The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-07-27

the caprice or Judgment OF any officer
of the bureau, who, it is possible, may
be entirely ignorant of the principles
that underIie the just administration
of the law. There is danger too, that
conflict Of Jurisdiction will frequently
arise between the civil courts and tlresa
military tribunals, each having con
current Jurisdiction over the person
and cause Of action; the onejurisdiction
administered and controlled by civil
law, the other by military. How i
the conflict TO be settled, and who is to
determine between the two tribunals
when it arises? In my opinion it Is
wise to guard against such conflict, by
leaving to the courts and juries the pro-
lection Of all civil rights and the re-
dress ofaIl civil grievances. The fact
cannot be denied that since the actuai
cessation of hostilities many acts ol
violence, such perhaps as had never
been witnessed il their previous histo-
ry, have occurred in the States in
volved in the recent rebellion. / be-
lieve, however, that public sentiment
will sustain me in the assertion that
such deeds of wrong are not confined
to any particular State or section, but
are manifested over the entire country,
demonstrating that the cause that pro
duced them does not depend upon any
particular locality, and is the result ol
the agitation and arrangement Incl
dent to a long and bloody war. While
the prevalence of such disorder must
be greatly deplored, their occasional
and temporary recurrence would seem
to furnish no necessity for the eXten
sion ofthe bureau beyond the period
fixed in the original act. Beside the
objections / have thus briefly stated,
may urge upon your consideration the
additional reason that recent develop
ments in regard to the practical opera
tions of the bureau in many Of The
States show that in numerous Instances
it is used by its agents as a measure oi
promoting their individual adyan-
tage, and that the freedmen are en-
ployed for the advancement of the per-
sonaI ends of the officers instead oil
their own improvement and welfare;
thus confirming the fears originally en-
tertained by many, that the continual
ton of such bureau for any unneces-
sary length Of time would inevitably
result in fraud, corruption and oppres-
sion. 1t is proper to state that, in eases
Of this character, Investigations have
been promptly ordered and the of
fender punished, whenever his guilt
has been satisfactorily established
As another reason against thenecessity
Of the legislation contemplated by this
measure, reference may be had to the
Civil Rights bill, now aIaw ofthe land,
and which will be faithfully executed
so long as it shall remain unTepealed
and not be declared unconstitutional by
courts OF competent jurisdiction. By
that act it j. enacted "that all persons
born in the United States and not sub
.iect to any foreign power, excluding
Indians not taxed, are hereby declared
10 be citizens of the United States: and
such citizeus. of every race and color.
without regard to any previous coadi-
tionofsIsyervn Involuntary seryitude.
evce,,r asa pnnishment forcriue where
of the party shall have been duly con-
victed. shall have the same right inev-
nv State and Territory in the United
States In mako and enforce contracts.
to sra he nartiaS and Give evidence 70
inherit. pnrchasp. lease. sell. hold. and
convev real and nnr,ona! pr0pertv. and
and In fpII and puuaI hane6tof all laws
ard nroraadiDns far tbp securitv Of rer-
son and Drouertv.as senioved 6y white
citizrns and shall he suhie,t 10 like
n,,ni-binnnts Mains and nenaltips, and
70 none other anv law. statute. ordi-
no,rp ranrlation orcustom II the con-
trarv noIwithstanding." Bv the pro-
visings of the act. fun protection is af-
fordad +brorrh fhe District Courts of
tae Emitted Stafes to all npr.ons infu-
red and whose privileges, as thus de-
,.Iored are in any way Unmarried: and
,ar,. baavv nanaltir. are denounced a.
a.,