Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-02-23
ErRnl0p1 Jg0llflal.
FREMONT: OHIO.
Friday, February 2s, 1866.
1Ero OF THE FREEDMENs BUREAU

81 Ne DaFe Aefet0lOft given q sonS"H Hoe At4A
SYNOPSIS Of the Bill for the'exteRsion of the
Freedmen's Bureau, SIS originally reported by
Sen. Trunbull, with subsequent amendments
On Tuesday of last week, the bill came to lis
final passage and went to the President for has
approval On Monday last, however, TO the
surprise Of ALL the Bill was returned to the Sen
ate with message embracing President Johu-
sou q reasons for ref.sing his signature thereto
Very briefly, they may be stated as follows;
II. That the existing law creating the Freed
mems Bureau is sufficient, clause therein pro-
viding that its operations shall continue enc
vear after the conclusion of the war. 3
2. That the number of agents necessary 70
the execution of such a Law would involve u
ability of abuse of its provisions TFe'
3. That the Bill contemplates trials Tor GER
tain offenses by courts established by 1t With
out Jury, which the President regards as un-
constitutional, the South now being virtually
reconstructed. 1a
4. That the operations of the Bill are not
limited as to time. f' 81
5. That the Constitution does not conten-
plate the extension of aid to INDECENT persons
as provided for in certain cases by this Act.
6. That it implies continuation OF military
supervision IN the South. s11i ~
g Z. Finally, the President demands the i'm
mediate admission of the South to representa-
tion in Congress; though the peculiar relevancy
of this point to the Bill in question seems doubt
full, unless We assume the argument to imply a
denial of the right of Congress to pass any Act
until the South is represented in its halls i-
OF course this unexpected action of the Ex-
ecutiye creates much discussion. The more,
because the measure was regarded as rather
conservative, and was supposed to accord main
" with the Presidents policy. s.'3.- aaa
Asa journalist. it is our duty to record the
fact that large majority Of Congress, the loyal
State Legislatures and the Union Press, are de-
cidedly opposed to the policy announced in this
veto message, although some of the grounds
taken therein are not generally objected TO.
But the growing distrust that has been for some
time apparent between the Executive and the
Union members of Congress is much to be re-
GREETED An open rupture between the former
and the peoples representatives in the National
Legislature cannot fail to retard healthy action
towards speedy and safe restoration of all the
States to their original places in the Union
Both branches of the Government are compara-
lively pOwerless for good in this direction while
in position of antagonism to each other. The
natural tendency Of such a state of things is to
allow demogogues and political cormorants to
take the control of public affairs, and hurry the
country to the verge of ruin. We should have
been glad if the President in refusing his sigma
ture to the Bill in question: had at least indicated
something that l0ouId have been satisfactOry-
some middle ground that a majorityof his FORM
ersupporters might have been brought to stand
upon-thus avoiding irreconciisble differences.
We viii not argue the points of difference.
Suffice it tosay, that the chief difference, after
all, seems to be on total plan of Reconstruc-
tion. The Presidents plan, as shadOwed forth
in the Veto Message, embraces the immediate
and unconditional admission of the late Rebels,
(if we need to use the qualifying adjectiTe,) to
perfect political fellowship in the Union. oi
course the consummstioh of this policy would
give the rebels with their increased represent
alton by reason of the abolition of slavery, as
sisted by few coPperhead aliies,) complete
control of the Government. When that event
occurs, we shall be in precisely the condition in
which we would have been had the Rebellion
succeeded and JEFF Davis been President of the
oonfederacy enlarged to include the snhiugated
North.
Our readers are aware that in common with
all loyal newspapers in the land, we have here
tofore approved the Bill in question yet We
deem its provisions of trifing importance COM
pared to the fundamental principle in opposi-
tion to which the President finally bases his
objections, namely: That Congress should de-
nand proper guarantees, safeguards and secur-
ity for tina future, before rebels are restored to
all the unimpaired rights of the most loyal and
innocent. For what have we fought and suf.
fered through these terrible years of combat
with an impiors, cruel, and bloOd-thirsty rebel.
lion, if now its plotters and leaders are to rult
as if they, and not the Unions noble defenders
had been victorious 2--and if after all this lac
rifce we are to have no assurance of future peac'
and loyalty.
We deprecate excited discussions and hasty
judgments at this juncture, especially among
Union men. Rather let deliberation prevail,
and studious zeal to ascertain the right. lie
Union patriots stand together and weigh care
fully the words of our public men whose acu
men. past services and present position entitl'
them to our confidence as able and loyal expo
nsnts of correct political principles.
OF course rebels and copperheads are in &c
stacies over the veto. They look upoE Il;
President as now altogether their own. Val
landigham makes speech in which pictures
Andrew johnson as his prodigal son now re
turned to the bosom of his fathers family
The copperheads have got up jubilations anc
bonfres all over the country in honor of thu
veto. They break forth in satanic exultations
like devils let loose from their thousand year
of chains. They yelp and gibber about th'
downfall of the Union Party, as PandimOniun
might at the supposed overthrow of the grea
archsngel Gabriel, axA in the same spirit. Bu
their heIlish carnival viii in due time be cu
short in shame and disappointment. Their lus
for place and power and plunder will not b'
gratifed. Even if a radical detection of the
President were made patent, the substantial
principles of the great Union Party would none
the less surely rise above Executive favors anc
patronage and triumph gloriOusly by the vii
of the people.
During the war, we saw many a dark day, il
which all the steadfast faith and bravery o
therepubhc were needed to uphold her droOping
standard. Then, as now, all this constancy and
patriotic virtue was included in the Union Par.
ty IN the field and at home. Then, in our dark
est days, as now, the copperheads and rebel
were jubilant and boistrOus. But the cause o
the Union triumphed then, as it will yet again