North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-07-25
THE PRESIDENTS VETO
MILITARY TRIBUNAL, IN TINE OF
PEACE, DEPRECATED.
Civil Courts open alike to the white and
Black Man.
Laws for the Protection of the
White Man good enough for
the Niger.
THE BUREAU PLUNDERED By ITS AGENTS
AND KEEPERS.
OF THE NreeER BURrAv BILL NO. 2.

THE BUREAU PLUNDERED By ITS AGENTS
AND KEEPERS.
UNCONSTITUTIONAL1TY of the BILL.
A. careful examination Of the bill 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 freedmen and refugees, and for
other purposes," has convinced me that
the legislation which it proposes would
not be consistent with the welfare of the
country, and that it falls clearly within
the reasons assigned in my message of the
10th Of February last returning without
my signature a similar message which
originated in the Senate. 1t is not my
purpose to repeat the objections which i
then urged, they are all yet fresh in your
recollection, and can be readily examined
as part of the records of one branch Of
the national Legislature. Adhering to
the principles set forth in that message,
I now re-affirm them, and the line of poll
cy therein indicated. The only ground
upon which this kind Of legislation can be
justified j. that of the war-making power.
The act, of which this bill is intended as
amendatory, was passed during the exist
ence of the war. By its own provision
it is to terminate within one year from the
cessation of hostilities and the declaration
of peace; it is, therefore, yet in existence,
and it is likely that it will continue iu
force a. long as the freedmen may re-
ouire the benefits of its provisions. 1t
will certainly remain in operate on as a
law until some months subsequent to the
meeting of the next session OF Congress,
when, if experience shall make evident
the necessity of additional, the two Houses
will have ample time to mature and pass
the requisite measure. In the meantime,
the questions arise why should this meas
ure be continued beyond the period desig-
mated in the -iginal act? and why, in
time of peace, should military tribunals be
created to continue until each State shall
be fully restored in its constitutional rela-
tions to the government and shall be duly
represented in the Congress of the United
States IL was manifest with respect to
the act approved March 3, 1865, that pru-
dence and wisdom alike required that ju-
risdiction over all cases concerning the
free enjoyment of the immuLities and
right of citizenship, as well as the protec-
ton of person and property,should be con-
ferred upon some tribunal in every State
or district where the ordinary course of
Judicial proceedings was interrupted by
the rebellion, and until the same should be
fully restored. At that time, therefore,
an urgent necessity existed for the passage
of such q law. Now the war has substan-
tiallv ceased. The ordinary course Of
judicial proceedings is no longer interrupt
ed. The courts, both State and federal,
are in full, complete, and successful opera
ton, and through them, every person,
regardless of race and coler, is entitled to,
and can be heard. The protection grant
ed to the white citizen is already conferred
by laws upon the freedman. Strong and
stringent guards, by way of penalties and
punishments, are thrown around his per-
son and property, and it is believed that
ample protection will be afforded him by
the process of law without resort to the
dangerous expedient of'military tribunals
Now that the war has been brought to a
close, the necessity no longer existing for
such tribunals, which had their origin in
the war, grave objections to their coutinu-
ance must present themselves to the minds
of all the rejecting and dispassionate. In
dependently of the danger in representa-
tive republics of conferring upon the mill
tary, in time of peace, extraordinary pow
ers, so carefully guarded against by the
pstri OTIS aud statesmen of the earlier days
of the republic, SO frequently the ruin of
governments founded upon the same free
principles, and snbversive Of the rights
and liberties Of the citizen, the question Of
practical economy earnestly commends
itself to the consideration of the law-ma-
king power. With an immense debt al
ready burdening the incomes Of the indus
trial and laboring classes, due regard for
their interests, so inseparab!y connected
with the welfare of the country, should
prompt us to rigid economy and retrench-
ment, and influence us 10 abstain from all
Legislation that would unnecessarily increase
the public indebtedness.
Tested BY this rule Of solid political wis
dom, / can see no reason for the establish
ment Of the military jurisdiction" conferr-
ed upon the officials of the Bureau. BY the
fourteenth section fthe bill. BY the laws
of the United States and of the different
States, competent courts, federal and State,
have been established, and are now in full
practical operation. BY means OF these
civil tribunals, ample redress 10 Afforded
for all private wrongs, whether TO the per-
son or the property OF the citizen, without
denial or unnecessary delay. They are
open to all. without regard tocolor or race.
| feel well assured that it will be better to
trust the rights, privileges, and immunities
Of the citizens to tribunals thus established