The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-07-18

corruption and oppression. 1t is
proper to state that in cases of this
character, Investigations have been
promptly ordered and the offender |
punished whenever his guilt has been
satisfactorily established
As another reason against the ne
cessity of the legislation contemplated |
by this measure, reference may be had |
to the Civil Rights bill, now law of |
the land, andwhich shall be faithfully |
executed so long as it shall remain
Hnrepealed, and not be declared un-
constitutional by the courts Of COM
petent jurisdiction. By that act it is
provided that all persons born in the
United States, and not subject to any
foreign powers, excluding Indians not
taxed, are hereby declared to be citi-
1zens of the, United States, and such
citizens of every race and color, with
out regard to any previous condition
Of slavery or Involuntary servitude,
except as punishment for crime,
whereof the party shall have been
duly convicted, shall have the same
rights in every State and Territory be-
longing to the United States, to make
and enforce contracts, TO sue, to be
parties and give evidence, to inherit,
purchase, lease, sell, hold and convey
real andpersonal property. and to full
and equal benefit Of all laws and pro
eeedings for the security of person
and property, as is enjoyed by white
citizens, and, shall be subject to like
punishments and penalties, and to
none other, any law, statute, ordi-
nance, regulation, or custom, to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
BY. the provisions of. the act full
protection is afforded, through the
District Court of the United States, to.
all persons injured, and whose privi-
liges as thus declared are in any way
impaired, and heavy penalties. are de-
nounced against the person who will
fully violates the law. I need not say
that that law did not receive my ap-
prOval; yet, its remedies are far more
preferable than those proposed in the
present bill, the one being civil and
the other military.
By the first section of the bill here
with returned, certain proceedings,
by which the lands in the parishes of
D'Helena and Shockes were sold and
bid, afterward disposed of by the tax
commissioners, are confirmed and ra-
titled. BY the seventh, eighth, ninth,
tenth, and eleventh sections, provis-
ions are made by law for the disposal
of the lands, thus acquired to par
ticular class of citizens. While
the granting 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 commits
sioners judicial powers, by which citi-
zens Of the United States are to be
deprived of their property in a mode
contrary to that provision of the Con-
stitution which declares that no per-
son shall be deprived of life, liberty
or property without due process of
law As a general principle, such
legislation is unsafe, unwise, partial,
and unconstitutional. 1t may deprive
persons of their property who are
equally as deserving objects of the
nations bounty as those whom, by
this legislation, Congress seeks to
benefit. The title to lands thus to be
/ portioned out to a faYOured class OF
| citizens must depend upon the regular
} way of tax sales under the law as i
! existed at the time of sale, and NJ
+ subsequent legislation can give valid.
ity to rights thus acquired against the
original claimants.
The attention of Congress is there
fore invited to a more mature consid
I alton of the. measures proposed in thi
! section of the bill
) In conclusion, again urge upor
Congress the danger of class legisla
ton, so well calculated to keep tn,
& public mind in state of uncertain
! expectation, disquiet and restlessness
. and to encourage interested hopes ant
/ fears that the National Goyernmen
) will continue to furnish to certain
Y classes of citizens in the severa
t States support and maintenance, re
/ gardless as to whether they pursue
| Life of Incidence or of labor, regard
: sess Of the constitutional Imitation
/ of the national authority in time 0
peace and tranquility.
The bill is herewith returned to tn
House of Representatives, in which i
: originated, for its final action.
o ANDREW JOHNSON.
:. WASHINGTON, July Is, 1866.