The weekly union record., 1866-02-24
The Presidents Veto Of the Freedmen
Bureau Bill.

The telegraph informs Is that President
johnson has vetoed the bill adopted By Coz
gress, providing for the enlargement of the
powers of the Freedmens Bureau. 1t is said
the veto message is very elaborate, covering
upwards of thirty pages of foolscap. He Is
opposed TO the bill 10 every shape and form,
and believes much OF it to be unconstitutional.
He says 20 such legislation fer the South ought
to be adopted while the Southern States are
not represented, and thinks there is too much
appointing power in the bill conhded TO the
President He enters into full discussion of
his reconstruction policy, and sans up as
follows:
Il cannot but add another very grave
objection. The Constitution imperativeiy de-
clares that each State shall be represented in
Congress. The original Freedmen's bill was
necessarily passed in the absence of the States
chiefly affected. because the people were con
tumaciously engaged in rebellion. Now the
case is changed. The States are seeking
admission into Congress By loyal representa-
tives, and soliciting their constitutional rights.
The very fact that reports were and are made
against the good disposition of the Southern
people is an additional reason why they should
have representatives of their own to explain
their condition and reply TO acc asations, and
assist by their local knowledge in the perfecting
of measures Immediately affecting themselves
l would not Interfere with the unquestionable
right of Congress to judge, each house for
itself, of the qualifications OF its own members
but that authority cannot be construed as
including the right to shut out, in time
of peace, any State from representation. At
present, all the people of eleven States are
excluded-those who were most faithful during
the war, not less than Others The State
of Tennessee, for instance, whose authorities
were engaged in rebellion, was restored TO her
constitutional relations by the wisdom and
energy OF her injured and betrayed people, and
l know 10 reason why Tennessee should not
fully enjoy all her constitutional relations to
the United States. The President stands
towards the country in a different attitude from
any member of Congress, chosen from single
district. The President is chosen BY the
people of all the States Eleven States are
not represented. 1t would seem 10 be his duty
to present their just claims to Congress. The
iDdefate or permanent exclusion of any part
OF the country from representation must be
attended by spirit of disgust aud complaint
1t is unwise and dangerous 10 pursue course
which will unite a large section of the country
against another section, no matter bow much
the latter may predominate. 1t is hardly
necessary for me to inform Congress that, in
my own judgment, most of these States, as far
as depends upon their cwn action, have already
been fully restored, and are entitled to enjoy
their constitutional rights Reasoning from
the Constitution itself, and from the actual
situa'lon of the country, | feel bound to assume
that, with the Federal Courts restored and in
full exercise of their functions, the rights and
interests of all classes WILL with the aid of the
militia. be essentially protected Should this
expectation unhappily fail, which l do not
anticipate, the Executive is already armed
with power to enforce the laws"
The bill subsequently failed TO pass the Sen,
ate over the veto by the requisite two.thi:ds.
the vote standing ayes so, noes is. The
Senators from the Pacific States were evenly
divided, Conness, of California, Nye, Of Nevada,
and Williams, of Oregon. voting in the affirm
ative and McDougall, OF California Nesmith,
Of Oregon, and Stewart, Of Nevada, in the
negative. The failure Of the bill to pass over
the veto was due to the following Uuion men
voting in the negative: Morgan, of New York,
Norton, of Minnesota, Stewart, of Nevada,
Dixon, of Connecticut, and Doolitle, of
Wisconsin. When the bill passed the Senate,
before being sent to the President, the vote
stood ayes 81, noes 10. The veto created O
stampede of weak knees TO the other side.