Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-18
FREEDMEN'S BUREAU BILL
The Presidents veto.

The following is the veto message of the
President, communicated Monday to the
House of Representatives:
A careful examination of the bin passed
by the two Houses of Congress, entitled Gan
act to continue in force and to amend an act
to establish bureau for the relief of freed
men and refugees and other purposes" has
convinced me that the legislation which it
proposed would not be consistent with the
welfare of the country, and that it falls
within the reasons assigned in my message
of the 10Th Of February last returning,
without my signature, a similar measure
which originated in the Senate. 1t is not
my purpose to repeat the objections which i
then urged. They are yet fresh inyOur recol-
lection, and can be readily examined as a
part Of the records Of one branch of the Ma
tional Legislature. Adhering to the princi-
pies set forth in that message, l now
reafiirm them and the line Of policy
therein indicated. The only ground
upon which this kind of legislation can be
justified is that of the war-making power.
The act Of which the bill is intended as
ainendatory, was passed duringthe existence
OF the war BY its own provisions, it is to
terminate within one year from the cessation
OF hostilities and the declaration of peace.
II is therefore yet in existence. II is likely
it will continue in force as long as the freed
men may require the benetitof its provisions.
Il will certainly remain in operation as law
until scme months subsequent to the meeting
of the next session of Congress, when, if eX-
perience shall make evident the necessity of
additional legislation, the two Houses viii
have ample time 10 mature and pass the re-
auisite measure. In the meantime the
questions arise, why should .he war measure
be continued beyond the period designated
in the original act and why, In time of
peace, should military tribunals be created
to continue until each State shall be fully
restored in It's constitutional relations TO the
Government, and shall be duly represented
in the Congress Of the United States II
was manifest with respect to the act APP
proved March 3, 1865, that precedence and
wisdom alike required that jurisdiction over
all cases concerning the free enjoyment Of
the rights Of citizenship, as we'll as the pro-
lection Of person and property, should be
conferred upon some tribunal in every State
or District where the ordinary course Of ju-
dicial proceedings is no longer interrupted;
the courts, both State and Federal, are in
full, complete and successful operation, and
through them every person, regardless Of
race and color are entitled to and can be
heard.
Protection granted to the white citizens is
already conferred by the laws upon the
freedmen. Strong and stringent guards By
way ofpenalty sud punishment are thrown
around bis persGh and property, and it is
believed that SIMPLE protection viii be at
forded him by due process Of law, without
resort to thedangerous expedient Of military
tribunals, nov that the war has been brought
10 a close, and the necessity no longer ex-
isting Cor such tribunals, which had their
origin in the var. tA
Grave objections 20 their continuance
mus present themselves % the mind Of all
rejecting ADD dispassionate men indepen-
denfly Of the danger in representative re-
puhlics q oonferring upon The military in
tiInecf peacp extraordinary powers, 20 care
fully guarded against By the patriots and
Statesmen of the esrly, days Of the Republic,
60 frequently tie ruin Of governments
formed upon Che same lnll principles, and