The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-08-01
Veto Of 4be Freedmen's Bureau Bill

animation of the bill passed by the two houses OF COW
gress entitled an act to continue in force ana amend
an act to establish bureau for the relief ol freeu-
men and refugees and for other purposes" has con,
vinced me that the legislation which it proposes would
not be consistent with the welfare OF the country ara
that it falls clearly within the reasons assigned IN my
message Of the 9th of February last returning WIN
out my signature a similar measure which originated
in the senate 1t is not my purpose repeat the OBJ
iectons which then urged. They are yet fresh ln
1 YOUR recollection, and can readily be examined as a
part of the records of one branch OF the national leg
slature. Adhering to the principles set forth IN tnat
4 message now reafrm them, and the line OF polcy
therein indicated
The only ground on which this kind of legislation
can be justified is that of the making power Ihe
act of which this bill intended as amendaory was
passed during the existence OF the war. by ltS own
provisions is to terminate within year from the
cessation of hosttes and the declaration of peace.
It is therefore vet in existence and Is likely that II
will continue in force long as the ireeameh ha3
quire the benefit of its provisions. 1t Will certainly
remain in operation as law until some months suose
quent the meeting of the next session OF cohSfes
when if experience shall make evident the necessity
of additional legislation the two houses VIII have ai
pie time mature and pass the requisite measures,
In the meantime, the questions arise Why Shogull
this war measure be continued beyond the period aei
signated in the original act; and why, Ill time Oh
peace should military tribunals be created to continues
until each State shall be fully restored IN It's conS.
tutional relations to the government ana shalI De u4
represented in the congress Of the United states! u
was manifest with respect to the act approved Marc "
1865, that prudence and wisdom alike required tnaF
jurisdiction ali cases concerning the Tree enjoys
meut of the immuntes and rights Of cltlzanship az
well as the protection Of person and properly, Shouu
be conferred upon some tribunal in every State or as
trct where the ordinary course OF judicial proceeuh
was interrupted by the rebellion and until the same
should be fully restored At that time, therefore, ats
urgent necessity existed for the passage OF some sRc
law. Now, however, has substantially ceased !:
the ordinary course of judicial proceedings no ohg
er interrupted; the courts both State and federal arr
in full, complete and successful operation, ana taoHs9
them every person. regardless OF race or cooT, Is e
titled to- and can be heard. The protection granite
to the white citizen is already conferred by law upo
the freedman strong and stringent guards DF way g
penalties and puEishments are thrown around BIS Pt
son and property aud it is believed that ample pro!eG
ton will be afforded him by due process OF law "lt9-
out resort to the dangerous eSpedient OF miltar:
tribunals" now that the war has been brought 70 +
close The necessity no longer existing Tor sGch u j
buuas which had their origin in the war, grave o't-
iectons to their continuance must present themselves
to the minds of all rejecting and dlspasslonate met.
Independenty of the danger in representative repue
lies of comforting upon the military in time OF peace
extraordinary powers-so carefully guarded against 5y
the patriots and statesmen Of the earlier days ot te
republic so frequently the ruin of governments iounH
ed upon the free principle, and suoVerstVe OF tae
rights and liberties OF the citizen the question OF prao
teal economy earnestly commends itself to the con
sderation Of the law-making power WIN an itA
mense debt already burdening the incomes OF tl'
industrial and laboring classes due regard ioF ths
interests so inseparuby connected with the welfare
the country should prompt us to rigid economy aac
u retrenchment and influence TO abstain from all leg
slation that would unnecessarily increase the pubFt
Indebtedness. Tested by this rule OF sound Poltlea
. wisdom can see no reason for the establishment %
Il the "mary jurisdiction" conferred upon tue oilel9
y of the bureau by the l4th section OF the bill
n BY the laws of the United States and OF the differ
ent States competent courts, federal and State, have
been established and are now in full practical opera
ton. BY means of these tribunals ample feufPsSt
afforded Cor all private wrongs, whether to the persoI
or the property of the citizen without denial *n
necessary DELAY They open TO all, without reg ~
), to color or race feel well assured that 1t Will %
better to trust the rights, privileges, and immunile9
the citizen to tribunals thus established and pres9e
over by competent and impartial judges, bound .
