The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-02-28
The Veto.

The Veto.
We have read with the great st care the
Presidents veto message, and we are glad
to say that it meets our unqual f,G ap.
proval. Only state paper of great digni-
ty and ability, Of the most perfect candor
and filled with the most apparent aud coy.
vncing truths, could have withstood the
criticisms with which veto of this kind
was likely to be assaled. All these re-
quirements are fulfilled, and we believe the
veto will be satisfactory to the general sen.e
of the country The vetoed bill SEEMS to
have been little less than monstrous in
some Of its provisions. 1t cstablised IN
each county petty military nondescfipt
something-kalf court and half post com.
mander, who is law maker, jury, Judge
and executioner, and who was to hold az
his mercy the Ives, liberty and property Of
the people amidst whom he held his state.
The cost Of maintaining the absurd feature
and which wonld have become an op-
pressive and intolerable feature was to be
some twenty-five millions Of dollars year
half as much as the entire expenses Of the
Government under the administrators CT
VAN BUREN and TYLER. The bill gave
these little pro- consular officials power to-
punish any white man for denying, in &C.
cordance with local law, custom or preju-
dice "civil rights to the black man. 1t
did not define what those civil rights were,
but left each agency to determine for tses$.
Each Lieutenant detailed tliis DUTY.
~en'l fv in bis own mind what are civil
rights" and there was no latitude fixed Tor
the bounds OF his discretion. One official
might say that it was a civil right to mar
ry the white heir of a neighboring plant.
alton, and if she refuses to marry him, or
her friends sought to protect her fro:a tho
persecution of his alterations, it was suclr a
denial as laid them liable to punishment.
There is hardly an imaginable wrong which
an ignorant, or greedy, or corrupt official
night not infi;ct under the cover and pro-
lection Of this provision.
And no appeal could be taken fro :, the
decision Of these little agents! No courts
were opened to any party tried, no matter
how terrible tn. injustice or patent the
wrong by which he had suffered. The
number of these officials We have not stop
ped to cnumerate. 1t is one to every coun;
II, in addition to those of superior rank
and power, who now do the duties of the
Fresdmen's Bureau. The States average a
hundred counties each. The number Of
officers would be l ,1OO CT ,2CO--a ns.s az
my worm to destroy the people.
Some other provisions of the bill were
equally unreasonable. The bill richly de-
served Executive disapproval. No doubt
strong measures are needed for the rebel
llous South. But they are all ready to the
hands of the Government Military law
prevails there. The Freedmen's Bureau
as it exists possesses ample power. The
courts are open, or soon will be, With all
the rights of trial and appeal The bills
was aggravatins and unuecessary. 1t would
entail NOR s.rous and Increasing expense
1t was unconstitutional. IT had every un.
gracious trait by which any public measure
can merit disapproval and opposition.-
Madison (IEis } Capitol-RspuJlican.