The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-03-02
MESSAGE OF THE PREsIDENT
veto Of tho Freedmen,s Bursau Bill.
TO the Senate of the United States /. /

TO the Senate of the United States !; %
Thavo examined with Care the bill
which originated IN the Senate, and
has been passed by the two Houses Of
Congress, TO amend an act entitled an
"Act to established q bureau for the
relief of freedmen and refugees" and
for other purposes. Having, with
much regret, come to the con ,lusion
that it would not be consistent with
the public welfare 10 give my approval
to the measure, / return the bill totho
Senate with my objections TO its be-
ceming a law ] mightcall tomind,
inadgance OF these objections, that
there is TO immediate necessity for
the proposed measure The act to-
establish q bnereau for the relief of
freedmen and refugees, which was APP
proved in the month Of March last,
has not yet expired. Il was thought
stringent and extensive enough for
theIpnrpose in view of time 3 Of war
Before il ceases 10 have effect, fur
theF expcriencemay assist to guide
to wise conclusion as to the policy
to be adopted in time Of peace.
% | share with Congress the strongest
desire to secure to the freedmen the
full enjoyment of their freedom and
their property, and their independence
and equality Ia making contracts for
their labor but the bill llbefore me conA
tains provisions whichlin my opinion,
are not warranted by the Constitu-
lion, and are not wellsuited to accom-
plsh tbe end In view, 3dl 9albH93
The b II proposes TO establrsb3 by au-
tbority OF Congress, military jurisdieJ
ton over all parts Of the United States
containing refugees and freedmen! 1T
would bylits very narure, apply with
most force to those parts of the United
Statesin which the freedmen" most
abound !; and il expressly extends the
existing temporary Jurisdiction Of the
Frecdmen's Bureau, with greatly en-.
larged powers, over those States in
which the ordinary course of judicial
proc eedings has been interrupted by
the rebellion The source from which
this miihiryjurisdietioni is to ernanato
is none other thanthe President OF the
United StatesF acting through the
War Department and the Commis.
sioner Of the Freedman'S Bureau.
The agents to carry out this military
jurisdiction are to be selected either
from the army or from civil life ! the
country is TO be divided into districts
andsu sub.distfiets, and the number OF
salaried agentsto be employed may
be- equal to the enumber of counties or
parisheslina all tho United States where
freedmen and refugees are to be found.
The subjects over which tho milf
tary jurisdiction is to extend, inevery
part of tho United States, include pro-
lection To all em ployes, agents and
officersof this Bureau in the exercise
of the dnties imposed" upon tbemlhy
the bill. In eleven Statesit is further
to extend over all cases affecting freed
men and refugees Disseminated against
by ydOcal law, custom, or prejudice
In. these eleven States the bill subjects
any white person who may be charg
ed with depriving a freedman of "any
civil rights or immunities belonging
to white persons" to imprisonment or
fine, or both, without however, de6n-
ing the " civil rights and immuni-
tiesY which are thus TO be secured
to the freedmen by military law.
This military jurisdictioDalso extends
to all questions that may arise re-
speeting contracts. The agent who
is thus to exercise the Office of O
military Judge, may be a stranger, en-
tirely ignorant Of the laws ofthe
place, and exposed to the errors
of judgement to which all men arc
liable, The exercise Of power, over
which there is no legal supervision
by 80 vast number Of agents as is
contemplated by the bill, must, by
the very nature Of man, be attended
by acts ofcaprice, injustice, and pas
sion. 1p .f.W tal0lliH H0a
Tho trials having their origin IN
der this bill are TO take place withou
any fixed rules on which offences ar,
70 ber' heard md determined" by CHI
numerous agents are such rules an(
regulations as the President through
the War Department, shall prescribe
| No previous presentmeut is required
nor any indictment charging the com
mission Of criue against tho laws
bat the Trial must proceed on charge
and specifications. The punishment
/ will be not what the law declares, bu
such os q oourt.martial may thin
proper. And from these arbitrary trl
bhnals there lies no appeal no wrI
Of orror TO any Of tho courts in whic
the Constitution ofth United State
vests exclusively the jdsicial power (
the country. While She territory an
the Glasses Of actions and offences tba
I arc made subject 70 this measure az
, 80 extensive, the bill itself, should
become a law, will havo no Limitation
linIpoint Of time, but will form q par