Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-03-02

I'll It's consciousness. we Nn6NC @3Oh LCs
escaped from-the evils inflicted by -ths
war. Peace and harmony are not yet
restored, but the war of rebellion is over,
and this Bureau must expire in May
next, according to the terms of the act
that was passed on the Sd of March,
1865, and according to the views of the
President, as expressed in his veto mes
sage.
The President says that the act twas
thought stringent and extensive enough
fog THE purpose in view in kme of swar.
Why, siF, what was the condition OF the
country when that act passed in March,
1862 At that time the most of the
States where these freedmen are; we're,
under rebel control. The Freedmens
Bureau, at that time, could.only take
jurisdiction of such freedmen and refu-
gees as came withinSthe fines of the
Union army. It could exercise no juris-
diction throughout most of the Southern
States twas limited in itsoperations;
and / desire to ask, in all candor and
fairness, if as the war progressed and
the slaves of Texas. and Mississippi, and
Alabama and Florida, and Georgia and
Virginia, and North Carolina, were all
made free by the constitutional amend
ment, il was not proper that the Freed
mems Bureau should be so extended as
| to embrace the destitute and suffering in
those States, as well as the few who bad
come within our lines when the bill was
enacted in 1865. Was there then no
occasion to extend its operations2 And
because it was extensive enough for the
purpose in time of war, would it follow
that it was extensive enongh for the
purpose in time Of peace, when we have
jurisdiction of a country very much lar
ger than we had in the time of war;
CASE OF MIsAPPREHENsIoE.
But the President says: g
1.-THE bill proposes to establish, by
authority Of Congress, military iuris-
diction over all parts Of the United
States containing refugees and freed-
men," aga
Sir, j desire TO speak respectfully of
the Exeeutipe, but would like to know
where, in that bill, is any bill extending
military Jurisdiction over all parts Of
the United States containing refugees
and treatment The bill contains no
such clause. Its & misapprehension Of
the ill. The clause Of tie bill upon
that subject is this; +
=" And the President of the United
States, through the War Department
and the Commissioner, shall extend
military jurisdiction and protection over
all employees, agents, and officers Of this
| Bureau, in the exercise of the duties
imposed or authorized by this act or
the act to which this is additional"
Is not the difference manifest to every
body between bill that extends mill
tary jurisdiction over the officers and
employees of the Bureau, and bill
which should extend military jurisdic-
ton over all parts of the United States
containing refugees and freedmen2
WHAT THE BILL DOES.
The bill makes the Freedmen's Bureau
part of the War Department 1t
makes its officers and agents amenable
to the Rules and Articles of War. But
does that extend jurisdiction over the
whole country where they are? How do
they differ from any other portion of the
army of the United States7 The army
of the United States, as every one knows,
4 Is kONGIuCu Uy Tue lbufOb duQ AEtAClCd VI
War, wherever it may be, whether in
Indiana or Florida, and all persons in
the army and a part of the military es-
tablishDent are subject to these Rules
and Articles of War; but did any body
ever, suppose that the whole country
where they were was under military juris
diction2 If company of soldiers are
stationed at one of the forts in New
York harbor, the officers and soldiers of
that company are subject TO military
jurisdiction; but was 1t ever supposed
that the people of the State of New
York were thereby placed under militia
ry jusisdiction2 1t is an entire misap-
prehension of the provisions of the bill
1t extends military Jurisdiction nowhere,
it merely places under jurisdiction
the persons belonging to the Freed.
mems Bureau, who, nearly all of them,
are now under military jurisdiction.
The. Commissioner at the head of the
Bureau is an officer Of the army of the
| United States, and under military iuris-
diction. l believe that every Assistant
Commissioner is an officer of the United
States Army, and under military juris.
diction. But the bill does authorize the
President, if he thinks proper, instead of
detailing military off GERS, to appoint
civilians in some cases; and in case he
does appoint civilians, then by the pro-
visions have read, these civilians sub
ject themselves to military jurisdiction,
and are entitled to military protection
in the performance of the duties imposed
by this act AE
But passing over that objection, which
think have sufficiently answered, the
next which will notice is the state
ment of the President that I" the country
is to be divided into districts and sub
districts, and the number of salaried
agents to be employed may be equal to
all the counties and parishes in the
States where freedmen and refugees are
to be found" --,---a-s.s-=ss-a
Now, sir, what is the provisions of the
bill on this subject? For great deal
seems TO be made out of this objection
to the bill urged here in the Senate, pub
lished to the country, and now reiterated
IN the veto message of the President,
that the bill makes it necessary to APP
point large number of salaried officers
and agents throughout the country, and
~ - foe..N ~ ~ NcA ODl eCbouaoios On tuht
ground. have already stated that q
single officer need not be appointed
other than we now have. / have already
stated that it is in the power and discre-
ton of the President to detail from the
army officers to perform all the duties
. OF the Ereedmen's Bureau, and in case
they are detailed, the bill provides that
they shall serve without any additional
compensation or allowance. But, sir,
: is it. necessary, or was it ever con,
templated, that there should be an officer
or agent of the Freedmen's Bureau in
every parish where refugees and freed
men are to be found2 By no means,
What is the bill upon that subject2 The
second section provides that
"The Commissioner, with the APPROX.
al of the President, and when the same
shall be necessary for the operations Of
the Bureau, may divide each district
into q number Of sub districts, not IL
exceed the number of counties or parish