Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-07-28

Tire Presidents Message tetoing the
Amended Freedmen's Bureau Bill.

and Freedmen. IL was sent to the
House on the 10th:
A careful examination of the bill pas
sed bv the two Houses of Congress, en-
titled an act to continue in force and to
amend an act to establish bureau for
the relief of freedmen and refugees,
and for other purposes, has convinced
me that the legislation which 1T propo-
sed would not be consistent with the
welfare of the country, and that 1t falls
clearly within the reasons assigned III
my message OF February last, returning
without my signature similar
measure which originated in the Senate.
1t is not my purpose to repeat the
objections which L then urged. They
are all yet fresh in your recollection,
and can be readily examined as a part
of the records of one branch of the ma
tional legislature.
Adhering to the principles set forth
In that message, L now reaffirm them
and the line of policy therein indicated.
The only ground upon which This
kind of legislation can be justified IS
that of the warmaking power. The act
of which this bill is intended as amenda-
tory was passed during the existence OF
the war. BY its own provisions 1T was
to terminate within one year from the
ca ssation of hostilities, ana the declara-
ton of peace. 1t is therefore yet IN ex-
istence, aud it is likely that it will con-
Time in force as long as the freedmen
may require the benefits of its provls-
isons. 1t will certainly remain IN ope-
ration as a law until some months sub
sequent to the next session of congress,
when, if experience shall make evident
the necessity of additional legislation,
the two Houses will have ample time to
mature and Tass the requisite measures.
In the meantime the questions ARISE,
why shonld this war measure be con-
tinued beyond the period designated IN
the original act, and why IN time of
peace should military tribunals be Gre
ated. to continue until each State
shall be fully restored in its cOnsti-
tutional relations to the government,
aud shall be duly represented IN the
congress of the United States?
IL was manifest with respect to the
act approved March 3, 1865, that prov
idence aud wisdom alike required that
jurisdiction over ali cases concerning
the free endowment of the immunities
and rights 0, citizenship as well as the
protection OF person and property,
should be conferred upon some trlbu-
mai in every state or district, where the
| ordinary course of Judicial proceedings
was interrupted by the rebellion, aud
until the same should be fully restored.
| At that time, therefore, an urgent ne
cessity existed for the passage of such a
law.
| Now the wtr has substantially ceased.
| The ordinary course of judicial pro-
ceedlpgs is No longer interrupted. The
courts, both state and federal, are in
full. complete and successful operation,
| and through them every person, re-
| cardlegs of race and color, is entitled to
be and can he heard The protection
granted TO tie white citizen, is already
conferred by law upon the freedman,
strong and Stringent guards by way OF
penalties and punishments, all thrown
around his person and property, and 1T
is believed that ample protection will
be afforded him by due process of the
law, without reeortiug To the dangerous
expedient of military tribunals.
Now that the war has been brought
to close, the necessity no longer exist
ing for such tribunals, which had their
origin in the war, grave objections to
their continuance must present them
selves to the minds of all rejecting
and dispassionate men. Independently
of the danger of representative repub-
lies comforting upon the military in
time of peace extraordinary powers so
carefully guarded against by the pat
riots and statesmen of the eaGlier days
of the republic, so frequently the ruin
Of governments formed upon the same
free principles, and subvcrsive of the
rights and liberties of the citizens, the
question of practical economy earnest
ly commends itself to the consideration
of the lawmaking power. With an
immense debt already burdening the
incomes of the Industrial and labOring
classes, due regard for their interests,
SO inseparably connected with the well
fare of this country, shonld prompt us
to rigid economy and retrenchment.
and influence us TO abstain from all leg
islation that wOnld unnecessarily in
crease the public Indebtedness. Tested
by this rule of sound political wisdom
1 can see no reason for the establish
ment of the military jurisdiction con-
ferred upon the officials of the bu-
reau by the 14th section of the bill.
| Blythe laws of the United States, and
of the different states, competent
cSnrts, federal and state, have been
established and are now III full practi-
cal operation. BY means of these civil
tribunals, ample redress is afforded for
/ all private wrongs whether to the per-
son or the property of the citizen, with
out denial or unnecessary delay. They
are open to all without regard to color
or race. feel well assured that it is
better to trust the rights, privileges and
immunities of thecitizens to tribunals
thus established. and presided over by
competent and impartial judges, bound
by fixed rules of law and evidence, amt
where the right of trial by jury is guar
anteed and secured, than TO the caprice
and Judgment of an Office of the bu-
reau, who it is thought may be entirely
| Ignorant of fhn nIineiples thai undeIlie
the administration of law. There is
danger, too, that conflict of jurisdiction
will frequently arise between the civil
courts and these military tribunals,
each having concurrent jurisdiction over
| the person and the cause OF action, the
one jurisdiction administered and CON
tfolled by civil law, tiI0 other by mill
tary. How is the conflict to be settled,
and who is to determine between the
two tribunals when it arises2g.
In my opinion it is wise to guard
against such conflict by leaving to the
courts and juries. the protection of all
civil right, and the redress of all civil
grievances. The fact cannot be denied
that since the acf1,I cessntiorn of Io.t,I