The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-03-12
THE VETO.
Great Speech of Senator Trumbull,
upon the Floor of the Senate,
February Goth. ...
The Objections of Andresc johnson Carefully
and ForcibIy Reviewed.

The Objections of Andrew Johnson Carefully
and Forcibsy Revie,Ued.
Mr.. TRrnfBULL. Mr.. President, it was
with surprise and profound regret that read
the extraordinary message of the President of
the United States, returning with his object
ions the bill to amend an act ed can act
to establish Bureau for the Relief of Freed
men and Refugees" and for ether purposes
1t has been my desire that the various depart
ments of the Government should harmonic
in the restoration Of all the States to their full
constitutional relations in the Union. Ihave
sought, and had no other purpose in the part
which have taken in reference to this bill, to
carry out such measures as would protect the
loyal refugees and freedmen in the rebellous
States, and would, as I supposed, harmonic
with the views of the Executive. He had de-
clared in his message, delivered to us at the
commencement of the session, that eve shall
but fulfil our duty as legislators by according
equal and exact justice to all men, special priv
ileges to none" The only object and design
of the bill was to secure these rights to all
men; and 1 am greatly surprised that bill
designed for such purpose should have been
returned by the Executive with statement
that it is "as inconsistent with the actual con-
tho Go,,a.:t o ~ ." 1900 ~ $780, M .Un
inc taLa1' snU,a NJ oo,;na -ar. j., tho nov
sage OF this bill through the Senate, Lfeel call
ed upon to vindicate myself from the charge
OF having urged upon the Senate a bill so un-
constitutional and so inconsistent with the
actual condition of the country as this is now
declared to be. ~ ,1-.a- .4'st fT-, - .
bureau hills r. 10 nj az, nr,1;, al roessure II
Is NOT n,oas,,ro .stoh,;sh;,,t7 = hrraou h,,} H.
is marolv 49,. 49, e -. O.. o,roodr ~ -
;stence =, on aoo -. S'i -" s,,, -,
bv soma roa+Ioi ~ 81 H. ,, ~ IF ~
freedmen's hr,roa,, as - siroadv pS;sts IT, 10
an entire ,o;sra,..o.a-,t o+;n,, 10 s,,nnoso +hat
such was the ob;ect nr the hill or s,1cb ;ts Of.
feet. If Soes ,;ttIo 49,, NJ t,,a,, ove tho sonn-
ton of law to wa ete 10 oIre s he;no done
without anv star+o o,,tb or;z;n@ Il. The fread.
mems bureau 90 howe cold oIro,dv av;sts
Courts are h.,J b. t,,e saa1 hnros"
throughout the entiro region of country wbere
that bureau ia in oneration. finder ibe an
thority of the ITnite = States lave inconsiSt-
emit. as is believed With the sesatv If the Gov
eminent and incomn.tihle with military one.
rations are oct as,dn Of this t;,ne in oil tbese
States. ~ '-''' ga
The object of the Hill was IN continue in en-
istence the freedmen's bureau-rTot as per-
manent institntion Anv s,Ich infant vac dis
avowed during the Discussion Of the Hill, II
is tr1le. no time ia exurasSlv jim;taJ in The hill
itself when II shall cease tn onar,te nor is II
CUSTOMARY to insert snch a clanse in law. Int
it is declared that the hin shall onerata mil
otherwisa nrou;dod h, Io- IT, - $500, tI,ot
tba C"n"ross ~ tL ~ iam $50 hnowm Inas
onorv nas J VIC nj
was ~ es1.h;si ~ h,u r. 10 s.ls sls o
TIC coun+ auaan Duleau W NC lns!a.eu upon s.n
e., !. a. q Peiinanen' inS.lIu,lon, lar
nto sne otates ana take controi OIL the domes-
uc T analrs Q! tne STATES; 49,,
Inc oflginai Dill and this amendatory bill
togethef SIMPLY design to provide, not for four
mlilons emancipated slaves and millions Of
refugees, put only for the INDECENT, for those
VINO are unable to take care of themselves, and
That temporarily, until provisions could be
made SO that they could become selfsupport-
ing. In consequence of the war, thousands of
Union men have been driven from their homes
all over the Sonth, and particularly was this
the case in Tennessee. They had been strip
ped OF their property. Women and children
had fled destitute from their homes. They
had neither food to eat nor clothes to wear
They fOcked around our armies, and during
the whole progress of the war they were fed
by our supplies. So also with the freedmen.
Congress at an early day passed law declar-
ing free all slaves who should come within the
lines of our army. They came flying within
our lines, without clothing, without hats, Of
tentimes wounded, foot-sore and distressed
Many of them entered our ranks to fight for
the cause of the country, and others we fed
and clothed. ''l - 81
While war was progressing, and while these
people were Hooking around our army, on the
30 OF March, 1865, not yet one year ago, the
Congress OF the United States passed law to
Systematize Ine ciothlng and feeding of these
uestltute Poople, not TO take them from the
o ornnE Vi Ine Hnieary estaoisnmenI, put TO
taSi;si spo,sA uepasInient OF tne mlhtary eS-
70 ISL ,,,.s WHOSE uuty IL SHOULD De TO looK
S ~ oaea paGss.ng wants. mat was called the
Ie :n bureau, ana omcers were assigned
S;nca tbot t;, sue ooa;a 70 .ahe charge vi II
t,ano VIC %' st;iI ooict Vi ars mas ceased, put
dast;t,e ,aa,,,o I'll, oui n'ilius some OF tnese
sar Lose pP wv nus1 " provlueu 'or-a
orr hands r. ,o s vman "Iui9 nave gee! upon
ta;ng care of tbon' 60, ad oeen uesiseu lor
ment for settl;mn tbau, ,,,,,,a .ne 81 eipios
1vharever IL oon,15 w Su, epon IIae'S y, JANUS
saw that there has beon .,s anu tho 10
ment millions Of oneu h sat ~ " .nS Duea
of system tbronrh Ih;ch o,o,,Io11,,,a,,t ,,,ns
SonnS ,or thos sU nasn WINCH employment was
sunnortino who otber,v;so 1,oy,,d h"r,a hoa,,
entirely denandant IN tbo ho mu - az 0so
eminent for s,,nnort 'o'' VI 'i'o o ~ :
Since this fraadYn a,,,s h,,roo,, ,r,,., -
an amendment hoe heen adontod -, tfa 1880 Ho,s
stitution of the TTnited Statas W. Sno tft
slavery char, M lonaar ..,;st ,.ti';. ~, sna'
dictnn of Tho ITn;tod Stota Will ~, 'nG
that enactment bundreIs of tb,s vmtIo " VI
slaves have become f. % Tbev hava hocor.a
free in The midst of hostile ,,op,iat;o,, IT,
have become free without anw If this world; s
goods NOT owning eue,, La t , ,,r,, tlo.
heads or the coat upon their backs, without