THE COLUMBIAN, BLOOMSBURG, SATURDAY, JULY 21, I860.
it (iMumlnnii
oEonm: u. mooki:, i:nrTon.
11I.OOMM1UUO, PATLIIPAY, JVJ.V 21, IfcCfl.
THE MODEL LETTER.
Awwon'i Office, V. H, Istkhna t, tlr.vr.Nt' r.,
f TlIIHTKF.NTII f'dLl.riTlnW THH., STATU OF I
1
11m. Jlvffh M'Oillorh, Kccrctaii nflhe Tremiiryt
Bin, I fttcloso you n copy of my Is
mto of this week. 1 Imvo llkcwiso nd
rtresscd a copy io tlio President. You
will sco that tho cfinrgo thnt I nm op
posing him is fulsc.
If I am atwTAisr.n IIV YOUIISET.F
and Titr, PttnsinHNT, If the patronngo
Is not laken from vh and given (o those
who oppose us, wo shall bo able io make
our vigorous Union organization a unit,
nilll TUIUMl'ltANTIiY SUSTAIN Till' AD
MINISTRATION. Respectfully,
Pai.k.mon John,
Assessor Thirteenth District, Pn.
A PUBLIC LETTEll.
OmrKovTiiR ItKvcm.irAN, 1
JlLooMMiiuno, Va., July 7, ll. J
Ton, A. If. fiamtalt, I'mtdcirt o the A'fimnl Vn
ion Club, n'luMnoton, 1). 0.1
Slit, I havo Just received, under tho
frank of tho chattel Senator Edgar Cow
nn, a call Issued by you nnd other mem
bers of yonr "Bread nnd Butter Bri
gade," for n Convention in Philadelphia
on tho fourteenth of August. I return
it to you, as it does not "meet my ap
probation." In times past I entertained a high
personal respect for you. when wo
met at tho Baltimore Convention you
were among tho most radical of the
Itadlcala. "Wo both supported Andrew
Johnson. I acted m good faith. I never
dreamed that ho would prove recreant
nnd false, much less that you would
" fall from your high estate" to follow
Jiis leadership, aye, and aid hint in ids
persistent determination to break up
the organization that placed him in
power, and for tho success of which you
and I have spent tho best years of our
lives. I scorn Io dosobascalhing. You
insult honest Republicans by sending
them your address ; and to Republicans
of Pennsylvania it is a greater insult to
Bend it under tho frank of a Senator
who has treated their generous confi
dence with so much perfidy and treach
ery. Governor Randall, it isa strango
crowd you arc-now training in. The
great and generous party of your gallant
State a party that ha3 bestowed so
many honors on you havo an account
to settlo with you for your recreancy.
And they will do it. You seem to havo
forgotten the tragic fato of Judas. Go
your way. Having sold yourself to do
tho work of shame required at your
hands you shall have your reward. You
and thoso acting with you will find
yourselves eventually swallowed up by
tho Democratic boa constrictor which is
quietly waiting for justsuch provender.
Paw.mon John.
"THAT CONFIRMATION."
The Republican of last week, under
tho caption of " Tho Asscssorhip," dis
courses as follows :
About nlno months ago we were ap-
Jolnted Assessor of Internal Revenue,
t was asked for by a majority of tho
leading active and influential Republi
cans in me jjisinci, auu onuor&eu uy
tho entiro Republican press. Of course
thisappointnmntdidnotplcasotheincur
nblecwiehere.whoforthe past ten years
have adopted tho policy of ruining when
they fail to rulo. Powerless of them
selves to do serious harm, or tonccoiu-
piisumeirpurposes,tnoy appealed to jur.
Buckalew. After various Interviews.
and after their solemnly accepting his
condition, Mr. Buckalew espoused their
cause, not becauso of any lovo for them,
but becauso lie thounht ho saw in Itn
chance to disorganize our party and aid
mo .ueraocracy. -ijieir part ot tno con
tract is now well understood in the Co
i.umtjian enterprise, nnd the attempt to
organize a .loniisou party" nere.
