Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-03-01
C.+o Of the Freedmen's Bureau Bill.
THE MESSAGE.
THE MESSAGE.


... ,....or III, raiisd Sfates:
r..y,. Examined with care the bill, which
MI :.,t.d IN tie Senate AID has been pass
NJ H.. rwo Houses of Congress, to amend
...- ruGflsd '' An act to establish Bu-
..G.r M, Relief of Freedmen and Refu-
Fl .... aid for other purposes" Having with
III --.a IA -lrt come to the conclusion that it
w ..nI yut lc consistent with the public
NJ r.rs t. give my approval to the meas
49,. rrtuln the bill TO the Senate with
8 .y objections 10 It's becoming law.
Il rn..at call - mind, in advance of these
III f..,Iuas, that there is no immediate ne
..,,itv for dc proposed measure.
NJ The act to establish bureau for the re-
H.. Il freedmen and refugees, which was
4 ..r.ruy.d in the month Of March last, has
Il NJ. Vet expired 1t was thought stringent
N .4 4ry,.Isivc enough for the purpose in
NJ y.Isv Rrlur" il ceases to have effect,
VI ...... experience may assist To guide us
H 49,, wise conclusion as t. the policy to be
..r-ld in time OF peace.
have W,lh CunLg SIS the strongest de-
.-.. Il. secure TO the freedmen the full ell
.vucnt Of .htr freedom and their property
..a ,.ylr tltuc Independence and equality
f.. making contracts for their labor But
#. bill before me contains provisions which
nv cpiu;lu arr not warranted by the
Constitution. and are not well suited to ac
mrlish IT,, end IN view.
The bill proposes TO establish, by author
nraf Congress. military jurisdiction over
A. parts Of the United States containing
.rtugrcs and freedmen. 1t would, by its
,rry laturr apply with most force to those
rarts If the United States in which the
-.admcu most abound and it expressly
extends the existing temporary jurisdiction
a ID" frccdmcH's Bureau, with greatly en-
II alrd powers, over those States in which
rr ogd.nary course Of judicial proceedings
N a. been interrupted by the rebellion. The
wyy from which this military jurisdiction
,rrmanatc is none other than the Pres
4 '.t.I tie United States, acting through
L.. War Department and the Commissioner
. fIncdmen's Bureau The agents to
agy uD this military jurisdiction are TO
cttd either from the army or civil
y &. The country is to be divided into dis
q r-, and sub-districts, and the number Of
,aGgd agents to he employed may be
Hi nl 81 the number of counties or parish
# ,t al the United States where freedmen
Iii ...ugtto are to bc found. The subjects
s,. which this military jurisdiction is to
4 Ena i'll every part Of the United States,
HI ,.,f. ur.,.cticn to All employcs accents
,rl M',r. If this Bureau IN the exercise
.,.. 6nfins ionosnd upon them by the
.H. IL eleven States it is further to extend
. .,r. al, cases affecting freedmen and reiu-
-... ts.criu.fnatrd AGAINST Inv local law
..>t.n ,5r rrrigdice In those eleven States
lie nm subjects any white nerson who NAV
lr r..rraa viii, d1nrivipo' freedman Of
auy c,yiI ri,..ts ar iTnmnnifios belopping 10
ui..,. n,r.7.. f., in.,,r;snnmant or fine or
.gr.. without however defining the civil
..,s and irn,nrIitins which are TINS 10 be
secured /, thr freedmen bv military law
T.., .,.h,ary ipr5.lirtinn aiso evtn,ds TO
. .n.~ti.r's that ,,,..,,,riso resncctipo. con-
& ...r, Tncaur,+ who ie Tins IN eyGrcise
4 flee f = p.il;t,,., ;ndoo NAV he q
II stranger ,rrir.l, ionnr,nt Of the laws of
Nj tx g.acc. and Gxr0sc5 ia the errors of
l-mrnt 10 winch an men are liable The
II -L-rei,. Of bower over which there is no
= .i ,uprrylsigp bv so vast a number of
...ats as is contaminated bv tha bill must
IS Tie very ,,-ur,. nf ,,,o,, bo attended NV
->ol caprice Injustice and passion The
III .a~. having their origin under this bill,
II ,.gt, take place without the Intervention
ialy. and without any fixed rules of
.w. evidence The rpIes ON which often
.,a al. T.. be heard and determined bv the
.a,ruu> arruts are sucb rules and regula-
Tins lis the President tbronch tbe War
Department. Shall nrnscrihn 10 nrevious
E..sentmenf is rrnnirod n,r any Indictment
.ar,.I., the ,,,;,l,,;,si',, nf . crime aoainst
a.su. And soncifcation. ~ Tho rnn;sh.
arl, viii ha not What the law declares but
u ,..a as, C.,,,rr.r,.,,ial ,,a,, tbinl, nrouar
s. l.4 from the arbitrary tr;b1naIs there lies
4 wrr.l- M, ,,.ri, ,f ,,.,.o, =, any, of tho
ar,, II, ,,h:nl, L,a rnn.t;t,,t;n2 e tho
..lua -t,t..' ,...+, oxcI,sirnl,l thn ind,c;aI
nrr,r -i.o c.,,,,t.,. III, NO tnrrito,,.
A.. ,.. class nr .,,t;..n,. md ,t,.,,.,.. th',r
...f. srr.;.,,. H.. ,.,.,..,,r,. ,..,, go
~y,g..v. ,,,, H.. i.;II -, ;,.aIt I,,,Id - hn
.ru r,,. ,.rI Da'' t;D ~ o;,,+