iUbfori) inquirer.
BEDFORD, PA., FRIDAY MARCH i, 1866.
THE VETO.
The President's veto of the Freedmen's
Bureau Bill has been severely commented on
by almost the entire Union press, and quite
as unanimously praised by the organs of the
rebels and copperheads. That the President
has the right to reto any bill is not to be de
nied, but that he should veto this one, the j
necessity far which was foreshadowed in his
message, and the authority for which was au
thorized in the seeond section of the amend
ment abolishing slavery, is probably not so
much a matter of surprise ivs regret. It is not
a matter of surprise, because he has been for
some time courting the favor of those who
have never beeu accused of friendship for the
Union, and making intimate friends oi North
ern men, who, one short year ago, ootid Jiud
no epithet foul and vile enough to express
their hatred of hita, and of Southerners who
still later would have esteemed the power to
take his life their highest privilege. It is a
matter ol regret that he, who a short time ago,
wished traitors punished and treason made
odious, should now, Tyler-like, betray his
friends and his country, and be foremost in
casting the brand of discord into the Union
ranks and giving encouragement to treason
mid traitors. It is magnanimous to forgive
our fallen and conquered foes, but neither
magnanimous nor patriotic to betray one's
friends, and joining hands with the enemies of
one's country 10 endeavor to exalt them to
power. The manner more than the words of
the message, is indicative of the spirit in
which it was made. The objection to placing
toe much power and patrenage in the hands of
the President is a plausible one, but comes
with a bad grace from one who is daily exer
cising more extensive and arbitrary power
than the bill proposes to confer, and who has
already undertaken to dictate to Congress, it
really looks more like an unwillingness to b ,
restricted by law in the exercise of his arbi
trary power, than like the genuine modesty
that deprecates the assumption of great res
ponsibilities. It is not the spirit of our in
stitutions to place arbitrary power or extra
ordinary patronage in the hands of any one
man. A stern necessity in the hour of na
tional peril, alone, justified some of the acts
of President Lincoln. The time of instant
and imminent peril is past, and the hour for
calm deliberation has come, in which time
and opportunity are give* for the careful con
sideration of every step taken in the direc
tion of reconstruction. The President's dis
cussion of the bill, so lacks the candor con
sistent with a desire to promote harmony,
that to the most careless perusal a studied ef
fort to misrepresent plainly appears. It is
painfully evident throughout that the Presi
dent's leading idea is, that he, and not Con
gress, is the representative of the people and
particularly of the rebels, who are excluded
from Congress, and that Congress ought to
follow his dictation. He very well knew
that instead of creating new offices and new
patronage, it was only the modification of the
bill at present in operation, the necessity for
which, not only Gens. Howard and Shurz,
but also Gen. Grant, have acknowledged.
He knew that it did not propose to feed and
care for the whole four millions of Freedtnen
nor for the hundredth part of them; he knew
that nearly as many whites as blacks were
relieved and provided for by it. He
knew that it did not propose to establish per
manent eleemosynary institutions, but only
to lelieve destitution, until employment and a
means of subsistence could be provided for
both white and black and until regular gov
ernment, could be establishedjto, protect them
from the persecution of the rebel soldiery.
He knew that the bill was made like other acts
of Congress providing for transient circum
stances, and could and would be repealed
whenever it could be dispensed with. Yet
he ignores all these facts and assumc-s the con
trary. He knew that, even with the present
bill in operation, thousands of loyal men,
white and black, were being daily persecuted
and murdered at the South. He also knew
that the present bill would expire in May next,
and unless it was continued in its present shape
or in the proposed modified form, at that time,
the loyal men, bolli white and black, would be
left to the tender mercies of the same rebel
soldiery, who starved and murdered Union
prisoners by thousands, yet he has neither
suggested the modification of the new nor the
continuation of the old, making it only too evi
dent that he would leave loyal men at the
South without any protection whatever.
These are the indubitable evidences of his
deliberate and determined opposition to the
views of the people as made known through
more than two thirds of their representatives.
It is thus that an accidental President arro
gates for himself the privilege of frustrating
the efforts of the only loyal party in existence,
and strikes hands with rebels and traitors. In
another part of our paper will be found the
message, with an abstract of Senator Trum
bull'sable review of it. We commendbothto
the careful perusal of our readers. Though
we have spoken thus plainly of the veto, we
can hardly conceive it possible that the Presi
dent has deliberately determined to go over
to the rebels, who have heaped upon him eve
ry possible insult and cruelly persecuted him
self and family. We are willing and desirous
to commend all his acts that we can consist
ently with our sense of duty, but in the future
as in the past, must condemn whatever seems
to us amiss-
THE TBEitSUSEKV REPORT.
Nearly a year ago attention was called through
the columns of this paper to the unsatisfactory
manner in which the county reports w.re made
out. The present one though perhaps an improve
ment on former ones still possesses some features
that are objectionable, the most striking of which
is, that it has as usual ignored the indebtedness of
tho County. Taking the report as it stands, it
represents that we have $7,47~>.46 in the treasury
and owe $2OOO to John Sill which would leave a
balance of $5,475.46 us a surplus. Does any one
believe that Bedford county has an excess of $5,-
475.46 in her treasury after having all her debts
paid ? If so, they are sadly disappointed. When
were the $15,000.00 or $16,000.00, due the State,
some six months ago, paid, and where is the rec
ord of its payment ? It is not paid. Why then
is this item of indebtedness not reported? Are
the Commissioners and their clerk, in tho same
predicament as the Poor Directors and their clerk
last spring, unable to tell the amount of indebted
ness or are they afraid to make a fair statement of
the financial condition of the county ? When will
we get officers who are able and willing to givo an
intelligible statement of the financial condition of
their respective departments ?
THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH.
