Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-27
THE FREEDMENs BUREAU BILL.
Speech Senator TBumbuIl's N reply &
the Presfdents Objections.

Z .
speech senator TyumbuIIs in reply to
the Presfdents Objections.
MR PRESIDENT 1t is with deep and pro-
found regret that L rise for the purpose of re-
viewing somewhat the extraordinary message of
the President, returning, with his objections, the
bill to amend act entitled an act to establish
bureau for the relief of freedmen and refugees
and for other purposes. 1t has been my desire
that the various Departments of the Government
should harmonic in the restoration of States to
their fall constitutional relations to the nion
L have sought and had no other purpose IN the
part which | have taken IN reference to this bill
than to carry out such measures would pro-
tect the loyal refugees and freedmen in the re-
bellous States, and would, as | supposed, har-
monte with the views of the Executive. He
declared to us in his message delivered to US at
the commencement of the session, that we had
but to fulfill our duties as legislators by accord
ing equal and exact justice to all men, special
privileges to none. The only object or design of
this bill was to secure these rights to all men,
and am greatly surprised that bill designed
for such purpose should have been returned by
the Execu tive with a statement that 1t Is uncou-
stitutional inconsistent with the actual condi-
ton OF the country, and at variance with the
Constitution Of the United States. Having
taken somewhat an active part IN the passage of
this bill, feel called upon to vindlcate myself
from having urged upon the consideration OF the
Rance with the actual condition of the country
this is declared to be. What Is this
le is amendm ut TO the Freedmens Bureau
bill. 1t Is not an original measure, nor a meas
ure establishing Bureau, but is merely amend
atory OF an act already in existence Nor does
1t. seems to be supposed by some, materially
enlarge the powers OF the Freedmen 5 Bureau,
5 1T already exists. 1t is an entire misappre-
hension to suppose that such is the object OF the
bill. that such would be its effects Ii does
little more than give the sanction OF law to what
Is already beng done without ang statute or
provision. The Freedmen : Bureau as | have
said, already exists Courls are held by the
Freedmen Bureau throughout the entire coun-
try, where that Bureau has any operation under
the military authority Of the United States.
Laws Inconsistent, as Is believed, with the safety
OF the Government, or incompatible with mill
tary operation, are ret aside at this time in all
these States. The object of the bill was TO con-
tinue In existence the Freedmen's Bureau not
permanently, not as a permanent institution
all such intent was dlsayowed during the dis
cussIOn OF the bill IL Is true no time specified
IN the bill as 10 when 1t shall cease TO operate,
nor Is 1t customary to insert such clause in
any law but II was declared that the law
should operate until otherwise provided by law.
Ii Is known that the Congress OF the United
States assembled every year, and no one sup
poses this proposed bill to establish Bureau TO
be engratted permanent institution Of the
cOuntry-far from 1t. No sir 1t Is not in
tended that the bill shall 20 into the States and
control the domestic affairs of these S.ates Far
from 1t. 1t Is simply bill designed to provide,
not for 900 600 of emancipated slaves or ref
ugees. but only tor the INDECENT, for those who
are unable TO take care of themselves 50 that
| they could become selfsupporting. In conse-
quence OF the war, thousands OF Union men
were driven from their homes all over the South.
| This particularly the case in Tennessee,
where they had been stripped CT their property,
and women and children had fed destitute from
their homes. They had neither food nor cloth
ing. They focked around our armies during
the whole progress OF the War and were fed by
our supplies. SO also with the freedmen. Con-
gress at early day passed law declaring free
all slaves who come within the lines of
mics. They came dying within our lines with
out clothing, without hats, wounded, foot-sore
and distressed. Many OF them entered our ranks
to fight for the cause of the country and others
we had clothed and fed While the war was in
progress, while these people were hocking
around our armies, ON the Sd of March, 1865,
not one year ago, the Congress of the United
States passed law to systematic the clothing
and feeding OF these destitute negroes and place
them under the charge of a special depar tment
of the military establishment, whose duty 1t
should be to look after them. That was called
the Freedmen's Bureau, and officers were
signed 10 take charge of 1t, chiefly from the
army. Since that time the conflict of war has
ceased and there still our hands some
of these destitute people who must be provided
fora far less number than would have been
upon our hands if no system had been devised
for taking of them, for finding them employ
ment and settling them upon tracts OF land wher-
ever it may be obtained And | undertake to say
that there has been saved to the Government
millions of money by the establishment OF the sys-
tenn through which Employment has been found
I f,rf fhao ooyla hav ma da
supporting, who .sould otherwise have been en-
| trely dependent upon the bounty of the Govern
ment for support. Since the Freedmen's Bureau u
was organized, an amendment has been adopted
to the Constitution of the United States declar-
ing that Slavery shall not exist anywhere within
its Jurisdiction. By virtue of that enactment,
hundreds of thousands of slaves have become
| free they have become free in the midst of a
hostile population ; they have become free with
out any of this worlds goods. not owning even
| the hats upon their heads the coats on their
backs; without any supplies of any kind, or
anywhere to obtain the next meal to save them
! from starvation. Something must be done to
take care of these people and the Freedmen's g
Bureau has been endeavorIng to do that some
! thing. Now, SIT, the Freedmens Bureau has
not had Jurisdiction over these four millions OF
people Its work has been confined to a small
compass, as | shall presently show BY the ofhcIal
record and this measure which comes to us de-
nounced as unconstitutIonal, as great puoiic
charity as an institution designed TO feed. cothe,
take care of, and furnish bones for 900, 900 OF
people, is designed only to find employment for
these destitute, these Ignorant, these uDprovIded-
for people, who are few In number compared
with the great number of blacks In the whole
; country, and not simply for the freedmen and
for the refugees and before l sit down will
show that more white refugees, in many in
stances. have received support and supplies from
the Government from this Freedmens Bureau
than blacks have
The President in his veto-message says there
is no immedia te necessity for the proposed meas
, ure. He says the act which was passed te
establish bureau for the relief of freedmen
: ami refugees, in the month of March last, ha'
not yet expired. 1t was thought stringent ane