Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-26

sion for revealing the differences that / have ALREADY
described, that il has attained the importance which
seems TO surround il. Both the President and Con.
gress agree that, during the brief transition which
the country is making from civil war to eternal
peace. the freedmen and refugees ought not 10 be
abandoned by the nation to persecution and suffer.
ing. Ii was for this transition period tina. the Blu.
reau Of Freedmen was created by Congress, and was
kept, and is still kept, in effective operation. Both the
President and Congress, on the other hand, agree that
when that transition period shall have been fully
passed. and the harmonious relations between the
States and Union fully restored, that bureau would
be not only unnecessary, but unconstitutional de-
moraliZing and dangerous, and therefore that il
should cease TO exist. The President thinks that the
transition stage has nearly passed, and that the
original provision for the bureau is all that is neces-
sary to secure the end in view, while the bill SUBJ
mitted by Congress seems to him 10 give it indef.
mite extension in time of peace and restoration. He
vetoed il for that reason. He declines 10 accept, as
unnecessary aud uncalled for, the thousand or ten
thousand agents, the increased powers and the aug
mented treasure which Congress insists on placing
in his hands. Congress, on the other hand, thinks
that the Freedmens Bureau is not adequate, and
that more patronage, more money and more power,
would. like Thompson's door. plate, purchased at
auction by Mrs. Toodles, be a good thing To have
in a house. | agree with the President in the hope
that the extraordinary provision which the bill
makes will not be necessary, but that the whole
question may be s~implifed by a simple reference to
the existing law.
The law of March Q, 1865, which created the
Freedmen's Bureau, provides that it shall continue
in force during the war of the rebellion and one full
year thereafter. When does that year expire In
the Presidents Judgment, as ! understand the mat
ter, the war OF the rebellion has been coming and
is still coming TO an end, but is not yet fully closed.
IL is on this ground that he maintains an army,
continues the suspension Of the writ Of hapeas cor
pus, and exercises martial law, when these things
are found 10 be necessary in rebel States. The exls-
tpnce of the rebellion was LEGALLY aunnuncpI bV
Executive proclamation in 1861. The end Of the
rebellion ought TO be, and may be expected 10 be,
announced 10y competent declaration Of the Presi.
dent and OF Congress, or of both. For all practical
purposes the rebellion will, in law, come to an end
if the President or Congress, or one or both, official.
ly annOuuceo its termination. Now, suppose this
announcement TO be made by the President and by
Congress, or by either of them, tomorrow. In that
case. the Freedmen'sB Bureau is continued by virtue
of the limitation prescribed in the act Of March 3,
1865, one year after such proclamation shall have
been made. Thus the Freedmen's Bureau would
continue. by the original limitation, until the 22d
day of February, 1874 very proper day on which
to bring it to an end. II Congress should then
find 1t necessary to prolong its existence, it can at
once take the necessary steps, for it will at that date
have been in session nearly three months"
Mr.. Seward concluded as follows:
at will be a sad hour fot the republic when the
refusal of unnt cessary powers, treasure and patron
age by the President shall be held TO be a crime.
When it shall be so considered, the time will have
arrived for setting up at the White House an impe.
rial throne, and surrounding the Executive with i'm.
perial legions."
Mr.. S. was cheered with great applause through.
out his entire speech.
OTHER SPEECHES, ETC.
The meeting was also addressed by Postmaster
General Dennison, Henry J.. Raymond, Francis b.
Cutting, Daniel 5. Dickinson and George 0pdyke.
Their remarks were received with great enthusiasm.
a committee was appointed to lay before the Pres
ident an authenticated record Of the proceedings of
the meeting.
ELetters endorsing President Johnson, were read
from Hon. ID. 5. Dickinson and Hon. Robert j.
Walker.
The meeting then adjourned, with loud cheers
for President johnson, the constitution and the