Simultaneous with the promulgation of the
President's Veto Message returning to the Senate,
wiieari it had originated, the Amendatory
Frecdinen"> Bureau Bill, calls were numerously
signed by the leading Copperheads and rebels in
the cities of New York and Washington, faintly
seconded here and there by some weak-kneed Hi
publicans. whose thirst for office is not exceeded
by honest laaintaicance of principle, for Mass
Meetings sustaining the President's policy. It
gir-. s tts pleasure to know that very few of those,
who from the inception of the rebellion, stood
iirin in maintaining the honor and the dignity of
the county, favored these improptu outbursts of
those whose bands are yet red with the blood of
martyred freemen. One of these homogeneous
meetings as stated above, came off in Washington
at which a serice of resolutions were passed, in <
eloquent terms complimenting the President for !
hs fidelity to the laws and the ConHitutioc. Inl
ine ;li rely upon the adjournment of the meeting,
the affiliated Copperheads and rebels proceeded,
ni most, to present the cogitations of this deleet
abie crowd to their new found oracle. They had
Du difficulty in finding the President, and we are
.-orry to confess that he received them with a
decided flow of spirit. And for an hour he cn
. entertained them with a vulgar, egotistical har
.angno after this manner : *
'•We are having a great struggle. lamyourin
strunient. Who is there I have not toiled an l la
bored for? Where is the man, or woman either,
in public or private life who has not always re
ceived my attention or my time. Pardon the egot
ism. They say that man .Johnson is a-lucky man;
that no man can defeat me. lwill tell vou what
constitutes luck. It is due to right, and being for
the people, that is what constitutes good luck."
This is a fair specimen of the balderdash indul
ged in by the befogged President on this occasion.
Such undignified, derogatory stuff has never be
fore fell from Presidential lips, and we hope for
the credit of our Nationality that we may never
again be called upon to experience the same hu
miliation which such discreditable exhibitions of
egotism and rant compel us to acknowledge in thif
instance. It may be a very lucky think for Cop
perheads and rebels that "Johnson is a lueky mar,,"
but for the country, we opine, it is not quite so
fortunate. This is the second exhibition which,
the President has given within the last year, and
we hope that it will bo the last. The country has
had quite enough of this l.ind of thing, and we
feel like appealing from "Philip drunk to Philip
sober," finnly believing tha . the people, who are
always calm, will revtrse the whole policy of the
President.
BEPUAt OF TIIE STATE TAX UPON
KEAL ESTATE.
Taxes! Taxes! Taxes! What a charming sub
ject for copperhead editorials and speeches has
been that single word'•Taxes!" during the last three
or four years. But now they seam likely to lose the
1 benefit so long derised from that inspiringandpro
! lific theme. Though beset on every hand at hoiue
and abroad by bitterest enemies the national
government in the hands of the Union party car
ried the war for the Union triumphantly through
with as much economy as was ever done in pro
portion to the gigantic character of the strugglo,
and in the same year, by promptly disbanding
unnecessary armies and curtailing expenses not on
ly stopped the increase but actually began to re
duce the national debt. The commission appoint
ed to revise the internal revenue system have re
ported a bill, which will undoubtly be adopted,
Greatly reducing the burdens of the Internal Rev
enue tax. Close upon this follows the action of
our t-tate Legislature of Feb. 14 what an ad
mirable valentine to the tax payers of Pennsylva
nia; on the recommendation of the State Treasurer
repealing the State tax upon Real Estate. Penn
sylvania though doing her full share -in putting
down the rebellion, by the economical adminis
tration of her affairs, in the hands of the Union
party, has net only paid off a large portion of the
State debt, but now finds that by a proper revision
of her revenue laws she can dispense with the
tax upon real estate that has foryears ha? weigh
ed her down, while under the rule of the now de
funct Democracy. What a comment uj.an tho long
continued rule of Democracy in Pennsylvania,
that in many years of peace our state debt grew
and our taxes increased while in a few years, and
those years of war and extraordinary expenses, t he
Republican party has so raised the credit of the
State and lightened the burthen's of her people.
Public opinion on the Veto.
From the Cincinnati Gazette:
Before examining the President's specific
objections to the bill, we shall notice his as
sumption that he is the embodiment of the
whole people, while Congress only represents
single districts. This is contrary to the whole
letter and spirit of our Constitution. The
pretension is the more remakable in one
whom the people did not elect to the office of
President.
Nor can he claim to be the representative
of the late rebel States, over Congress, for
they did not help to elect him any more than
they did Congress. And when he disables
the power of Congress, because those States
are not represented, he disables his own
office, for they are not represented in it by
their own voice. The legislation which had
constitutional power to put down the rebel
lion, has the same power to settle the terms
of peace. To disable one disables the other.
From the Ohio State Journal:
But we have no desire to go into all the
objections which might be urged to the lies
sage of the President, in detail. It may well
cause doubts in the mind of the Executive as
to the correctness of his position, when bells
are rung and caps thrown up by the party
which has, all through the war, given a cow
ardly sort of aid and comfort to the rebellion,
while Union men go about the streets sadly,
that the cause for which we have bat
tied with such expenditure of blood and
treasure, against open, armed foes in front,
and secret, insidious traitors in the rear, is in
peril from one of its most cherished and
trusted defenders.
From the Chicago Republican :
The reasons of the President are those of a
man who, finding himself thwarted in his own
policy, is determined that, if he cannot have
his way, no other branch of the Government
shall do so. The bill which has been vetoed
provides only such remedial authority as is
made necessary by the failure or refusal of
the States to afford the means of justice and
the means of protection to the vast population
now living as social and political outcasts,
fhe Southern States refuse to recognize prac
tically, the freedom of the blacks: Congress
has provided tribunals and authority to recog
nize and enforce that freedom; the whole
South, clinging most tenaciously to slavery,
are opposed to such tribunals, and the Presi
dent says the blacks shall not have this na
tional shield from the oppression of their for
mer owners, overseers, and oppressors!
The country will learn with amazement
that the President has vetoed an act whose ti
tle might justly have been "An act to enforce
the bill of rights."
Prom the Now York Tribune :
There is not one rebel, from Canada to Bra
zil inclusive, who is not enraptured by this
veto —not a resident of the north who rejoic
ed over the Union defeats at Bull Kun,
Gaines's Mill, Groveton, Fredericksburg.
Chancellorsville or the Chickamauga. who
does not bless President Johnson for uttering
it. Perhaps, they will continue thus
and perhaps not. Let us patiently observe
and remember.
