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

involuntary servtude, except as punishment
for crime whereof the party shall have been
duly convicted, shall have the same right IN
every Stale and territory in the United States to
make and enforce contracts, TO sue the parties
and give evidence, to inherit, purchase, lease,
cell, hold and convey real and personal property,
and TO full and equal benefit OF all laws and pro-
ceedngs Tor the security OF persons and properly
as is enjoyed by white citizens, and shall be
subject TO like punishment, pains and penalties,
and TO none other; any law, statute, ordinance,
reRulauon, or custom to the contrary notWltn'
standlngn
By the provisions of the act f1l protection is
afforded, through the District Courts of the
United States, 10 all persons injured, ana whose
privileges, as thus declared, are in any way I'M
paired, and heavy penalties are denounced
ae ainst the person who wilfully violates tue
law. l need not state that tnat law did not
receive my approval, yet It's remedies are lar
more Preferable than those proposed in the pre-
eel BILL the one being civil and the other mill
tary.
By the sixth section Of the bill herewith re-
turned, certain proceedings, by which the lands
in the "parishes of st. Helena and ST. Luke,
South Carolina" we're sold and bid in, and after
wards disposed OF by the Tax Commissioners,
are ratified and confirmed. By the seventh,
eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh sections, pro-
Visions by law, are made Tor the disposal OF the
lands thus acquired to a particular class of citI-
zens. While the quIetine OF titles is deemed very
important and desirable, the discrimination
made in the bill seems Objectionable, as does also
the attempt to confer upon the Commissioners
judicial powers, by which citizens OF the United
States are to be deprived of their property in
mode contrary to that provision of the Oonsti-
tuition which declares that no person "shall be
deprived of life liberty, or property without
due process of law.n As general principle,
such legislation IS unsafe, un wise, partial, and
unconstitutional. 1t may deprive persons of
their property who are equally deserving
objects OF the nations bounty as those whom
by this legislation, Congress seeks to benefit.
The title to the land thus to be portioned out
to favored class OF citizens must depend upon
the regularity of the tax sales under the law as
it existed at the time of the sale, and no subse-
quent legislation can give validity to the rights
thus acquired as against the original claima nts
The attention of Congress is therefore invited
to more mature consideration OF the measures
proposed in these sections OF the bill.
In conclusion, ! again urge upon Congress the
danger OF class legislation, so well calculated to
keep the public mind in state OF uncertain
expectation, disquet, and restlessness, and to
encourage interested hopes and tears that the
national Government will continue to furnish
to asses OF citizens in the several States means
for support and main Jenance, regardless of
whether they pursue life of incidence or labor,
and regardless, also OF the constitutional limlCa-
tions OF the national authority in times of peace
and tranquility.
The bill is herewith returned to the House of
Representatives, in which 1t originated for its
final action. ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, D. c., July 16 1866,