The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-03-01
ITERMs or suRscRIPTIoN.t
RESIDENTS VETO MES
SAGE. a

which originated in the Senate, and
has becny passed by both Houses Of
Congress- to amend an act entitled
IAN act to establish o Bureau for the
reliefeffreedmen gand Il refugees, and
for other purposes Having, with
much regret, como to the conclusion
that it would not be consistent with
she public welfare to give my APPROX
al TO the measure, I return the bill to
the, Senate with my objections 10 It's
becoming a law. might call to mind.
an advance of these objections, that
rhcre is no immediate necessity for tho
proposed measure. The act to estabI
fish a Bureau for the relief of freed.
men. and refugees which was approved
in the month of March last has not yet
expired. Itwas thoughtstringent and
extensive enough for the purposes in
4, Wow. Before it,ceases to have effect
further experiences may assist to guide
ais to q wise conclusion as tothe policy
to be adopted in time ofpeace.
" / have, with Congress, the strongest
desire to secure to the freedmen the
full enjoyment of their freedom and
their property, and their entire inde-
pondcnce and equality in making con-
tracts for their labor. But the bill be-
fore me contains provisions whichs in
my opinion, are not warranted by the
Constitution, and are not we'll suited to
accomplish the end in view The bill
proposes to establish, by authority Of
Congress, militaryjurisdiction over all
parts of the United States containing
refugees and freedmen. 1t would, by
its very nature, apply with most force
TO those parts Of tho United States in
which the freedmen most abound, and
it expressly extends the existing tenn
porary jurisdiction Of the Frecdmen's 5
Bureau, with greatly enlarged powers,
over those States in which the ordina.
Iry coursclof judicial proceedings has
bconinterrupted by the rebellion. Y
The source from which this military
jurisdictionis to emanatc.is mono other
than the President of the United
States, acting through the War De.
spartment and tho Commissioner of tho
Ereedmen's Bureau The a.,ents to
carry out this military jurisdiction are
to be selected either from the army or
from civil lfe1 The, country isto be
divided into districtsand sub districts,
andthe number Of. salaried agents to
be employed may be equal to the num-
3 ha. nf cou N fior M. noriehnu In oil III N
. United. States where tho freedmen and
refugees are to be found. The subjects
oveewhieh this military jurisdiction is
to extend in every part OF the United
States include protection 10 all employ
ees, agents, and officers. of this Bureau,
in tho exc rcisc of the duties imposed
upon them by the bill. In eleven
States, it is further to extend over all
caseo affecting freedmen and refugees
Disseminated against by local law,
custom, or prejudice. In those eleven
States the bill subjects any white per.
son who may be charged with depriv-
ing a. freedmen of any civil rights OF
iminunities belonging to white per.
sons, to imprisonment or fnc, or both,
without, however. defining tho civil
rights and immunitics which are thus
to be secured to the freedman by mill.
tary law. This military Jurisdiction
also extends to ali questions that may
arise concerning contracts. The agent
who is thusto exercise tho Office of n
military judge, may be q stranger, en-
tirely ignora IT Of the laws Of the place
and exposed TO the errors Ofjudgemcnt
to which all men are liable. The ex-
crcisc of power over which there is nc
legal supervision, by SO vast u number
OF agents as is contemplated by the bill
must blythe very nature otman, be at
tended By acts of caprice, injustice and
passion Thetr having their origin
under this rbillare to otake place without
intervention of d jury and withoutany
fixed rules Of law or evidence. The
rules on which offenses are to be heard
and determined by the numerous a
gents. are such rules and regulations
rs the President through the War Dc,
partment, shall prescribe. No pre-
viOus prescntmcnt is requiredi nor any
indictment, charging tho commission
of,alcrime against the laws, but The
trial must proceed on charges and
specifications. Tho punishment vii
not bodssthe law declares, but such al
court-martial may think proper; anC
from thess arbitrary tribunals there
lies no appeal, no writ of error to any
of the courts in which the Constitution
of tho United States vests exclusively
tho judicial power of the country
while the territory and the class ofa
tions and .offenses that arc mado sub
ject to the measure arc SO extensive
that the bill itself, should it become .
Law, will haVo no, limitation in point o.
time, but will form a part Of tho per
mancnt legislation Of the country.
/ cannot reconcile a system of mill
tary jurisdietion Of this kind With 'th,
words of the Constitution. which de
clare that mo person shall be held t.
answer for capital, or otherwise in
famous crimc, unless on presentmen
or indictment of a grand jury, excep
in cases arising in the land or nava
forces, or in the militia when in actua
service, in time of war or public dan
gsr,". and tbat"in all criminal prosecu
tions the accused shall enjoy right to ;
speedy and public trial by an impair,
tiai jury Of the State or district where
In the crime shall have been commit
Tod % l.irI,i anfai,nar1la which tho via