From the Lancaster (Pa.) Express:
Tnetrue friends of Andrew Johnson—those
who stood by him when rebels and copper
heads alike sought his ruin and defeat—will
deeply regret that he should be so radically
opposed to a measure which passed both
Houses of Congress by a two-third vote, and
received the approbation of loyal people
north and south. In some of his objections
the President is certainly in error, and the
conference between him and Congress is so
stoical, on so:no important points, that his
veto cannot be sustained by the representa
tives of the people.
Front the Philadelphia North American :
On carefully considering the views express
ed by President Johnson in his veto message,
we see no reason to depart from the position
we assumed in favor of the Freeduteu's Bu
reau bill at the time of to passage through
Congress. Our great respect i'or the Presi
dent. and approval of the general policy gov
erning his administration, impresses us with
extreme reluctance to differ trout him on
measures of so much importance as that
which has called forth his veto. If we could,
consistently with a sense of duty, agree with
him in this case, it would afford us as much
pleasure to do so as it now givts ug pain td
do the reverse.
From the Philadelphia jVesfr.
We can best understand our Duties iu this
soletfir. emergency by fearlessly stating the
Dangers of the Republic. Among these lat
ter may be classed the postponement or de
feat of every essential amendment of the Na
tional Constitution —the remission to new
horrors of the freodmen of the South—the
Executive opposition to every bill for the
improvement of the District of Columbia, in
eluding the political and civil elevation of the
resident colored race—the reorganization in
every insurgent section of the recent rebels—
the expulsion or discouragement of free emi
gration to the South —a system of wide and
merciless proscription of independent ani
earnest men —the pardon, if not the honora
ble restoration to their rights, of Jefferson
Davis, John C. Breckinridge and the leading
traitor;}; and the resuscitation, by Federal
patronage, of the entire Copperhead party,
these are the Dahgers of the situation; Dan
gers; however, that may be anticipated and
prevented, if we are only bold and fearless iu
the knowledge and in the discharge of our
imperative Duties. And what are those? In
the first place to sustain those faithful and
\ obedient Representatives in Congress, the or
gans. as they are, of the loyal millions of the
Republic, in their recent almost unanimous
in favor of universal suffrage, and in
favor of the bill just vetoed by the President.
From tne Boston Advertiser.
The grave character of the issue thus sud
denly joined between the legislative and exec
utive branches of our government will not es
cape the attention of our readers. It is an
issue which it was worth much serious effort
to avoid—not for the interests of party which
are temporary and inconsiderable, but for the
sake 0/ national interest;', which are momen
tous and eternal. But if it has indeed come
we know not how Congress can decline to
meet it openly and firmly, relying upon the
certain support of the great majority of tho
American people, in a steadfast adherence to
(he course marked out alike by self-respect
and by the demands of public safety.
From the Chicago Evening Journal.
While it must be conceded that there is
great force in some of the President's objec
tions, we nevereheless regret exceedingly
that he should have deemed it his duty to
have withheld his approval from a measure
which, notwithstanding its objectionable fea
tures, would, as it seems to us, be salutary in
its practical effects.
From the Xorrislotcn Herald.
In communicating his veto, Sir. Johnson
has not contented himself with discussing the
bill itself, but has unfolded and elaborated his
fnture policy, giving the lie to those profes
ions which secured him the confidence of the
great Union party, and his preseut exalted
position. He demands of Congress the instant
admission of the persons elected as members
by the Southern rebels. He demands that
these traitors, whose hands are yet red with
the blood of the Union and its defenders shall
be given equal rights and privileges with the
loyal citizens of the land. So far from mak
ing his announcement good that "Treason is
a crime, and must be punished as such," he
intends to elevate its perpetrators and make
them stand on the same level with the best
and most loyal citizen.
In adopting this policy it is needless to say
that, the President has not only joiued issue
with Congress but with the whole Union par
ty of the country. If he has deserted the
men who made him what he is, and whose
principles he has pretended to support, he
must not expect true and loyal men to follow
him He will share the fate of Tyler and Fill
more. and sleep in that dishonored company
of unfaithful servants, whose names to all fu
ture time are by words of scorn and reproach.
SIGNIFICANT FACTS.
The following pertinent facts, with regard
to the colored people, wero stated by Con
gressman Kelley in discussing the suffrage
bill for the District of Oolutuuia. We com
mend them to the attention of those who
find fault with the bill.
' 'Are tliey in rags and filth and degrada
tion? The tax books of the District will
tell you that they pay taxes on $1,250,000
worth of real estate, held within the limits
of this District. On one block, on which
they pay taxes on fifty odd thousand dollars,
there are but two colored freeholder's who
have not bought themselves out of slavery.
One of them has bought as many as eight
persons be ide himself, a wife, and seven
children. Coming to freedom in manhood,
mortgaged for a thousand or fifteen hundred
dollars as his own price, he has earned and
carried to the Southern robber thousands of
dollars, the price extorted for his wife and
children, and is now a freeholder in this
District.
SCHOOLS ANI) NEWSPAPERS.
They maintain, sir, to the infamous dis
grace of the American Congress and people,
thirty-three day schools, eight of which are
maintained exclusively by contributions
from colored citizens of the District; the
remainder by (he contributions, eked out
contributions, from the generous people of
the North; and every dollar of their million
and a quarter dollars of rehl estate and per
sonal property is taxed for schools to edu
cate the children of the white people of tho
District, the fathers of many of those child
ren having been absent during the war fight
ing for the Confederacy and against our
Constitution and flag. Who shall reproach
them with being poor and ignorant, while
Congress, which has exalusive jurisdiction,
in that jurisdiction, has till last year robbed
them day by day, and barred the door of the
public school against them ? Such reproach
does not lie in the white man's mouth; at
any rate no member of tho Democratic par
ty ought to utter it. They take in, as the
subscription lists of the two papers show,
more than twelve hundred copies each af
ternoon of the "National l'epublican," and
over thirty-five hundred copies each morn
ing of the "Daily Chronicle."
Ktamxxr.'—A loyal man of Kentucky
writes to one of the Union representatives
from that State, as follows :
"l y opular_ opinion, our courts of justice,
and the Legislature, have made, of all the
offences in the category, that of being loyal
to the Government of the United States the
greatest crime. Any other crime may be
but to be a Union man is odious.
