Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-03-10
Veto 4 ths Prsedmens Bureau Bill
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSA0E

M|.U Tx kHI =
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
q :, Senate u hs Uaifd Siah'i 49,,
love examined with care the bill when
,r...r,fed Ia the Senate, and has been pass,
rI 9th Houses Of Congress, TO ainehu
su q entitled an act TO establish bureau
ar be- relief Of freedmen and refugees
ana ,r other purposes
T1rIng, with much regret, come 10 the
conclusion that IL would not be consistent
vith do, public welfare to give my approval
., ll.s measure, | return the bill 10 the
Senate with my objection TO It's becoming
law. might call 10 mind, In advance OF
.hrs. objections, that there Is no immediate
ucc.,.lly for the proposed measure.
The act to establish bureau for the re-
lItf VI freedmen mud refugees, which was
approved In the month Of March last, has
not Sc. expired. IL was thought TO be
stringent enough for the purposes IN view
before II eeRsCs TO have effect fur'her et'
rrrcucc may assist 10 guide us 10 q WISE
conclusion as TO the policy to DO adop'eu
10 time Of peace. l have, win congress
tie plrlngcst desire to secure the freedmen
tho full enjoyment OF their freedom ana
their property, and their entire indepen-
irnce and equality In making contracts FOR
taeir labor but the bill before us contains
provision which, in my opinion, are not
warranted by the Constitution, and are we'll
suited 20 accomplish the end in view. The
nm proposes to establish, BY authority OF
Congress, military jurisdiction over oil
parts Il tho United States containing refu-
gees md freedmen. II would, by its very
nature. apply with more force to those
rarts f the United States in which the
freedmen most abound, and l, expressly ex'
tends % the existing temporary Jurisdiction
Of tbc Preedmen's Bureau greatly enlarged
rover over those acts IN which the ordina.
~ COURSE Of judicial proceedings has been
interrupted by the rebellion, the agents Of
which evidently the Frcedmcns BDreau-
En- tREseESrl are to he selected either
from he army or from civil life. The
country Is to DO divided into districts and
sub.districts, and the number OF special
agents to be employed may be equal to the
numb Of counties or parishes in every
part Of the United States where freedmen
and refugees arc TO DO found.
The subject. over which this military jul
risiiclion is to extend in every part Of the
United States, include all employees, agents
,ui officers of the bureau in the exercise OF
tho duties imposed upon them by the Dill.
I'm eleven States il is further to extend over
I'll cases affecting freedmen and refugees
who may be Disseminated against by local
laws, customs or prejudices. In those elev-
en- States the bill subjects any white person
who may be charged with depriving
freedman of any civil rights or immunities
boler ging to white persons, to imprison-
meut, or fine, or both, without, however, de-
fring the civil rights which are thus to be
secured to the freedmen by military law
This Military jurisdiction alone extends to
I'll questions that may arise respecting
contrncts The agent who is thus to
exercise the office of military
Judge, may be q stranger, entirely ignorant
OF the Laws, AMI exposed to the errors Of
iudrm emit to which all men are liable in tho
exercise Of power over which there is no
legal supervision. Tho proceeding Of SO
vast number Of agents as is contemplated
by d bill, must by the very nature Of man
bu o,tandcd by acts Of caprice, injustice
and passion. The trials having their ORR
gin under this bill are to take place with
out tho intervention Of a jury, and without
any dycd rules Of law or evidence. The
ru,s IN which said offences are to be heard
and determined by the numerous agents,
are such rules and regulations as the Pres
ident, through the war department may pre-
scribe No previous prescntment is re-
ouired, nor any indictment charging the
commission Of crime against law; but
trial must proceed on the charges and
apocidcatons. The punishment will not be
rs law declares; but such rs court-mar-
tial may think proper, and in these arbi-
irary tribunals there is no appeal, no writ
Of error to any of the courts in which tho
Constitution Of the United States vests ex-
cluuiyely the judicial power OF the country,
while the territory and tho class Of actions
and cfenses that are made subject to this
measure are so extensive, that the bill it
self should it become n law, will have no
limitation in point of time, and will form
q part Of the permanent legislation Of the
country.
9nnnot reconcile system Of civil ju-
risdiction Of this kind W it'll the words Of
sac institution which declares thatn per.
son phall be held to answer for capital or
aiherwise infamous crime, unless on pre-
sentiment or indictment by grand jury,
cIcelt in cases arising in the land or mill
tqrv forces, or in the militia when in actual
pcrYice in time of war or public danger,
md hat in all criminal prosecutions tho
accused shall enjoy tho right to speedy and
vublic trial by an impartial jury Of the
State or district wherein the crime shall
have been committed The safeguards
which the wisdom and experience Of ages,
chosen ty our fathers to establish as secu-
rites for the protection of the innocent,
The punishment of the guilty, and the equal
administration of Justice arc to be set aside,
snd FOR the sake of more vigorous interpo-
si,ion in behalf Of justice, we are to take
the risk OF the many acts of injustice that
vould Of necessity follow from an almost
countless number IF agents established in
every parish or county in nearly every one
of the States Of the Union, over whose de-
cision there is 10 be no supervision or con-
troll, by the Federal courts. The power that
would thus be placed in the hands Of the
President is such as in times Of peace GER
tainly ought never to be entrusted to any
one man. II it be asked whether the crea-
,iop Of such q tribunal within State is
warranted as measure of war, the ques.
tion presents itself whether We are still
engaged In war. Let US not unnecessarily
disturb the commerce, credit and industry
OF our country by declaring TO the Ameri-
can people and the world, that the United
s,ates are still in a condition Of civil war.
At present there is no part Of our country
in which the authority of the United States
l. disputed. Offenses that may be commit
ted By individuals, should not work for
f,iture Of the rights Of the same communi-
ties. The country has entered or is return
ing to state of peace and industry. The
rebellion is in fact at an end. The meas
ure therefore seems 10 be as Inconsistent
with the actual condition Of the country as
at variance with the Constitution Of the
United States. II passing from general
con siderations we examine the bill in detail
1t is open TO ueighty objections In time
Of war II was evidently proper that We
should provide for those who we're passing
srddeniy from condition Of bondage to 9
Gate Of freedom but the bill proposes 70