Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-03-01
NH. TRUMBULL's REVIEW OF
Ia - THE VETO

Rarely has a more dignifed, cogent,
conclusive argument been addressed to
either House Of Congress than MFR.
Trumbull's review Of the Presidents
Message vetoing the Freedmen's Blu
reau bill Col Forney's Chronicle gives
the following summary Of its proposi-
tions:
l. That the bill itself was inspired by the
annual message of the President of the
United States, delivered to Congress at the
commencement Of the present session. That
message, it will be remembered, expressed
desire upon the. part Of tho President to
secure all mcn in their rights, and to protect
the freedmen in all the privileges gus ran
teed to them under the Emancipation Proc
lamation; and, in the judgment of Mr..
Trumbull aud thirty sic Senator'S ,cho roted
,cih him for Il on The 25th Of January, the
provisions of this bill were eminently calcu-
atei to accomplish these objects.
1T. That it was not, as the Prcsdent
AYERS, an original measure, but simply an
amendment TO the bill under which the
Freedmens 3 Bureau is now acting, and which
had the sanction of the Executive Himself,
as well as the approval Of the great majority
Of the loyal people of the country. As an
amendment, it removes many of the chjcc-
tionablo features Of the Bureau as now or
ganizcd, simplifying its ramfcaions and
making it more efficient.
III. That it was not intended az per.
mancnt part of the administrative policy of
the Government Of its sections ex.
press,y stating, on the contrary, that it shall
remain in force "unlil otherwise provided
by law, just az all other laws Of Congress
are supposed to do. The wonder is that
the President ever thought Of making such
an objection to it as this. No such idea
ever entered the mind Of any person who
= sa6pgfted ssd voted Iorit.
Nv. That, instead Of being an extrava-
giant and unnecessary expense to the Gov
ernment, it has indirectly saved US millions
Of dollars which would otherwise have been
wasted.
Y. That the Bureau did not contemplate
feeding, clothing and educating the refu-
gees and freedmen, but was rather intended
TO assist them in doing all these things for
themselves.
vi. That, instead of it being designed
exclusively for negroes more Whites have,
in some sections and in many instances, been
benefited by it than Blacks, aud that the
proportion of Whites sill needing its as
sistancs is equal to that Of the negroes
VII. That there was an immediate ne.
cessity for the passage Of the bill, because
the original act creating the Buceau expires
BY limitation in the month of May, 1866
VIII. That, instead of establishing mill.
aryjurisdiction over oil parts Of the United
States containing refugees and freedmen, it
simply extends il over the officers and en-
ployees ofthe bureau. And that in accord.
nncc with the recommendation Of General
Grant in his report to tho President of his
tour through tho South, transmitted to the
Senate with message a few weeks ago, it
makes the Bureau part of the War De-
partment of the Government.
TX. That the bill did not contemplate the
appointment Of agents aud other officers in
every county or parish, except the President
should, in his Judgment deem such up.
pointments necessary.
X. That what the President terms the
unoonsi itutional features OF this bill, con.
ferring arbitrary powers upon the officers Of
the Bureau. 80 no further than the Presi
dent himself and the officers of the army
acting under him have already gone anG
that it is competent for Congress to provid,
oil rules aud regulations for the government
of the army and navy, to which all are sub
ject, from the Commander ia. Chief to The
humblcst soldier or sailor.
Al. That, If the Rebellion is in all re-
spects at an end, the President is still ex
ercising the war power, such as the suspen
alon oil the srit Of habsas corpus, contrary
t. the Consultation, which expressly state,
that this shall only be suspended in time Of
invasion or rebellion; aud, as we have no in.
vasion and the writ is not in operation in q
portion Of the States, We must have a 70,
bsliion.
XII. That, according to tho census o.
1860. there were not four millions Of slave,
10 the United States, and that instead o
this being q measure to feed. clothe. an,
educate four millions of freedmen, tho re
port of Gen. Howard shows that at no tim
: Was there more than one hun lrsd and forty
bsven thousand persons under the care Q
tho Bureau. Gty serea thousand Of 1hon
pe6e White refugees.
XIII. That. according to the sworn state
meat Of Gen. Fisks before tho Committee Of
Reconstruction. of the twenty-five thousau,
persons fed by tho Bureau in Tennessee