We were invited to come forward and peril
all we had that was worth living for to aid
inputting down the rebellion. Thousands
of our best men went into the army of the
United States. Others, who were not able
to go into the field, gave their means to for
ward the good cause. The rebellion has
succumbed to force; we who survive find
ourselves exposed to the vengeance of our
State courts, to legislative proscription, and
to popular odium: and when we invoke the
aid of the National Government to protect
its loyal citizens, we are insultingly told
that the General Government cannot do any
thing-. That the State government can use
their machinery to persecute men for being
loyal to the Federal government, without let
or hindrance, is a dogma tenaciously adher
ed to by the politicians of Keutncky, and
is acquiesced in by the authorities at Wash
ington. t
HK who labors for mankind without a care
for himself, has already begun his immortali
ty.
SPEWH OF SENATOR TJtVHBtJU,
ol Illinois, in. the U. S. Senate, Feb
rnary 20th—His Kevieiv and Demoli
tion on the Veto Message.
MR. PRESIDENT: —It is with deep and pro
found regret that I rise for the purpose of re
viewing somewhat the extraordinary message
f the President, returning, with his objec
tions, the bill to amend an act entitled an act
ip establish a bureau for the relief of freed
men and refugees, ana for other purposes.
It has been my desire that the various Depart
rnents of the Government should harmonize
in the restoration of the States to their full
constitutional relations to the Union. I have
sought, and had no other purpose in the part
which I have taken in reference to this bill,
than to carry out such measures as would
protect the loyal refugees and freedmen in
the rebellious Statiis. and as 1 ffttp
pose, harmonize with the views of the Exec
utive.
He had declared to us, in his message, de
livered to us at the commencement of the
session, that we shall but fulfill our duties as
legislators by according exact and equal justice
to ail men, special privileges to none. The only
object or design oi'tbe bill was to secure these
right to all men, and I am greatly surprised
that a bill designed for such a purpose should
i ha* been returned by the Executive, with a
statpment that it is unconstitutional, incoagi#
ten} with the actual condition of the coun
try and at variance with the Constitution of
thcUuited Slates.
leaving taken somewhat of ah active part
in tie passage of this bill through the ben
ate, H feel called upon tojvindicate myself from
havihg urged upon the consideration of the
Senate a bill so unconstitutional, and so at
variance with the aCtu&l condition of the
couutjy as this is now declared to be. What
is this* It isanaraendmentto theFreedmen's
Bureau Bill. It is not an original measure.
It is not measure establishing a bureau, but
is merely amendatory of an act already in ex
istence Nor is it, as it seems to be suppos
ed by lome, materially to enlarge the powers
of th-i Freedmen's Bureau, as it already ex
ists. It is an entire misapprehension to sup
pose that such is the object of the bill, or that
such would be its effects. It does little more
than jrive the sanction of law to what is al
ready being done without any statute or pro
vision
Th< Freedmen's Bureau, as I have said,
alrealy exists. Courts are held by the Freed
men's Bureau throughout the entire region
of cointry where that Bureau has any opera
tion. | Under the military authority of the
Uniteil States, laws inconsisUnt, as is believ
ed wifo the safety of the Government, or in
compttibie with military operations, are set
asideat this time in all these States. The
object of the bill was jo continue in existence
the Freedmen's Bureau bill, not permanent
ly, no as a permanent institution. All such
intentwas disavowed during the discussion
of the bill. II is true no time is specified in
the bid as to when it shall cease to operate;
nor is it customary to insert such a clause in
any lav; but it was declared that the law
should operate until otherwise provided by
law.
It is known that the Congress of the Uni
ted States assembles every year, and no one
supposes this bill proposed to establish a bu
reau to be engrafted as a permanent institu
tion of the country. Far from it. No, sir.
Is it intended that the bill shall go into the
States and control the domestic affairs of
these States? Far from it. It is a bill de
signed simply to provide not for four millions
of emancipated slaves, or of refugees, but
only for the indigent, for those who are una
ble to take care of themselves, so that they
could become self supporting. In conse
quence of the war. thousands of Union men
were driven f rom their homes all over the
South. Particularly was this the case in Ten
nessee, where they had been stripped of their
property, and women and children had lied
destitute from their hemes.
They had neither food to eat nor clothing
to wear. They flocked around our armies
during the whole progress of the war, and
were fed by our supplies. So also with the
frcedmen. Congress at an early day passed
a law declaring free all slaves who should
come within the lines ef our armies. They
came flying within our lines, without clothing
without hats wounded, footsore and distress
ed Many of them entered our ranks to fight
for the cause of the country and others we
had clothed and fed. While this war was in
progress while these people were flocking
around our armies, on the 3d March, lbtlG,
not one year ago the Congress of the United
States passed a law to systematize the cloth
ing and feeding of these destitute negroes and
place them under the charge of a special de
partment of the military establishment whose
duty it should be to look after them. That
was called the Freedmen's Bureau and officers
were assigned to the charge of it chiefly from
the army.
Since that time the conflict of war has
ceased, and there are still upon our hands
some of these destitute people who must be
provided for: a far less number than wou Id
nave been upon our hands if no system had
been devised for taking care of them for fin
ding them employment and settling them,
upon tracts of land wherever it may be ob
tained; and 1 undertake to say that there has
been saved to the Government millions of
money by the establishment of the system
through which employment has fouud
for these people and they have been made
self supporting who otherwise would have
benn entirely dependent upon the bounty of
the Government lor support.
Since the Freedmen's Bureau was organi
zed an amendment has been adopted to the
Constitution of the United States declaring
thai slavery shall not exist anywhere within
its jurisdiction. By virtue of that enactment
hundreds of thousands of slaves have become
free in the midst of a hostile population.
'I hey have become free without any of this
world's goods not owning even the hat upon
their heads or the coat upon their backs with
out any supplies of any kind, or anywhere to
obtain the next meal to save them from star
vation. Somethiug mus! be done to take care
of these people, and the Freedmen's Bureau
has been endeavoring to do that something.
