The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-03-28

set forth and defined 10 the act Of SeItember
Z4fh I7oS. establishing the judicial Cdurts Of
.ne on''eo states; 10 conferring UPON tie
federal courts Jurisdiction over cases brioina.
ung IN state tribunals, is careful to lcon6ne
them 70 the classes enumerated in tho above
recited clause Of the Constitution. The sec.
ton Of the bill undoubtedly comrEeLsn5s A.
cases and authorizes the exercises az now.
that are not by the Constitution within the
jurisdiction Of the Courts Of the United
States. 10 transfer them to those Courts
would be an exercise of authority, we'll calcu.
lated to exc te dlstrust and alarm on the part
Of all the States, for the bill applies alike 10
al OF them, as well as to those that have
asked those that have not been engaged in
rebellion. 1t may be assumed that this
authority is incident to the fifth section.
which empowers the commissioners TO be Sc.
lected by the Court, to appoint in writing. one
or more suitable persons from time to time, ),
to execute warrants, and other processes de-
sirable by the bill.
These numerous Official agents are made TO
constitute sort of police in addition TO the
military and are authorized to summon q
posse comitatns, and even 70 call 10 their aid
such portion Of the Land and naval forces Of
the United States or Of the militia as may be
with which they are charged This extraor-
dinary power is to be conferred upon agents,
irresponsible TO the government, 10 the peo-
Ile to whose numbers the direction of the
commissioners is the only limit and in whose
hands such authority might be made a terrible
engine OF wrong. oppression and fraud The
general statute regulating the land and naval
forces OF the United States. the militia and
the g ecuiive oi the laws are bel eyed 70 be ad-
equate for any emergency which can occur in
time Of peace. lfit should prove otherwise
Congress can at any time amend those laws
in such . manner as while subserying the
public welfare not to jtopardize the rights
interests and Liberties of the people.
The Ith section provides that fee of ten
dollars shall be paid TO each commission in
every case brought before him, and fee oil
Eve dollars to his deputy or deputies for each
person he or they may arrest and take before
any such commission. With such othef fees a.
may be deemed reasonable By such 9ommis-
sioner, for performing such other d4tics as
NAV be required. All Of these fees are to be
paid oat ~ the treasury of the United States,
whether there Is conviction Qr mott but in
case Of conviction they are TO be recovered
from the defendant
II seems TO me that under the Influence of
such temptations, bad men might convert
any law, however benihcent, to an instru-
menl Of persecution and fraud.
BY the Sth section Of the bill. the United
States courts, which set only one place for
white citizens. must migrate with the Narshal
and District attorney, and necessarily with the
clerk although he Is not mentioned, TO any
part Of the district. upon the order Of the
President. and they hold court for khe pur
pose OF the mole speedy arrest and trial OF
persons charged with violation of this act,
and these, the judge and officers of the court.
must remain upon the order Of the President
for the time therein designated 1lhe 9Th
section authorizes the Presiden. or such per.
sons as he NAV empower for that purpose, TO
employ such part ol land or naval forces OF the
United States. or Of the militia. as shall he
necessary 10 prevent the violation and enforce
the due execution Of this act. This language
seems 10 imply . permanent military force
that is TO be always al hand. and whose only
business is to be the enforcement of th,e
measure over the vast region where j intend
ed 10 operate.
do not propose to consider the policy OF
this bill. To me the details of the bill arr
fralght With evil. The white race and black
race of the South have hitherto iNcd together
under the relation of master and laEe-cap
ital owning labor. Now. that relation is
changed and as to ownership, capital and
labor are divorced. They stand NOW each
master OF itself IN the new relation, one being
necessary to the other. there will be 4 new ad
jnsiment which both are deeply interested In
making harmonious, Each has equal power
in settling the terms, and If left to the laws
that regulate capital aud labor, it is COM
den,ly believed they will satisfactorily wors
out the problem. Capital, it is tue, a.
more nteiigence. bat labor is never SO gno
rant 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 and
intervenes between capital and labor. and at
temris 10 settle que eIions of political econo
my through the agency Of numerous officials,
whose interests it will be to ferment discord
between the two races, for as the breach
widens. their employment will continue, and
when il is closed their occupation will term
nate. In all our history, in all our expert
ence as a people, living under federal ana
State laws. no such system as that con.em
plated by the details Of this bin has ever be
fore been proposed or adopted. They estab
lish for the security OF the colored race, safe
guards which 90 infinitely beyond any thar
that the general Government has efer proyi
ded for the white race. In fact the distinc-
ton Of races aud color, is by the bill made t
operate in favor Of the colored and against th,
white race. They interfere with the mum
cipal legislation ofthe State.
With relations existing exclusively between
State and its citizen or between inhabitants
Of the same State, and absorption and assump.
tion of power by the general government
which ii acquiesced in. must sap and destroy
our federal system Of limited powers, and
break down the barriers which preserve the
rights Of the States. 1t is anoiher step or
rather stride towards Capitalization. and the
CONSERVATION OF all legislative powers in the
national government.
The tendency Of the bill must be TO resns
citate the spirit Of rebellion and to arrest t q
progress Of these influences which are. mo: 9
closely drawing around the States the bonds
Of union and peace. Ny amented predeces
sor in his proclamation of the lst of Jannary
/ 1863, ordered and declared that all persons
held as slaves viii in certain States and parts
OF States therein designated were and thence
forward should be free and further that the
executive government Of the United States
inclnding he military and naval authorize.
| thereof would recognize and maintain the
freedom OF such persons.
! This guaranty has been rendered especially
obligatory and sacred BY the amendment O.
the Constitution abolishing slavery throughou
the United States. / therefore fully recog
nize the obligation to protect and defend tha
class of our people whenever and whereve
It shall become necessary and to the full ex
tent compatible with the consideration of th'
United States. Entertaining y'these senti
ments, it only remains for me tt
say that | chessfully cooperate witl
Congress in any measure that may b,
necessary for the preservation of the civi
rights Of freedmen, % well q those of al
her classes Of persons throughout the Uni
ted states Dy Judicial process under equal an