The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-02-23
Johnson vetoes the FrecdmeD's Bu-
reau Bill.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.

congress, TO amend an ACT entltlct
, "An act TO establish n bureau for thu
relief of freedmen and refugees, ant
for other purposes"
: Having with much regret come t
the conclusion that il would not b'
+ consistent with the public welfare tt
give my approval to the measure,
return the bill to the Senate with my
objections to its becoming a law.
might call to mind, in advance OF
these objections, that there is no i'm
mediate necessity for the proposed
measure The act to establish bu.
reau for the relief of freedmen and
refugees, which was approved in the
month of March last, has not yet ex-
Ipired. 1t was thought stringent and
extensive enough for the purpose in
view. Before it ceases to have effect,
further experience may assist to
guide us to wise conclusion MS to
the policy to be adopted in o time OF
peace.
| have, with Congress, the strong
cst desire to secure to the freedmen
the full enjoyment of their freedom
and their property, and their entire
independence aud equality, in ma
king contracts for their labor. But
the bill before me contains provis-
ions, which, IN my opinion, are not
warranted by the Constitution, and
are not well suited to accomplish the
end in view. The bill proposes TO
establish by authority of Congress, u
military jurisdiction over all parts OF
! the United States, containing refu-
gees and freedmen. 1t twould, by its
very nature, apply with most iorcc to
those parts OF the United States, in
which the freedmen most abound,
and it expressly extends the existing
temporary jurisdiction of the freed.
mems bureau, with greatly enlarged
| powers, over those States in which
the ordinary course of judicial pro.
ceedings have been interrupted by
the rebellion. The source from which
this military jurisdiction is to ema-
nate is none other than the President
of the United States, acting through
the War Department, and the Com
missioner of the f7eedmen's bureau.
The agents to carry out this military
Jurisdiction, are to be selected either
from the army, or from civil life
The country is to be divided into dis.
tricts and sub districts, and the mum.
her of salaried agents to be employ
ed may be equal to the number of
counties or parishes in all the United
States, where the freedmen and rcfu.
gees are to be found. The subjects
over which this military jurisdiction
is to extend in every part of the
United States, include protection to
all employees, agents, and officers of
this bureau in the exercise of the du.
ties imposed upon them by the bill
In eleven States, it is further to eX
tend over all cases affecting the freed
men and refugees, disseminated
against by the local law, custom or
prejudice. In those eleven States
the bill subjects any white person
who may be charged with depriving
II freedmen ofany civil rights or immu-
hities belonging to white persons, 70
Imprisonment or fine, or both, with
out, however, defining the civil rights
and immuhities which are thus to be
secured to the freedmen by military
law. This military jurisdiction also
extends to all questions that may
arise respecting contracts. The agent
who is thus to exercise the Office of u
military judge, may be q stranger,
entirely ignorant OF the laws OF the
place, and exposed to errors OF judg-
ment to which all men are liable -
The exercise of power over which
there is no legal supervision, by SC
vast number of agents, rs is con
templated by the bill, must, by tn,
very nature of man, he attended by
acts of caprice, injustice and passion
The trials, having their origin unde
this bill, are to take place withou
, the Intervention of jury, aud with
l., out any fixed rules of law or evi
l dcncc. The rules on which oncnse
are to bo heard and determined b,
the numerous agents, are such rule
and regulations rs the Presiden
through the War Department shal
prescribe, Noprevious presentmcn
|, is required, nor any indictment char
ging the commission of crim
against the laws, but the trial mus
proceed on charges and specifications
The punishment will not be as TIL,
law declares, but such MS cour
martial may think proper; and iron
these arbitrary tribunals there lie,
no appeal, no writ of error to any o
the courts in which the Constitution
of the United states vests exclusively
the judicial power of the country
while the territory and the class o
actions AMI Offenses that are made
subject TO this measure, are so eNtcn
sive. The bill itself, should it he
come a law, will have no Limitation
in point of time, but will form par
of the permanent legislation of the
country. | cannot reconcile a sys
TEN of military jurisdiction of thi,
kind, with the words of the Consti
tuition which declare that "no person
shall be held to answer for capita
or otherwise infamous crime, unles.
on presentmcnt or indictment of (
Grand jury, except in cases arising
IN the land or naval forces, or in tn,
militia, when in actual service, IN
time of war or public danger and
that lin all criminal prosecutions, the