Now, Sir, the Freedmen's Bureau has not
had jurisdiction over these four millions of
people. Its work has been confined to a
very small compass, as I shall presently show
by the official record. And this measure,
which comes to us denounced as unconstitu
tional. as a great public charity, as an institu
tion designed to feed, clothe, take care of
and furnish homes for four millions of peo
ple, is designed only to find, employment for
these destitute, these ignorant, these unpro
vided for people, who are few compared
with the great number of blacks in the whole
country, and not simply for the freedmen
and for the refugees and before 1 sit down I
will show that more white refugees, in many
instances, have received support and sup
port and supplies from the Government
through this Freedmen's Bureau thnn blacks
have.
The President, in his veto message —and ho
dees not with it candidly and fairly, and I
have no feeling in what I say but that which
shall best promote the peace and happiness of the
whole country—says their is no immediate necess
ity for the proposed measure. He says the aet
which was passed to establish a Bureau for the
relief of Freedmen and refugees, in the month of
March last, has not yet expired. It was thought
stringont end expressive enough, gays the Presi
dent, for the purpose in view in time of war. Now,
sir, when will that act expire? What was it? It
provided, in its section, that there is hereby es
tablished in the War Department, to continue
during the present war of Rebellion, and for one
year tnereafter, a Bureau for refugees, freedmen
and abandoned lands. By the terms of the act it
was to continue during the present war of rebellion
and for one year thereafter.
Now, sir, when did the war of Rebellion cease?
W by, so far as the conflict of arms is concerned,
we all admit that the war ceased when the last
Rebel army laid down iu arms. This was some
time in the month of May, when the rebel army in
lexas surrendered to the Union forces; so that the
present Bureau must, by its own limitation, have
expired within one year from the time when the
war ceased. Ido not hold that the consequences
of the war are over. I do not understand that
Ecaoe is restored with all its oonsequenoes. Wfc
ave not yet escaped from the evils inflicted by
the war. Peace and harmony are not yet restored,
but the war of the Rebellion is over, and this bu
reau must expire in May next, according to the
terms of the act that was passod on the third of
March, 1865, and according to the views of the
President, as expressed in the veto message. The
President says it was thoigbt stringent and ex
pressivc enough for the purpose in view in time
of war.
Why, sir, what was the condition of the country
when that act passed in March, 1865? At that
I time most of the States where the frecdmen were
under Rebel control, and the Froeduicn's Bureau
at that time oou'.d only take jurisdiction of such
freedmen and refugees as came within the lines of
the army. Throughout most of the Southern
States the Bureau was limited in its operation and
I desire to ask in all candor and fairness if, when
the war progresjed, and the slaves of Texas, and
Mis.-Usipp', p*(? Alabama, and Florida, and Geor
gia, and Virginia and ttdfUi Carolina were all
made free by the Constitutional Amefrdmnt—l
want to know if it was not proper that the Freed
men's Bureau should be so oonduoted as to em
brace the destitute and suffering in these States,
as well as the few who had come within our lines
when the bill was enacted in 1865? Was there no
ooeasion to extend its operation? and because it
Was expressive eqodgb for the purpose In timo of
war, would ft follow that it Is expressive enough
for the purpose in time of peace, When we have
jurisdiction of a country very much larger than
we would in timo of war.?
But, sir, the President says the bill proposes to
establish, by act of Congress, military jurisdiction
over all parts of the United States containing refu
gee a anil frecdmen.
Sir, I desire to speak respectfully of the Executive
but I would like to know where in that bill is any
provision that extends military jurisdiction over
all part* of the United States containing refugees !
and freedmen? Bir, the bill contains no such
clause. It is a misapprehension of the bill. What
does it say? Tire clause of the bill upon that sub
ject is this:—"The President of the United States,
through the War Depertmentand the Commission
ers, shall extend military jurisdiction and protec
tion over all employees and officers of this Bureau
in the exercise of the duties imposed or authorized
by this act or the act to wieh this is amendatory."
Is not the difference manifest to everybody be
tween a bill thiri extends military jurisdiction over
the efficor ria emp'oyces of theßureau, and a bill
which should cxtcn 1 military jurisdiction over all
parts of the United States containing refugees and
i'reekmen? Why, sir, this bill ro-Ves the Freed
men's Bureau a part of the W*<- Department. It
makes its officers xnd agercs amenable to the
rules and articles of war, trad ucss thot extend
military jurisdiction,iver -he whole country where
they are? How do they differ from any other por
tion of the army of the United States?
The army of the United States is governed by
rules and articles, whorover it may be whether in
Indiana, or in Florida, and all operations in it are
a portion of the military establishment, and are
subject to the rules and articles of war. But did
any body ever suppose that the whole country
where they were was under military jurisdiction.
If a company of soldiers are stationed at one of
the forts in New York harbor, and the officers and
soldiers arc subject to military jurisdiction was it
ever supposed that the poeple of the State of New
York were therefore under military jurisdiction?
It i.- an entire misapprehension of the provisions
of the bill. It extends military jurisdiction no
where. It merely places under military jurisdic
tion those people belonging to the Freedmen's
Bureau, who, nearly all of them, are now under
military jurisdiction.
The Commissioner at the head of that bureau
is an officer of the army and under military juris,
diction, andl believe every assistant commission,
or is an officer ofthe army, under military jurisdic
tion. But the bill does authorize the President
if he thinks proper, instead of detailing military
officer*, to appoint civilians: and in esse ho does
appoint civilians, they are to be subject to military
jurisdiction and entitled to military protection in
performance of duties imposed by this act.
The next objection of the President which Mr.
Trumbnll noticed was that the country is to be
divided into districts and sub-districts, and the
number of salaried agents to be employed may be
equal to that of the number of counties and par
ishes in all the Staes where refugees andfrecdmen
are to be found. He denied that it was necessary
to appoint any such numbers, notwithstanding it
was provided in the bill that they might be ap
pointed. To appoint such r. number, he said,
would be an abuse of power intrusted in the Presi
dent.
Mr. TRUMBULL continued in reply to the
objection that this bill establishes military juris
diction in civil eases, and denying that it creates
nay jurisdiction whatever not now existing. The
officers of the Bureau were officers of the army of
the United States, who were now holding military
commissions by the President all over the South.
