Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-07-25

Inc lOHOWlng is the NctO message
of the President, communicated to the
House o-day:
TO the House of Representatives.;
A careful examination of the bill
passed by the two Houses of Congress
entitled Can act to continue in force
and to amend an act to establish a
bureau for the relief of freedmen and
refugees and for other purposes" has
convinced me that the legislation
which it proposes would not be con
sistent with the welfare Of the ceun-
try, ard TINT it is clearly within the
reasons assigned in my message Of the
10Th of February last, returning with
out my signature, a similar measure
which originated in the Senate.
1t is not my purpose TO repeat the
objections which ! then urged They
are yet fresh in your recollection, and
can be readily examined as part of
the records of one branch of the ma
tional legislature Adhering to the
principles set forth in that message, /
now reaffirm them and the line of pol
licy therein indicated The only ground
upon which this kind of legislation
can be justified is that OF the war-mak-
ing power. The act of which this
bin is INTENDED as amendatory was
passed during the existence ofthe war.
By its own provisions it is to termi-
nate within one year from the cessa-
ton of hostilities and the declaration
of peace. 1t is, therefore, yet in ex-
istence, and it is likely that it will
continue in force as long as the freed
men may require the benefit of its
provisions 1t will certainly remain
in operation as law until some
months subsequent to the meeting of
the next session of Congress, when, if
experience shall make evident the ne
cessity Of additional legislation, the
two houses will have ample time to
mature and pass the requisite meas
ures. In the meantime the questions
arise, why should this war measure
be continued beyond the period desig-
mated in the original act? And WHY
in time of peace, should military tri-
bunals be created to continue until
each estate shall be fully restored IN
its constitutional relations to the gov
ernment, and shall be duly represent
ed in the Congress of the United
States"
1t was manifest, with respect to the
act approved March 3, 1865, that pru-
dence and wisdom alike required that
Jurisdiction over all cases concerning
the free enjoyment of the immunities
and rights of citizenship, as well as
the protection Of persons and proper
ty, should be conferred upon some
tribunal in every State or district
where the ordinary course of judicial
proceedings was interrupted by the
rebellion, and until the same should
be fully restored at that time, there
fore, an urgent necessity existed for
| the passage of some such law.
Now, however, war has substantial
lly ceased the ordinary course of ju-
dicial proceedings is no longer inter
rupted the courts, both State and
Federal, are in full, complete and sue
cessful operation, and through them
every person, regardless of race and
color, is entitled to and can be heard.
The protection granted to the white
citizen is already conferred by law
upon The freedman. Strong and strin-
gent guards, by way of penalties and
punishments, arc thrown around his
lperson and property, and it's believed
that ample protection will be afforded
him by due process Of law, without
resort to the dangerous expedient of
"military tribunals" now that the
war has been brought to a close.
The necessity no longer existing for
such tribunals, which had their origin
in the war, grave objections TO their
continuance must present themselves
to the minds of all rejecting and dis
passionate men. Independently Of
the danger to representative republi-
canism ofconferring upon the military
in time of peace extraordinary pow
ers, so carefully guarded against by
the patriots and statesmen of the ear
lier days of the republic, so frequently
the ruin of governments founded upon
the same free principles, and subver-
sive Of the rights and liberties of the
citizens, the question ofpractical econ
omy earnestly commends itself to the
consideration Of the law-making pow
er With an immense debt already
burdening the incomes of the indus
trial and laboring classes, so insepara-
bly, connected with the welfare OF the
country, should prompt us to rigid
economy and retrenchment, and inhu
ence us to abstain from all legislation
that would unnecessarily increase the
public indebtedness.
Tested by this rule of sound politi.
cal wisdom, can see no reason for
the establishment of the "military iu-
risdiction" conferred mon the officials