Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-02-21

We find in our exchanges the most gratifying
evidence that the clear and able exposition of
the views of the President on one Of the most
important questions Of the day, as set forth in
his message yetoing the Freedmen's Bureau
Bill, will meet the approval OF large majority
of the people, and only fails TO satisfy the ex-
pectations of those who are doing as much 10
create dissension and keep alive the shoulder
ing fires of the rebellion as the most disaffected
of Southern orators and writers.
The Chronicle of this city is almost alone in
Its fierce denunciation Of the Chief Magistrate
OF the nation for his calm and dignified exercise
OF constitutional right, speaking of the meet
ings being held TO sustain him as ga part OF this
Presidential programme to force into Congress
oIood-stalned traitors, praying 'sGod help and
Neour ave our dear country from this last and most
threatening perfidyr' After prayer comes the
Chroiacte's exhortation. as follows: ssCon vnced
thal there is nothing more to be hoped from the
PRESIDENT OF the United States, that he has al
most completely surrendered himself TO his
own slanderers and prosecutors. and turned
lnese slanderers and prosecutors upon his best
ana most devoted friends, they must rely upon
In notable contrast this, with the fair and
mpartlal opinion of that staunch and most in
nuennal Republican journal, the New York
Erening Post which says :-"The President
states his objections 10 the new Freedmen's
Bureau bill with so much dignity. and al the
same time with so much force of conviction
that they will command, we trust the careful
consideration OF Congress. These objections
are substantially the same as were urged in
this journal at the time the bill was first pre-
sented te the Senate, but they are urged more
at length, with more elaboration, and with a
fuller understanding of the subject. Some
provision for the protection of the freedmen
during their transition from bondage TO Free
dom is Imperatyely necessary. We We're
pleased, therefore. 10 see Mr.. TrumbuIl-s mo-
ton for a continuance of the plan of the bu-
reau, amended as to its defects; and enlarged
IN some respects as TO ITS powers. 1t proposed
practical legislation, not theory: but there were
some features of Mr.. Trumbulls bill that
struck us as not only unwise but dangerous.
We understand the view we have taken to BE-
still the view of the President. He does not
object TO the Freedmen Bureau itself on the
contrary he commends its services during the
war but he objects TO certain features of n that
are not only not needful TO its efficiency I'm,
ihat introduce dangerous powers and Irfiu-
enceS.
"CCnGress itself will see at n glance that
these ale no frivolous but very solid obiec-
tons, and, while Insisting upon the measure
itself, will no doubt modify the sections at
which they are leyeled. We say that the eIee-
mosynary and educational clauses ought TO be
stricken out at once, because on no principle
OF law, Justice, humanity or common sense are
such provisions Ia be approved. 1t should not
be forgotten that the more freedmen's bureaus
we have the less we shall have of that private
effort which is now doing so wonderfully well,
and which is destined TO do infinitely more
The more freedmen's bureaus we have the less
we shall have of free men among the late
slaves. Congress. with = little foresight and
consideration, may preserve whatever is val
liable in the new bill, and vet avoid the Sc
rious and indeed fatal objections which we are
glad the President has had the sagacity and
hrmness 10 expose. But above all things il
should be careful not TO mbarrass and clog the
great amendment, which is the one achieve
ment OF The war, with any unconstitutional
acts, made nOminally in pursuance of il but
really TO it's detrment."
Even The Tribune, while deprecating the veto
IN a moderate tone, admits that:-ssOf course,
the treeomen's Bureau is anomalous. There
is no dispute as to that. Nay, more. n indi-
Gates blind, roundabout way of doing Justice
when complete justice was with the Presi-
dents consent) easier and safer. Three lines
IN the Federal Constitution abolishing and in
hlbiting all laws and ordinances that bestovy or
withhold privileges because OF color would be
worth several Ereedmen's Bureaus. Justice
equal rights-the recognition of his manhood
hese the ex-slaye wants-not coddling and
pettlng."
Another leading Republican paper, the New
Ork Commercial adreTiiSeF, SAYS :-.EPresident
Johnson has deemed il his duty to veto the
freedmen's Bureau Bill, and in doing so has
presented many cogent reasons therefor We
give the message in fun elsewhere, and ask
our readers TO weigh il carefully. Most of the
objections made by the President have already
appeared in these editorial columns, in our
comments upon the bill during its passage
through Congress, and differing as we do
from the President in so many points of
policy, II is plea TO be able to commend
him for his fearleSsness and force in the
message which he has sent to the Senate,
The President takes here very proper stand
in demanding that the safeguards established
by the Constitution shall not be- broken down.
and that the formalities deemed necessary 10
protect the innocent to punish the guilty and
10 administer equal and exact Justice shall not
be disregarded. He cannot afford 10 take the
risk of the acts of in Justice that would follow
the callow and imperfect Jurisprudence of the
agents appointed 20 fill these Innumerable
places establishedfG one-third of the States
and over whose decision there is TO he no su
pervision by the Federal Courts. The Presi-
dent informs US that we are not in ga condi-
ton OF civil war;" and that the srebeilion is in
fact al an end" He therefore yetoes the bill
because it is at variance with the Constitution
and with the condition of the country. Here
II is well TO remember that the passage Of the
bill last March was expressly urged on the
ground that II was a war measure, and the
gravest doubts were then entertained whether
ii could be sustained a meas ure of peace
Custom has habituated Congress and the coNn-
try TO doubtful policy, and now the objec-
dull Such is the inevitable result of the mea-
sures by which the few steal power from the
many. The act of last year, the President re-
CARDS as sufficient TO meet the purpose for
which il was framed, and to secure the objects
claimed to be within the design T the bill now
vetoed
Quoting the Presidents objection to the eleem-
osquary features OF the bill, the Advertiser
adds: 1.-The fact that this bill provides for all
these things is enough alone to discredit it. 1t
is worse than folly to demand suffrage for the
blacks and then feed, and clothe, and educate
them at public expense. Ifthey are infants or
incapables, they cannot be suitable citizens,
and il is an insult to the manhood Of the
African race TO suppose that il needs these
props and supports. Though we had raised
the objection to this bill of its enormous cost,
yet we are half sorry that the President tells
Congress that its cost is likely to be S24, ,OOO.OOO
Such an amount of spoil is enough to corrupt
any Congress, and particularly the present,
with its magnificent plan for expenditure, and
its reckless disregard Of the public burdens"
The New York Times, (Repubhcan) speak,
ing of the President, says: "Just in proportion
as he was prepared to make sacrifices for the
integrity Of the Union, when that integrity
was most endangered, TO the same extent to-day
would he forego the ecldt of a sectional popu-
larity where his judgment refuses its assent
In the former case the severe test of experience
has shown him to have been right. In the
present instance he does not claim-and
only the most indiscret Of those who call
themselves his friends wiz claim on
hls behalf-any infallibihty~<bf Judgment.
What must chiefly concern the President now
and what VIII most materially affect the po-
sition he is destined TO hold in the Judgment OF
his countrymen hereafter, lies in the assurance
which the temper and bearing OF his policy
gives TO all classes and sections that he has the
permanent welfare and unity of the country al
heart, above and beyond all other considera-
ffpnS To a 20 4.