But a short time since, in Georgia, two citizens
were arraigned for crime, not before a civil court,
by process of civil law, but before a military com
mission, and he thanked God that these culprits,
being fonnd guilty, were sentenced to death and
hung by direct approval and authority of the
President himself.
Was it, then, unconstitutional to do, by virtue
of a law of Congress, what is being done every
day without one? He referred to the order issued
by order of General Grant, January 12, 1866, to
protect persons against civil suits for actions
done in pursuance of military authority, and col
lored persons for offenee3 not punished in the
ease of white persons in the samo manner and
degree. He aluded also to the order issued by
the Lieut.-General directing copies of newspa-
in rebellious States containing expressions
of disloyalty to be sent to his head-quarters, and
declaring that the persistent publication of such
articles could not be tolerated.
By what authority, he would ask, in this time
of peace, could we confer this authority on one
branch of the army and deny it to another? If
the Rebellion is at an end, by what authority
does the President suspend the writ of habeas cor
pus? If the President could not reconeilo those
unusual acts to the words of the Constitution,
why did he exercise it. Would it detract from its
authority to give it the sanction of law? He re
viewed the objection that the act would establish
| a permanent rank of public administration, having
greatly enlarged powers. He dehied that its es
lablishment was permanent or that its powers
were enlarged, in fact, in some respects restricted.
He proceeded to show the relative degree of
power confided to the two bills, and the misappre
hension under which he presumed the President had
labored. He wished to refer to the extraordinary
suggestion of the President that four millions of
former slaves were to be p. ovided for by this bill
and to the objection made on the ground of ex
pense. He declared that not a fortieth part ot
four millions had ever received the rid of the Bu
reau, and quoted fiotn General Howard's report
to show that but HO,OOO negroes had been aided,
and 57,000 whites, and that tha number was con
stancy decreasing, so that in December last the
number was reduced to 17,000. Ho alluded to the
testimony of General Tisk, Assistant Commissioner
for Tennessee, showing that less than 200 orphan
children and aged per. ons were the only negroes
received aid; that in four months the cost of ra
tions was reduced from ?95,000 to 5,000 and that
of 25,000 persons fed 11,500 were white.
Tho obicct of the Bureau, he asserted, was to
decrease the cost of supporting both frcedmen and
refugee-. It had invariably had this eflect, re
ducing the amount which had been distributed by
army commissioners, and actually decreased the
expenses whii h tho dictates of humanity in the
army had occasioned. In reply to the suggestion
of the President that the Freedincn sheuld be pro
tected though the civil power of tho Courts, he ro
ferred to the enactments of the Legislature of
Mississippi,, which prohibits the holding or leasing
of Lands by freedmen, gives whites in certain ca
ges power over their persons and in other respects
infringes their natural rights, no showed that in
some localities they were not allowed to hire them
selves out without the consent of their former
masters, and were restricted in their right to travel
and whipped if found away from their homes with
out a pass..
There was no protection to the freedmen in the
courts of the laws of tho rebellious States and
withoat this hill they would be despoiled of their
rights. He thought it extraordinary that the Pr
esident, in giving his opinion that the hill was un
constitutional had made no mention of that clause
under which its friouds especially claimed its au
thorization, tho second clauso of the amendment
abolishing slavery, and instead of standing in
doubt respecting its constitutionally, he felt that
he should have failed in his constitutional duty if
he had refused to favor it. In considering the last
objection, the absence of representation of States
affected by its provisions, ho held that, if it was
valid, Congress had no right to pass a law levying
direct taxes upon those States, no right to declare
those States inre hellion, orto pass a law to block
ado their por's.
THE Washington correspondent of that
rebel and Democratic journal, the Richmond
J&caminer, cautiously gives notice that re
pudiation of the Federal wardeptia to be
one of the planks of the reconstructed South
ern platform. There is no doubt of that and
the circumlocution in which it is stated by
our Richmond cotemporary is entirely un
necessary. The South is for repudiation as
a matter courese, and the Northern Dem
ocrats are with them.— Exchange.
THE TRAITOR'S TOAST.— The character of
those who last night went to serenade the
President may be judged by the circumstance
that three of the promiaent leaders of the
crowd walked up to the bar of Willard's
Hotel, and witk great parade drank tho
toast: '' The three greatest Americana—
Jafferaon Davis, Andrew Johnson, and Rob
ert E. Lee.—Cincinnati Gazette.
THE REVISED TAX BILL.
The new tax.bill, as it is drawn by the
commission appointed to investigate the in
ternal revenue system, will recommend many
changes, of whieh the following are the most
important:
J. An exemption of all incomes below
$lOOO fiorn the income tai.
2. A reduction of the tax oil distilled
liquors lYoin $2 to $3 per gallon.
3. A remission of all taxes now levied ofl
wearing nppareL
4. A repeal of all taxes now levied on
r?g iron' $2,-40 per ton, coal six cents per
ton, and crude petroleum $1 per gallon.
5. A repeal of all taxes now levied on
books, magazines, and pamphlets; leaving
the present (axes on paper, leather, 4c. un
touched.
ffi A reduction by one-half the duties now
levied on home manufactures generally.
7. A repeal of all taxes now levied an re
pairs of engines, COTS., carriages, ships, &c.
8. A repeal of all terras embodied in
schedule Aof the internal revenre &Ct of
last session, except those on billiard tables.
9. A reduction of the tax now levied on
brokers, sales of stock from $5 per $lOOO to
$1 per $lOOO.
10. An increase of the tax on raw cotton
from 2 to 5 cents per pound.
These modifications are proposed to take
effect on the Ist day of July next or at the
commencement of the next fiscal year.
State tax on Keal Estate Repealed.
On Wednesday, the I4tk inst., the hill re
leasing the payment of State tax on real es
tate was finally passed by the Pennsylvania
Legislature. Hereafter all real estate is ex
empt from taxation for State purposes. The
bill reads as follows:
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate
and Home of Representatives of Pennsylvar
ni" in General Assembly met, and it is here
by enacted by the authority of the same,
That from and after the passage of this act,
it shall be the duty of the casnier of every
bank in this Commonwealth- whether in
coporated under the laws of this State or of
the United States, to collect annually, from
every stockholder of said bank, a tax of one
per centum upon the par value of the stock
held by said stockholder, and to pay the
same into the State Treasury on or before
the first day of July in every year hereafter,
commencing on the first day of July, Anno
Domini one thousand eight hundred and
sixty six, and the said stock shall be exempt
from other taxation under the laws of this
Commonwealth.
