The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-17
ANOPHER VETO.

vate WrOngs-Rquality before tho Law.
WARRINGTON, July l6.-The following is the
Veto Message of the President, communicated
To the House OF Representatives:-A careful
examination OF the bill passed by the two Houses
~ Congress, entitled IAN act to continue in
korCe and to amend an act to establish Bureau
FOR the rehef OF freedmen and refugees, and tor
other purposes has convinced me that the
legislation which 1t proposes would not be con.
sstent with the welfare OF the country; and that
il is clearly within the reasons assigned in my
message OF the 10th of February last, returning,
without my signature, similar measure which
originated IN the Senate.
It's not my purpose to repeat the objections
which then urged. They are yet fresh IN your
recollection, and can be readily examined as q
pert o the records of one branch oi the national
Legislature. Adhering to the prlnclplGs set
forth in that message, now reaulrm them and
the line OF policy therein indicated. The only
ground upon which this kind OF legislation can
be justified is that OF the war-maklng power.
The act of which this bill is intended as amenda-
Nory was passed during the existence OF the war.
By ia own provisions 1t is to terminate within
ore year from the cessation of hosulities. and
1he declaration OF peace.
1t Is, therefore, yet in existence and 1t ls
likely that it Will continue In force as long as
the freedmen may require the benefit of its pro-
visions. 1t will certainly remain In operation
as a law until some months subsequent To the
meeting of the next session OF Congress, when,
ii experience snail make evident the necessity
Oi additional legislation, the two Houses will
have ample time to mature and pass the requi-
site measures. In the meantime, the questions
arse, why should this war measure be continued
beyond the period DESIGNATED in the original
act? And why, ia time of peace, sholld mill
aIy tribunals be created to continue until leach
State shall be fully restored IN its cOnstltI-
tional relations to the Government and shall be
duly represented IN the Congress OF the United
Sta es?n
1t vas manifest, with respect TO the act
approved March 8, 1865, that prudence and
wisdom alike required that jurisdiction over all
NfNrf flNn nninN nHf nF i'm
munitle5 ana rights Of citizenship, as well as the
protection of persons and property, should be
conferred upon some TT, bunal Ia every State or
district where the ordinary course OF judicial
proceedings was interrupted by the Rebellion,
and until the same should be tuliy restored; at
that time, therefore, an urgent necessity existed
for the passage OF some such law
Now, however, war has substantially ceased;
1he ordinary course of judicial proceedings is
no longer interrupted; the courts, both State
and Federal are in iuu complete and successful
operation, and through them every person,
regardless OF race and color, is entitled TO and
can be heard. The protection granted to the
white citizen is already conferred by law upon
the freedman. Strong and stringent ards Oy
way OF penalties and punishment5, are thrown
around his person aud property; and 1t Is
believed that amcle protection will be afforded
him by due process of Law, without resort to
the dangerous expedient OF military tribunals
now that The war has been brought to close.
The necessity no longer existing for such
tribunals, which had their origin in the war,
grave objections to their continuance must pre-
sent themselves TO the minds OF all rejecting
ana d,,passionate men. Independently OF the
danger III representative republlcan1sm OF con-
terrlng upon the military, IN time OF peace,
extraordinary powers, so care ully guarded
agaln,t by the patriots and Statesmen OF the
earher days of the republic, so frequently the
rum of Governme nts founded upon the same
free principles, and subyerslve OF the rights and
liberties ol the citizens, the question OF practical
economy earnestly commends itself to the con-
ay,I tioVn NJ 4ha lot olyi inC an
Immense debt already burdenlng the incomes OF
the industrial and laboring classes, due regar l
tor their interests, so lnseparably connected
with the welfare OF the country, sh Juld prompt
US 10 1igid economy and retrenohment and
influence usto abstain from all legislation that
would unnecessarily increase the public in
debtedness.
Tested by this rule Of sound political wisdom,
can see no reason iorthe establishment of the
'imilltary jurisdiction" conferred upon the
officials of the Bureau by the fourteenth section
Of the 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 is at
forded lor all private wrongs, whether TO the
person or the property or the citizen, aad with
out denial or unnecessary delay. They are open
10 all, without regard 60 color or race. feel Well
assured that IL Will be better 10 trust the rights,
privileges, and immunities OF the citizen to
tribunals thus established and presided over by
competent and impartial Judges, bound by fixed
Tuieb OI law anu 0NlueuCei anu WheIc GuS
right Of trial by jury Is guaranteed and secured,
ahan to the caprice or judgment OF an officer OF
1he Bureau, who 1t is possible, may be entirely
ignorant OF the principles that underle the
lust administration OF the Law. There is dan.
ger, too, tnst conflict of jurisdiction will
ffeuuenlly arise between the civil courts aud
those mlIItary tribunals, each having concur
rent jurisdiction over the person and the cause
Oi actIon; the one udicature administered and
controlled by civil law, the other by military
How is the conflict to be settled, and who is tC
determine between the two tribunals when L
arises? In my opinion, it is wise to guard agains
such conflict by leaving to the Courts anC
iuries the protection OF all civil rights aud tn
redress OF all civil grievances.
The fact cannot be denied that since the actua
cessation OF hostlities many acts OF violence
such, perhaps, ss had never oeen witnessed u
their previous history, have occurred in tn
States involved in the recent Rebellion. bC
heye, however. that public sentiment will SUI
tam me in the assertion that such deeds c
wrong are not confined to any particular Stat
or section but are manifested over the enJr
country, demonstrating that the cause that pre-
duced them does not depend upon any particr
lar locality, but is the result of the agitation O
derangement incident to long and bloOiy C VI
war. While the prevalence OF such disorder
must be greatly deplored, their occasional an
temporary occurrence would seem to furnish n
necessity for the extension OF the Bureau beyon
the period liked in the original act
Besides the objections which l have thu
briefly stated, l may urge upon your consider
tion the additional reason that recent develO
ments IN regard to the practical operations
the Bureau in many OF the States show tn;
IN numerous instances 1t is used by ITS agents
means OF promoting their ndlYdual adva
tage; and that the freedmen are employed Il
advancement n nprg0nAl