The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-07-21
veto of the Freedmcn's Bureau sir:%

p.
! A careful examination of the bill
passed. by the two Houses Of Com
gress, entitled ian Act to continue
in force and to amend an Act to esta-
bhsh Bureau forthe relief of freed
mon aBd refugees. and. for other. prlr-
poses, has convinced me that flie
Legislation which it proposes would
not be consistent with the welf;ua of
the conntry. and that it falls clearly
within the reasons assigned in my
message OF the 10Th Of February last,
hreturning without my signature u
similar measure, which originated in
the Senate. IL is not nay pnrpose-to
repeat the objections which ! thcn
urged. They are yet fresh i'll your
recollection, and can be readily cS,
mined as ~ part OF the records Of one
manch of the National Legislature
Adhering to the principles set forth
III that message, Enow re-af1irm them,
and the linz of policy therein indi-
Gated
The only ground upon which this
kind Of legislation c,in be justified is
that Of the war-making power. The
Act Of which this bill was intended IT'S
nmendatory was passed during the
existence Of the war By its own
provisions il Is to terminate within
one year from the cessation Of hos
Utilities and the declaration of peace.
It IS therefore vet In existence, and
1T Is likely that it will continue in
force as long as the freedmen may
require the benefit of It's provisions.
1t viii certainly remain in operation
as q law until some months s,rbse-
quent to the meeting Of the next ses-
sion OF Congress, when, if experience
shall make evident the necessity of
additional Legislation, the two Houses
will have ample time to nl,t,,r., and
PISS the requisite measures In the
n~antime, ..he questions arise. why
should this war-measure be continued
bcyonsi the period designated in the
original Act? And why, in time Of
peace. should military tribunals be
created to continue until each ''State
shall be fully restored in its constitu-
tlonal relations to the Government,
and shall he duly represented in the
Congress of the United States?' 1t
was manifest with respect to the Act
approved March 3, 1865. that pr,,-
dencc and wisdom alike required that
jurisdiction ever nh cases concerning
the free enjoyment OF the mmunities
and rights ot citizenship, Us we'll as
the protection of person and pro
perty, should be conferred upon some
tribunal III every State or district
where the ordinary course Of judicial
proceeding was interrupted by the
rebellion, and until the same SHOULD
be fully restored. At that time.
therefore, an urgent necessity existed
for the passage of some such law
Now, however. war has substantially
ceased; the ordinary course Of judi.
eial Proceedings is no longer inter
rnpted; the courts, both State and
Federal. are in full, complete and
successful 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
bylaw upon the freedman; strong
and stringent guards, by way OF pc
nalt,es and pnnishments. are thrown
around his person and property. and
it is beloved that ample protection
will be afforded him by due process
of law, without resort TO the danger
ousexpedient of ''nilitary tribunals"
now that the war has been brought
to close. The necessity no Longer
existing for such tribunals. which
had their origin IL the war, grave OBJ
jections to their continuance must
present themselves to the minds Of all
reiiccting and dispassionate men.
independently of the danger in rep
resentativc republics of comforting
upon the military in time of peace
extraordinary powers. so carefully
guarded ag1linst by the patriot; and
statesmen of ihe earlier DAYS OF the
republic, SO frequently the ruin OF
Governments founded upon the same
free principle, and subversive Of the
rights and liberties Of the citizen, the
question OF practical economy ear
nestly commcnds Itself to the consi
deration Of the lsw-making power.
With an immense debt already bur
denlnS the incomes Of the industrial
o I'd laborinS classes, dne regard for
their interests. SO inscparabiy CON
nected with the welfare of the com
try, should prompt lis to rigid econo.
my and .rerrenchment, and influence
rs to abstain from all Legislation that
would unnecessarily increase the pub
lie indebtedness. Tested by this mle
OF sound political wisdom, I can see
no rrcSoI for tl,n ..t., ;oI.,,,,,1 &c