Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-04-07

to employ such part of the land or -,
forces OF the United States, or of ia
militia. as shall sbs Necessary to nro
vent the violation ana enforce tba
due execution of this act The Ian,
guage seems to imply apermanent mill
tafy force that is to be always at hand
and whose only business is to be tba
enforcement of this measure over the
vast region where it is intended to one
rate. do not propose to consider the
policy of this bill. To me the details
ofthe bill are fraught with evil. The
white race and black race of the South
have hitherto lived together under the
relation of master and slave. That re.
lation is now changed, and they now
stand each master of itself-In this
new relation, one being necessary to
the other, there will iibe "A new adjust
ment which both are interested In max
ing harmonious. Each has equal pow
er in settling the terms, and if left to
the laws that regulate capital and labor
tits confidently believed that they will
Satisfactorily work out the problem.
Capital, il is true,S has more intelli-
| gence, but labor is never SO ignorant as
MOTTO understand its own interests, not
to know 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. 1t intervenes
between capital and labor and attempts
to settle the question of political econ
o1ny through the agency of numerous
| officials, whose interest it will be TO fer
ment discord between. the two races,
for as the breach widens their employ
ment will continue, and when ut is
closed their occupation will terminate.
In all our history,Sin all our experience
| as people living under federal and
State law no such symptom as that con-.
| templated by the details of this bill has
ever before been proposed or adopted.
| They establish for the security OF the
colored race safeguards which go infn-
itely beyond any that the general
lgg0vernmenT has ever provided for the
white race. In fact, the distinction of
race and color is by the bill made to
operate in favor of the colored and
againse the white race. STheylnterfere
/ with the municipal Legislation of the
states, with relations existing exclusive
i ly between a state and its citizens. be
tween observation-disclosures OF the same state
and absorption and ssumptiono Of power
by the general government, which If
acquiesed in, must sap ana destroy our
| fedel alive system of limited powers, and
break down the. barriers which preserve
the rights of the states. , 1t is another
step, or rather stride, towards centraliza
ton and the cpncen tratiOn of all legls-
lative powers III the national govern
ment. The tendency OF the bill must
be to resnscitate the spirit of the rebel
| lion, and to arrest the progress of those
influences which are more closely draw
ling around the states-the bonds Iof
union and peace. My lamented pre-
decessor, in his proclamation OF the first
OF January, 1863, ordered and
declared that all persons held as slaves,
within certain states and parts of
| states therein designated, were and
thenceforward should be, free; and
further, sthat the executive govern
the military and naval AUTHORITIES
thereof, wonld recognize and maintain
the freedom of such persons. This
guaranty has been rendered especially
obligatory and sacred by the amend
ment of the constitution abolishlng sla-
very throughout the United States. l
therefore fully recognize the obliga-
ton to protect and defend that class of
our people, wherever and whenever it
may become necessary, andeto the full
extent compatible with the constitution
of the United States. Entertaining
these sentiments it only remains for me
| 10 say that 1 will cheerfully cooperate
in any measure that MAJ be necessary
| for the preservation of the civil rights
of freedom, as we'll as those OF all other
classes of persons throughout the UNI
ted States by judicial process under
equal and impartial laws, OF conforma-
| by with the positi, of the Federal
Constitution.
L now return the bill to the Senate,
and regret that, considering the bill and
joint resolutions, forty-two In. number,
which have been thus far submitted for
my approval, / am compelled to with
hold my assent from a second measure
that has received the sanction of both
houses of Congress.
(Signed) + ANpEEw JOHNSON.