Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-04-11

been abolished and atpresent nowhere
exists within the jurisdiction of tho
United States, nor has there been, nor
is it likely there will be, any attempt
TO renew it by the people or the States.
If, however, any such attempt shall
be made, it will become the duty of
the General Government to exercise
any and all incidental powers neces-
sary and proper to maintain inviolate
the great law of freedom.
The fourth section Of the bill pro-
vides that officers and agents of tho
Frcedmen's Bureau shall be empow-
cred to make arrests, and also that
other officers may be specially COM
missioned for that purpose by the
President of the United States. 1t also
authorizes circuit courts of the Terri
tories, to appoint, without limitation,
commissioners, who are to be charged
with the performance of quasijudicial
duties.
The fifth section empowers the
commissioners, so as TO be selected by
the Courts,to appoint in writing under
their hands, one or more suitable per-
sons, from time to time, to execute
warrants and other processes de-
sired by the bill These numerous
official agents are made to constitute
a sort of police in addition TO the mil
itary, and are authorized to summons
a posse comitdtas, and even TO cali to
theiraid such portions of the land and
naval forces OF the United States, or
of the militia, as may be necessary to
: the performance Of the duty with
which they are charged. This extra
: ordinary power is to be conferred upon
, agents irresponsible TO the Govern
ment, aud to the people to whose
, number the discretion of the commits
toner's is the only limit, and in whose
hands such authority might be made
a terrible engine of wrong, oppression
and fraud.
! PRESENT sAFEGURDS SUFFICIENT.
The general statutes regulating the
land and naval forces Of the United
States, the militia, and the execution
of the laws, are believed 10 be ade-
quate for every emergency which can
occur in time of peace. lt 1t should
prove otherwise Congress can at any
} time amend those laws in such a man
ner as, while subserving the public
welfare, not to jeopardIze the rights,
interests and liberties Of the people
= TEMPTATIONS TO BAD MEN.
The seventh section provides that s
fee of ten dollars shallb be paid to each
commissioner in every case brought
; before him, and fee OF FIVE dollars to
his deputy or deputies for every per-
son he or they may arrest and take
before any such commissioner, with
such other fees as may be deemed
reasonable by such commissioner In
general for performing such other du-
ties as may be required in the premi-
ses. All these fees are to be paid out
of the Treasury of the United States,
whether there is conviction or not;
but in case OF conviction they are to
: be recoverable from the defendant 1t
seems to me that under the influence
of such temptations bad men might
convert any law, however benefcient,
: into an instrument of persecution and
fraud
NoMADIc COURTS, &C.
2 By the eighth section of the ball, the
United States Courts, which sit only
. in one place for white citizens, must
migrate, the marshal and district at
torney, and necessarily the clerk, al
though he is not mentioned, to any
4 part of the district, upon the order of
the President, and there hold court,
; for the purpose of the more speedy
!, arrest and trial of persons charged
: with a violation of this act and there
the Judge and the officers of the court
!, must remain, on the order of the Pres
. ident, for the time designated. The
ninth section authorizes the Presi-
, dent, or sIch person as he may EN-.
: power for that purpose, TO employ
, such part of the land or naval forces
!. of the United States or of the militia,
! as shall be necessary to prevent the
- violation and enforce the due execu-
: ton Of this act. This language seems
"a to imply an important military force,
r that is to be always at hand, and whose
,s only business is to be the enforcement
4. of this message over the vast region
a where it is intended to operate.
IN EVIL CONSEQUENCES.
,e do not propose to consider the pol.
- lev of this bill. 10 me the details OF
4 the bill are frought with evil The
=, white race and the black race of the
:. South have hitherto lived together
. under the relation of master aud slave
n. capital owning labor are divorced
"A They stand now each master OF itself in
r. this new relation one being necessary
to the other.