction also extends 10
all questiens that may arise respecting con-
tracts. The agent. whs is thus 10 exercise
the Office of military Judge. may be .
stranger. entirely ignorant ol the laws Of
the place. and exposed to the errors Of
judgment 10 which all men are liable. The
exercise af power. over which there is 40
legal supervision. by 50 vast number sl
agents ~ j. contemplated BY the bill must,
by the very nature vf man, be attended BY
acts Of csprice, injustice. aud pass,sn.
The trials having their origin under this
bill are TO take place without the lnterven.
tion ola jury. and without any fixed rales
OF Law or evidence. The rules on which
oneaces are to be "heard and determined"
BY the numerous agents are such rules and
regulations |. the President, through the
War Department. shall prescribe. No pre-.
vious presentment 10 required, nor any IN
dictment charging the commission Of q
crime against the laws; but the trial must