SEC. 2. That in addition to the taxes DOW
provided for by law, every railroad,canal and
transportation company incorporated under
the law of this Commonwealth, and not lia
able to the tax upon income under existing
laws .thall pay to the Commonwealth a tax
of three fourths of one per centum upon the
gross receipts of said company; the said tax
shall be paid semi-annually, upon the first
days of July and January, commencing on
the first day of July, one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-six; and for the purpose
of ascertaining the amount of the same, it
shall be the duty of the treasurer, or other
proper officer of said company, to transmit
to the Auditor General, at the dates afore
said. a statement, under oath or affirmation,
of the amount of the gross receipts of the
said company during the preceding six
months; aud if any such company shall re
fuse or fail, for a period of thirty days after
such tax becomes due, to make said return,
or to pay the same the amount thereof, with
an addition of ten per centum thereto, shall
be collected for the use of the Common
wealth, as other taxes are recoverable by
law, from said companies.
SEC. 3. The revenue derived under the
second section of this act shall be applied to
the payment of the principal and interest of
the debt contracted under the act of May 15 th
1861, entitled, An act to create a loan, and
provide for arming the State.
S*EC. 4. From and after the passage of this
act the real estate af this Commonwealth
shall be exempt from taxation for State pur-
Eoscs, Provided, That this section shall not
e construed to relieve the said real estate
from the payment of any taxes due the Com
monwealth at the date of the passage of
this act.
A Cough, Cold, or Sore Throat.
REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND SHOULD
BE CHECKED. IR ALLOWED TO COMTIKUE,
Irritation of the Lnngs. a Permanent
Throat Aflection, or an Incurable
I nns Disease
IS OFTEX THE RESULT.
BROWN'S BRONCHIAL TROCHES
having a direct influence to the parts, give im
mediate relief.
FOR BRONCHITIS, ASTHMA, CATARRH,
CONSUMPTION A THROAT DISEASES,
Troches are used with alwavs good success.
SINGERS AND PUBLIC SPEAKERS
will find Truckes useful in clearing the voice when
taken before Singing or Speaking, and relieving
the throat after an unusual exertion of the vocal
organs. Tho Troches are recommended and pre
scribed by Physicians, and have had testimonials
from eminent men throughout the country. Be
ing an article of true merit, and having proved
their efficacy by a test of many years, each year
find them in new localities in various parts of tho
world, and the Troche are universally pronoun
ced better than other articles.
Obtain only "BROWX'S BRONCHIAL TROCHES,"
and do not take any of tho Worthiest Imitation*
that may be offered.
Sold everywhere in the United States, and
Fori ign countries, at 35 cents per box.
Nov. 10, 1865.
ELECTION. —There will be an election held at
the Public House of Mrs. Markley, in tho
borough of McConnellsburg, on HONDA T,
March sth, 1866, between the hours of 11 o'clock
A. M. and 1 o'clock P. M., for five managers of
the Chambersburg and Bedford Turnpike Road
Company for the ensuing year.
T. B. KENNEDY, Pres't.
Feb. 16, 1566.-31
ASTRAY.
" Came to the premises of the subscriber,
residing in St. Clair township, on or about
the first of August, 1865, a stray BULL,
about 2 years old, without any marks. Color,
brindled and white. The owner is requested
to come forward, prove property, pay charges
and take him away. SAM'L CLARK.
Feb. 9, 1806.-8t
PURE LIBERTY WHITE LEAD—
preferred by all practical Painters! Try it
and you will have no other. Manu -
tared only by
ZEIGLER & SMITH,
Wholesale, Drug, Paint and Glass Dealers.
No. l37North THIRD Street, PHIDAD'A.,
feb2;ly
PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SALE
OF
Valuable Real Estate.
The subscriber living in Monroe township,
about one mile south-west of Clearville, on
main road leading to Cbaneysville, will sell
at public sale on SATURDAY, the 10th day
of March, 1860, if not sooner disposed of at
private sale, all that valuable real estate situ
uate as aforesaid, consisting of one hundred
and fifty acres, and allowance, between nine
ty and one hundred acres cleared, and in a
good state of cultivation, having thereon erec
ted a two and a half story Log House, good
board Barn, and other out-buildings. This
tract is well watered, and contains a fine lot
of young fruit trees, enough to supply the
wants of a family.
Sale to commence at 10 o'clock, when the
terms will be made known by the subscriber.
felhta DANIEL EVANS.
KINGSFOUD'S CELEBRATED CORN
STARCH, FAHNESTOCK'S FARINA
and HOMINY, just received and for sale at tho
bargain store of O. R * W. OSTER.
SALT.
A LARGE quantity—in sacks and in barrel
—wholeaal and retail—at Bloody Run Station.
0ct.18.'64-Iy JOHN W. BARNDOLLAR.
J. L. LEWIS,
Having purchased the Drug Store, lately
owned by Mr. H. C. Reamer, takes pleasure
in announcing to the citizens of Bedford *nd
vicinity, that he has just returned from ti i( ,
cities, with a well selected stock of
DRUGS,
MEDICINES-.
DYE STUFFS,
PERFUMERY,
TOILET ARTICLES,
STATIONERY,
COAL OIL,
COIL OIL LAMPS,
and CHIMNEYS.
Best brands of
CIGARS, SMOKING AND CHEWING
TOBACCO,
FRENCH CONFECTIONS, *c. & c .
The stock of Drugs and Medicines con
sist of the purist quality, and selected with
great care. General assortment of
POPULAR PATENT MEDICINES.
The attention of the Ladies is particularly
invited to the stock of
PERFUMERY, TOILET AND FANCY
ARTICLES,
consisting of the best perfumes of the day-
Cologne, Soaps, Preparations for the hair,
complexion and teeth: Camphor oil for chap
ped hands; Teeth and Hair brushes, Comil
Port Monies, Ac. Ac.
