The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-05-05
Grms Of Adrertisina.

owning labor. Now suddenly that re-
lation is changed and as to ownership,
capital and labor are divorced. They
stand now each master of itself-in this
relation one beingnecessary to the other.
There will be anew adjustment, which
both are deeply interested in making
harmonious. Each has equal power in
settling the forms, and if left to the laws
that regulate capital and labor, it is con-
fldently believed that they will satisfac-
torily work out the problem. Capital,
it is true, has more intelligence; but
labor is never so ignorant as not to un-
derstand its own interests, not to know
its own value, and not to see that capi-
tai must pay that value. This bill frus-
trates this adjustment, it intervenes be-
tween capital and labor, and attempts
to settle questions of political economy
through theagency ofnumerous officials,
whose interest it will be to ferment dis
cord between the two races. So far as
the breach widens, their employment
will continues 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 system has ever before been
proposed or adopted to establish for the
security of the colored race safeguards
which go infinitely beyond any that the
General Government has ever provided
for the white race. In fact, the distinc-
ton of race and color is by the bill made
to operate in favor of the colored and
against the white race.
They interfere with the municipal leg
islation of the States, with the relations
existing exclusively between State and
its citizens, or between inhabitants of the
same State--an absorption, n,anassumption
of power by the General Government
which, if acquiesced in, must sap or de-
stroy our fcderative system of limited
powers, and break down the barriers
which preserve the rights of the States.
1t is another step or rather stride toward
centralization, and the concentration of
all legislative powers in the National
Government. The tendency of the bill
must be to resuscitate the spirit of rebel
! lion, and to arrest the progress of thosein-
| fluences which are more closely drawing
aroundthe States the bonds of Union and
peace.
My lamented predecessor, in his proc
lamation of the lst of January, 1868, or
dered and declared that all persons held
as slaves within certain States, and parts
Of States therein designated, were and
thenceforward should be free; and fur
ther, that the Executive Government of
the United States, including the militia
ry and naval authorities thereof, would
recognize and maintain the freedom of
such persons. This guarantee has been
rendered especially obligatory and sa-
cred by the amendment Of the Constitu-
ton abolishing slavery throughout the
United States. l therefore fully recOg
nize the obligation toprotect and defend
that class Of our people whenever and
wherever it shall become necessary, and
to the full extent compatible with the
Constitution of the United States.
Entertaining these sentiments, it only
remains for me to say that l will cheer
fully cooperate with Congress in any
measure that may be necessary for the
promotion of The civil rights of the freed
men, as well as those of all other classes
Of persons throughout the United StateS,
by judicial process, under equal and i'm
partial laws, in conformity with the pro-
visions of the Federal Constitution.
now return the bill to the Senate, and
regret that in considering the bills and
Joint resolutions, forty-two in number,
which have been thus far submitted for
my approval, | am compelled to with
hold my assent from second measure
that has received the sanction of both
Houses Of Congress.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, d. c., March q, 1896.