The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-02-22
Freedmcn'S Bureau Bill
b m, = Vetoed. /, .., ..1.r.
The Grounds Of, Objection.
The Radicals Receive a
40 Severe Check. ., IT.
To the Senate of the United States:

lo VIC Dtllllc vi tllt l llllpU OIulpS.
have examined with care the bill which
originated In the Senate, and has been pass
ed by both Houses of Congress, to amend
an act'entitled "An act to establish a bureau
for relief Of freedmen and refugees, and for
other purposes" Having with much re.
gret come to the conclusion that it would
not be consistent with the public welfare tC
give my approval to the measure, return
the bill to the Senate with my objections tC
its becoming q law. ,... ..'...''.. ... ..
| might call to mind in advance of these
objections that there is no immediate ne
cessity for the proposed measure. The act
to establish bureau for the relief of freed
men and refugees, which was approved in
the month of March last, has not yet eXpir-
ed. 1t was thoughtstringent and extensive
enough for the purpose in view. Before il
ceases to have effect, further experience
may assist to guide us to wise conclusion
as to the policy to be adopted in time OF
peace,
1 have, with Congress, the strongest de-
sire to secure to freedmen the full enjoy
ment of their freedom and their prosperity,
and their entire independence and equality
in makiug contracts for their labor. But
the bill before me contains provisions
which, in my opinion, are not warranted by
the Constitution, and are not well suited to
accomplish the end in view.
The bill proposes to establish, by the au-
thOrity of Congress, military jurisdiction
overall parts ofthe United States containing
refugees and freedmen. 1t wonld by its
very nature apply to with most force to
those parts of the United States in which the
freedmen most abound and it expressly ex
tends the existing temporary juridictiOn of
the Freedmens Bureau,with greatly enlar9-
ed powers, over those States in which the
dinary course of judicial proceedings has
been interrupted by the rebellion. -, b..
The source from which this military ju-
rsdiCtion is to emanate. is no other than
the President of the United States. acting
through the War Department and Commits
sioner of the Freedmen's Bureau. The
agents to carry out this military jurisdic-
tion are to be selected either from the army
or from the civil life. The country is to be
devided into districts and sub-districts, and
the number Of salaried agents to be employ
ed may be equal to the number of counties
or parishes in all the United States where
freedmen and refugees are to be found
The subjects over which this military iu-
risdiction is to extend in every part of the
United States, include protection to all EN-
plOyeS, agents and officers of the Bureau i'm,
the exercise ofthe duties imposed upon
them by the bill. ..'
In eleven States It is further to extend
over all cases affecting freedmen and refu-
gees Disseminated against by local law,
custom or prejudice in those eleven States.
The bill subjects any white person who
may be charged with depriying a freed
man of any civil rights or immunities be-
longing to white persons, to Imprisonment
Or fine, or both, without, however, defining
the civil rights amminuties which are TINS
to be secured to freedmen by military Law.
This military jurisdiction also extends to
all questions that may arise respecting con-
tracts. The agent who is thus to eXersise
the office of military judge, may be
place and exposed to theories of Judgment
Of power, over which there is no legal SUI
peryision, by SO vast number of against as
is contemplated by the bill must, by the
very nature Of man, be attended by acts of
caprice, injustice and passion. The trials
having their origin under this bill are to
take place without the intervention of ju-
~, and without any fixed rules oflaw or
evidenc. The rules on which offences are
to be heard and determined by the numer-
GUS agents are such rules and regulations
as the President through the War Depart
ment shall describe. ~ Ban. ,..-.-
2 No previous presentment is required, nor
any indictment charged the commission of
a crime against the laws, but the trial must
proceed on the charges and specifications.
The punishment will not be as the law de-
elares, but such as a court-martial may