Of STATIONERY there is a fine assort
ment: Billet, Note, Letter, Cap. and Mous
ing Paper, Envelopes, Pens, Pencils, Ink,
Blank Deeds, Power of Attorneys, Draftir:/
Paper, Marriage Certificates, Ac. Ac.
a large quantity of books, which will bt sold
very cheap.
Best quality of COAL OIL to be found ia
the market, Coal oil Lamps, Hinge humeri,
can be lighted without removing the chimney!
all patterns and prices. Glass Lanterns, very
neat, for burning coal oil. Lamp Chimnevs
of an improved pattern. Lamp shades of
beautiful patterns.
HOWE'S FAMILY DYE COLOP..S-th c
shades being light brown drab, snuff kw Q ,
dark brown, light and dark blue, light and
dark green, yellow, pink, orange, royal pur
pie, scarlet, maroon, magenta, cherry "MA
HUMPHREY'S HOMCEPATHIC REME
DIES.
CIGARS of best brands. Smote:; can re
ly on a good cigar.
TOBACCO: Rose Smoking Tobacco. Mi.h
igan and Solace fine cut, Natural Leaf. Twm
aud Fig Plug.
Finest and purest FRENCH CONFEC
TIONS.
PURE DOMESTIC WINES, conrisfing
of Grape, Blackberry and Elderberry, (
medicinal uae.
The attention of Physicians is iavited to
i the stock of Drugs and Medicines, which
thej can purchase at reasonable prices.
Country merchant's orders promptly flih-d.
Goods put up with neatness and care, and s;
reasonable terms.
J. L. LEWIS designs keeping a first class
Drug Store, and having on band at all times
a general assortment cf goods. Being a Drug
gist of several years experience. Physicians
can rely on having their Prescriptions care
ully and accurately compounded.
Bedford. Feb. 9, 1866.
ipUBLIC SALE
"Valuable li,eal Estate
a
By virtue of an order of the Orphans' Cour; - f
Bedford county, the undersigned administrat ; f
Dan id T. Miller, late of South Woodberry tuna
ship, in said county, deceased, will expose to c
by public vendue, on the premises, on
Saturday, the 17th day of .March, IrtCO,
the following described real estate, situate ia the
township aforesaid, vix: Ist. the
2vi^-LrsiCLr
of the said deceased, containing 102 acres, neat
measure, all cleared and under good fences, aci
having thereon erected two good painted weather
boarded Dwelling Ileuses, h large new bank bara
weathcrboardcd and painted, with a horse-power
house and sheep stable attached, with all other
outbuildings necessary to make a farm comforta
ble and convenient. There arc upon this proper
ty a good orchard of choice fruit and good water
at the houses and bam. The land is all lime
stone land and in a high state of cultivation, and
altogether the farm is uueof the most desirable in
Morrison's Cove. It is about one mile west of
New Enterprise Post Office.
No. 2.
A tract of bottom laad lying about one utile
from the mansion place, containing 33 acres
and nine perches, nett measure. This tract is well
timbered with white oak, rock oak. swamp oak
and hickory timber, and will be sold altogether or
in pieces to suit purchasers.
No. 3.
A tract of mountain land lying about one milt
from tract No. 2—containing 30 acres and one
hundred and thirty nine perches. This tract is
also timbered, principally with Chcsnat timber.
TEEMS—One third of the purchase money to
remain in the hands of the purchaser, a lien upun
the land, during the life-time of the widow— the
interest thereon to be paid to her annually. One
thrid of the remainder at the confirmation of the
sale, and the balance in two equal annual pay
ments without interest. The payments to bo se
cured by judgment bonds.
Sale to commence at 10 o'clock A. M. of said
day.
SAMUEL TEETER,
fcblC:lt Administrator.
RJIIIE NEW YORK
WEEKLY MAGAZINE.
OF
48 Pages* 48 Pages,
Is published in season to he received in nearly all
parts of the United States East of the Rocky
Mountains, on every Saturday of its date. It will
be devoted to
POPULAR LITERATURE,
SCIENCE and ART.
It will contain:
The best popular Tales.
The best domestic Stories.
The best Sketches of Travel.
The best papers on Popular Science.
The best short Popular Essays.
The best Poems, Biographies, Ac. A,-
It gives
MORE ANI) BETTER FOR THE MONEI
Than any other Magazine ever published. Its
selections embrace the best articles from Dickons
—Chambers—The Cornhill and other leading for
eign Magazines, published fresh on the arrival of
each steamer, and a great variety of original unt
ter by the best authors. Was begun, January
13th,
How I Made a Fortune in Wall street,
and
HOW I GOT MARRIED.
A splended, original and true story, written i"t
the NEW YORK. WEEKLY MACASJXK, by a
tleiuan of great experience, who knows all the ins
and outs, and who will give more information
about the straight and crooked ways of that <• -
brated street than has ever bccu "published. To
bo completed in a few weeks. As the luagaziuei*
stereotyped, back numbers can be supplied at t ■■:.
cents each. All news dealers should have the
MAGAZISE, but when they are not accessible, we
have the following—cash in advance —
TERMS:
One copy, one year. $* "
One copy, three months "
Two copies, one year >'
Five copies, 1 year and one extra to agent?.. 20J 1 "
Specimen copies sent by mail on receipt of ten
cents.
ITS SCCCKSS. —This Magazine has so exactly
met a great public want, that
20,000 c opies are now printed,
with every prospect of a vastly greater edition as
soon as the public is generally aware of its merit?.
Address,
• 0. H. DAILY A CO.,
Publishers N. Y. Weekly Magazine,
No. 7 Beukmau St., New York.
feb2
JJRESS GOODS-
Two hundred picoes LADIE'S DRESS J OOPS
including—
FRENCH MERINOES, all colore,
ALL WOOL DELAINES do
ALL WOOL REPS do
ALL WOOL PLAIDS do
BOMBAZINES, ALPACAS, MOHAIRS, POP
LINS, CASHMERES, Ac. Ac. embracing the
most elegant styles we have ever offered for sale
ia Bedford. A. B. CRAMER A CO.
Sept. 28,1 86$.