Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-02-27
Mr.. TRUMBULL,s REVIEW OF THE
VETO.


On Tuesday last in the United States SEN
ate, the President stated that the business in
order was the Freedmen's Bureau bill, re.
turned by the President with his objections,
when Mi Trumbull, of Illinois, took the floor
and spoke as follows:-
Mr.. PREsIDENT:-It is with deep and pro-
found regret that l rise for the purpose of
reviewing somewhat the extraordinary mes
sage OF the President, returning, with his
objections, the bill to amend an act entitled
an act to establish bureau for the relief of
freedmen and refugees, and for other purpo-
ses. 1t has been my desire that the various
Departments OF the Government should har-
monize i'll the restoration of the States to
their full constitutional relations to the
Union. l have sought and had no other
purpose in the part which | have taken in
reference to this bill than to carry out such
measures as would protec. the loyal refugees
and freedmen in the rebelliOus States, and
would, as l supposed, harmonIze with the
views of the Executive. He declared to us
in his message delivered to us at the conf
mencement of the session, that we had but
to fulfill our duties as legislators by accord
ing equal and exact justice to all men, spe-
cial privileges to none The only object or
design of this bill was to secure these rights
to all men, and am greatly surprised that a
bill designed for such purpose should have
been returned by the Executive with state
ment that it is unconstitutional, inconsistent
with the actual condition of the country, and
at variance with the Constitution of the
United States. Having taken somewhat an
active part in the passage of this bill, feel
called upon to vindicato myself from having
urged upon the consideration of the Senate
a bill so unconstitutional and so at variance
with the actual condition of the country as
this is now declared to be. What is this2 1t
is an amendment to the Freedmen's Bureau
bill. It is not an original measure, nor n
measure establishinga Bureau, but is merely
amendatory of an act already in existence.
Nor does it, as seems TO be supposed by some,
materially enlarge the powers of the Freed
mems Bureau, as il already exists. It is an
entire misapprehension to suppose that such
is the object of the bill, or that such would
be its effects. II does little more than give
the sanction of law to what is already being
done without any statute or provision. The
Freedmen's Bureau, as l have said, already
exists. Courts are held by the Freedmen's
Bureau throughout the entire country, where
that Bureau has any operation under the
military authority of the United States.
Laws inconsistent, as is believed, with the
safety of the Government, or incompatible
with military operation, are set aside at this
time in all these States The object of the
bill was TO continue in existence the Freed
mems Bureau; not permanently, not as n
permanent institution-all such intent was
disavowed during the discussion of the bill.
1t is true no time is specified in the bill as to
when il shall cease to operate, nor is ii Gus
tomary to insert such clause in any law;
but it was declared that the law should ope-
rate until otherwise provided by law. 1t is
known that the Congress OF the United
States assembled every year, and no one
supposes this proposed bill to establish a
Bureau to be engrafted as permanent insti-
tuition of the country-far from it. No, sir.
1t is not intended that the bill shall go into
the States and control the domestic affairs OF
these States. Far from ii. 1t is simply a
bill designed to provide, not for a, ,000, 900 OF
emancipated slaves or refugees, but only for
the INDECENT, for those who are unable to
take care of themselves, so that they could
become selt-supporting. In consequence OF
the war thousands of Union men were driven
from their homes all over the South. This
was particularly the case in Tennessee, where
they had been stripped of their property,
and women and children had fed destitute
from their homes. They had neither food
nor clothing, They flockcd around our ar
mics during the whole progress of the war,
and were fed by our supplies. So also with
the freedmen. Congress at an early day
passed law declaring free all slaves who
come within the lines of our armies. They
came flying within our lines, without cloth
ing, without hats, wounded, toot-sore and
distressed. Many of them entered our ranks
to fight for the cause OF the country; and
others we had clothed and fed. While the
war was in progress, while these people
were ilocking around our armies, ON the Sd
of March, 1865, not one year ago, the Con
gress of the United States passed law to
systematic the clothing and feeding of these
destitute negroes, and place them under the