fixed rules of law and evidence, and where the Ii.
of trial by Jury is guaranteed and secured than to IN
C. caprice and judgment OF officer OF the bureau "o
it is possible may be entirely Ignorant OF the PnFc
IL pies that underlie the just administration OF tine IW
y There is danger too that conflict OF jnrdictlou 81
frequently arise between the civil courts and ties
S military tribunals each having concurrent Jursdico
over the person and the cause OF actIon-the one y
g. dicature administered and controlled by civil law th
other by the military. How is the conflict to be se
ted and who is TO determine between the two trsbt
nails when it arises In my opinion it is wise to guar
against such conflict by leaving to the courts ana
rcs the protection Of all civil rights and the ied:es
> of all civil grievances.
The fact cannot be denied that since the actua aeS
t. sation hostes many acts of vioience5uch pertfa
at as had never been witnessed in their previous history
IN have occurred in tue States involved in the recen re
jje beion. | believe however, that public sehun3eh
=; will sustain me in the assertion that such deeds Q
wrong are not confined to any particular State or sec
an ton but are manifested the entire country-rdt
monstatug that the cause that produced them dDea no
depend upon any particular locality but IS the resu
to of the agitation aud arrangement incident to ZOE
ed and bloody civil war While the prevalence dt sue
10 disorder be greatly depored their occas'onaah
"a temporary occurrence would seem to furnish no ngceS
" stv for the extension of the bureau beyond the peo
fixed in the original act Besides the objections whic
Ill have thus briefly stated may urge upon your coI
III sderation the additional reason, that recent GeVfo
ments in regard to the practical oper' ti0nS OF Il
bureau in many of the States show that IN numgroi
instances it is used by its agents a means bt pr
ed noting their individual advantage; and that. tt
III freedmen are employed for the advancement o. IN
IN personal ends of the officers instead OF their p" IN
ns provement and welfare-thus confirming the 5eaI
5o originally entertained by many that the contnu4o
of such bureau for any unnecessary length oi tam
would inevitably result in. fraud corruption aug ol
as preston.
It is proper to state that in cases Of this caractt
investigations have been promptly ordered, Rna Il
offender punished whenever his guilt has been satsta
torilv established As another reason against tEe II
r cessty of the legislation contemplated by this heasur
n, reference may be had to the civil rights bill row
to law of the land and which will be faithfully execute
as long as it Shall remain unrepealed and may npt
- declared unconstitutional by courts of compteft j
s, risdicton BY that act, it is enacted that ali Pc
sons born in the United States and not subject t9
foreign power excluding Indians not taxed, are!her
bv declared to be citizens of the United Sates al
such citizens of every and color, without aga
to any previous condition Of slavery invoh.Dta
seryitude, except punishment for crime, where
the party shall have been duly convicted shall ba'
the same right, in every State and territory in Il
nd United States to make and enforce contracts, to su
be to be parties and give evidence to Inherit Purcbas
tly lease sell hold and convey real and personal prope
as tv, and to full and equal benefit OF all laws aud pr
es ceedngs for tue security of person aud property,
~ is enioyed by white citizens, and shall be subject
nd like punishment, pains and penalties, and. to no
lbs other any law, statute ordinance, regulaon Or Gu
he tom to the contrary Notwithstanding"
By the provisions of the act full projections is
orded through the district courts of the United State
to all persons injured, and whose privileges, al the
is declared are many way impaired, and heavy pfnal
are denounced against the person who wfuiy Yiolat
the law. need not state that that law did :lot
ceive my approval yet, its remedies are farprfieral
- .bogo ,ro,osed in the present hill. the fjne be