Year: 1866

their individual advantage; and that the
freedmen are employed TOR the advancement
OF the personal ends of the officers, instead
OF their own Improvement and welfare-thu
confirming the fears originally entertained
by many that the continuation of such a
Bureau for any unnecessary length of time
would inevitably result in fraud, corruption.
and oppression. -


1t is proper to state that in cases of this
character Investigations have been promptly
ordered, and the offender punished whenever
his guilt has been satisfactorily established
AS another reason against the necessity of
the legislation contemplated by thss measure,
reference may be had to the Civil Rights
Bill. now a law of the land, and which will
be faithfully executed as long as it shall re-
main unrepealed, and may not be declared
unconstitutional by courts of competent
jurisdiction. BY that act, it is enacted +" that
all persons born in the United States and
not subject to any foreign power, excluding
Indians not taxed, are hereby declared to be
citizens of the United States; and such citi-
zens of every race and color, without regard
to any previous condition of slavery or in
voluntary servitude, except as punishment
for crime, whereof the party shall have been
convicted, shall have the same right, in every
State and Territory in the United States, to
make and enforce contracts, to sue, to be
parties, and give evidence, to inherit, pur-
chase, lease, sell, hold and convey real and
personal property, and to full and equal bene-
ut OF all laws and proceedings for the securi-
ty OF person and property, as is enjoyed by
white citizens, and shall be subject to like
punishment, pains, and penalties. and to
none other, any law, statute, ordinance, regu-
lation, or custom to the contrary notwith-
standing.


By the provisions of the act full protec-
ton is afforded, through the district courts
OF the United States, to all persons injured,
and whose privileges as there declared, are
In any way impaired, and heavy penalties
are denounced against the person who will
fully violates the law. l need not state that
that law did not receive my approval; yet,
its remedies are far preferable to those pro-
posed in the present bill; the one being civil
and the other military.


By the sixth section of the bill herewith
returned, certain proceedings by which the
lands in the parishes of Saint Helena and
Saint Luke, South Carolona," were sold and
bid in, and afterwards disposed of by the
tax commissioners, are ratified and confirmed.
BY the seventh, eight, ninth. tenth, and eev-
enth sections, provisions by law are made
for the disposal of the lands thus acquired
to particular class of citizens. While the
quieting of title is deemed very important
and desirable, the discrimination made in
the bill seems Objectionable, as does also the
attempt to confer upon the commissioners
judicial powers, by which citizens of the
United States are to be deprived Of their
property in mode contrary to that provis-
ion of the Constitution which declares that
no person "shall be deprived of life, liberty,
As a general principle such legislation is un-
1t may deprive persons of their property who
are equally deserving objects of the nations
bounty as those whom. by this legislation,
Congress seeks to benefit. The title to the
land thus to be portioned out to favored
class of citizens must depend upon the reg
ularity of the tax sale under the law as it
existed at the time of the sale, and no SUBJ
sequent legislation can give validity to the
right thus acquired as against the original
claimants The attention of Congress is
therefore invited to a more mature consider
alton of the measures proposed in these
sections of the bill.


In conclusion, l again urge upon Congress
the danger of class legislation, so well cal
culated to keep the public mind in state
OF uncertain expectation, disquiet and rest
lessness, and to encourage interested hopes
and fears that the National Government will
continue to furnish to classes of citizens in
the several States means for support and
regardless of whether they
pursue life of Incidence or of labor, and
regardless also of the constitutional limita-
lions Of the national authority in times of
peace and tranquility.


The bill is herewith returned to the House
Of Representatives, in which it originated,
for its final action.


ANDREW JOHNSON.


WASHINGTON, July is, 1866.
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