The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-03-29

seems TO imply permanent military force. that
il to be always at hand, and whose onl, business
10 to be the enforcement of this measure over |
the vast region where it is intended to oper-
ate.
do not propose to consider the policy Of this
bill To me the details Of the bill are fraught
With evil. The white race aud black race Of the
south have hitherto lived together under the re-
iaslon OF master and slave, capital owning labor
Now that relation is changed, and as to owner
chip, capital anu labor are divorced. They stand
now each master for himself. In this relation,
one being necessary to the other, there will be a
new adjustment, which both are deeply interes-
| teo In making harmonious Each has equal
power IN settling the terms, and if left to the
laws that regulate capital and labor, it ia con-
| ndentiy believe they win satisfactorily work
ont the problem. Capital, it is true, has more
| intelligence, but labor lie never so ignorant as
not to understand its own interests, not to know
| its own value, and not to see that capital must
pay that value.
This bill illustrates this adjustment Ii in
| tervenes between capital and labor, and attempts
to settle questions of political economy through
the agency of numerous officials whose interest
| it will be to ferment discord between the two
races, for as the breach widens their employment
/; will continue, and when it is closed their occu.
patton will terminate. In all our history, in all
I, our experience as people living under federal
and state law, no such system as that contemplat
teen proposed or adopted. They establish TO
| the security OF the colorsd race safeguards which
go infinitely beyond any that the general govern
ment has ever provided for the white race. Ii
fact, the distinction of race and color is by tn
bill made to operate in favor of the colored, an'
| against the white race. They interfere with tn
municipal legislation of the states, with the Iea
tons, or between inhabitants of the same state
an absorption and assumption of power by tn
general government, which If acquiesced in mus
sap and destroy our federative system of Limited
powers, and break down the barriers which pre-
serve the rights Of the states II is another ste,
or rather stride, toward Capitalization and tn
concentration of all legislative powers 10 the ma
tional government, The tendency of the bill
must be to resuscitate the spirit of rebellion, an
! to arrest the plogress of those influences whic
are more closely drawing around the states tn
} bonds of union and peace.
Ny lamented predecessor, in his proclamatial
of the lst of January, 1868, ordered and declare
that all persons held as slaves within certai
, states and parts of states therein designated
we're and thenceforward should be free and fu
, ther that the executive government of the Unite
States, including the military and naval author
ties thereof, would recognize and maintain th
, freedom of such persons. The guarantee he
. been rendered especially obligatory land sacre
by the amendment of the constitution abolishin
slavery throughout the United States. ], Their
fore, fully recognize the obligation protect an
q defend that class of our people whenever an
$ wherever it shall become necessary, and 10 Il
}. full extent compatible with the constitution
=. the United States. Entertaining these sent
nents, 10 only remains for me to say that l wi
: cheerfuily cooperate with congress in any me
! sure that may be necessary for the preseryatio
OF the civil rights offreedmen, as well as those
all classes of persons Throughout, the Unite
: States, by judicial process under equal and in
partial laws, or conformably with the positions
4 the federal constitution.
/ now return the bill to the senate. and regrs
that in considering the bill and joint resolution
{ AZ in number, which have been thus far submit
d ted for my approval, am compelled to Withhold
3 | my assent from a second measure that has recei
0 ed the sanction of both houses of congress.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. March 81, 1866.