Mr. Buckalew nt once commenced ac
tive operations. He interested the nm-
egado Cowan, and having ascertained at
nn early day tho determination of tho
President to betray the great party that
fTccceu itiiii. invy suuu ooasieu iimtlliuy
nau mm "all richt." lie refusal to
hend our name to tho Senato for confir
mation becauso wo " stood by Congress,'
nnd soon after tho name of Robert F
Clark was sent in becauso he " stood bv
tho President" and endorsed Ids policy.1'
Montlis passed and tho Senato did not
net. Mr. Clark hud made several visits
to "Washington, but found it necessary to
gu uniu mure, jio solemnly assured
Senators that ho was not connected with
nor interested in tho Coi.u.mihan, and
that ho did not and would not oppose
Congress. Senators wcrolikewisoassiir-
ed that our own name would not be sent
in by tho President, nnd that at the close
01 tno session tnero would ooa vacancy j
nnd finally Mr. Buckalew. who is per
sonally popular with Senators, appealed
to them as a special favor to confirm
Mr. Clark, who was his townsman nnd
friend. It was done. Mr. CJartf has
jot an ointicttt. last i uut tho ;rcc he
has paid for it Is fearful.
For ourself Jiaving long sinco
adopted tho policy of taking things
coolly wo confess that wo feel relieved.
Strango as it may sound, it is neverthe
less true, tho emoluments or tho ollico
nover compensated for all of Its annoy
nneos. Too often cases occurred where
seemingly well-meaning pcoplo could
not understand why It was that an oill
cer could not faithfully perform his duty
and vet favor them on tho score of per
soimf friendship. In our official portion
wo could know no man could favor
nono. Our duty was clear and plain.
Wo rctlro from ofilco feeling that wo
conscientiously performed that duty.
And it is n gratification to know that
wo havo retained tho respect, the confi
dence, and endorsement of tho great
mass of tho Republicans of tho entiro
District.
Having somo comments to mako on tho
nbovo articlo, we deem it but fair to our
readers to publish it in full.
"Wo beglu by observing that it is sub
stancially falsoj wholly false when it
reiterates tho charge, heretofore icpeat-
cdly made by the Jlepublican, that the
Coiit'MiitAN was started by Its proprie
tnrsundcrnn agreement with Mr. Buck
alew that Mr. Clnrk should bo made As-
sessorof this district. Thoarrangcmcnt
for the publication of this Journal, ns Is
well known to every gentleman Inter
ested in It, was perfected before the name
of Mr, Clark was thought of In connec
tion with tho Assessorshlp, and before
its proprietors had hoped to be able to
oust the lato Assessor. Wo may further
ndd thnt its publication was designed
before there had been any breach what
ever between tho President nnd Con
gress. It may bowed tostnto here that
Mr. Clark nover was an applicant to the
President for the ofilco of Assessor or
any other ofilco within Ills gift, nnd that
his nanio was used without his consent.
His first knowledge that It had been
u-cd in that connection wns when Pres
ident Johnson announced to him ids de
termination to bestow tho ofilco upon
him. This is a fact susceptible of proof,
and well known to tho gentlemen who
introduced ids name to tho President.
Tho nbove article is not only essential
ly but emphatically false, in the stnlc-
ntcnt " that he Mr. Clark assured Sena
tors that ho was not connected with nor
interested in tho Coi.umman, nnd that
ho did not nnd would not oppose Con
gross." jno such statement was ever
mado by him to Senators, or anybody
else, and no man of truth will assert that
It was. Mr. Clark made two visits to
Washington, nud lie found on his second
and last visit titat an attempt was being
mado by Congressman Mercur and oth
ers of his kind, in Washington and nt
home, to array Senators against him by
false statements, consistent only with
an utter recklessness of truth, the chief
of which was thntc bad started a paper
to oppose Congress. Now as Mr. Clark
had no pecuniary interest whatever in
this paper, and as ho had never written
for it or any other paper a lino about
Congress, good or bad, the truth of the
charge mado was denied. There was no
denial or concealment of the fact that he
took great Interest in the success of this
paper; that ho canvassed for subscrlb-
ers ; that it had his advertising patron
age ; that its proprietors wero ids friends,
and opposed to tho editor of tho Repub
lican. And that there might bo no mis
take that ids disclaimer of any interest
in or connection with tho Coi.umiuan
was only the disclaimer of a pecuniary
interest, a day or two after ids return
from Washington, and before his case
camo up in tho Senate, he addressed to
a distinguished Republican Senator a
letter of that purport.
That Mr. Clark's confirmation was
due in a good degree to the high regard
entertained by Senators of every shade
of political faith for Mr. Buckalew as n
gentleman of integrity and rare ability,
we know to be true, nnd this is about
the only truth contained in tho JlepuMi
can article; unless it be, Indeed, when
tho editor states that ho feels relieved
at having lost tho office. This everybody
who knows him knows is a direct and
positive truth.
But is it not time for tho late Assessor
to bo honest? Ho is removed, and no
amount of prevarication on ids part,
and no heaping of slanderous abuse
upon his successful rival, can reinstate
him ; and that patronage for which he
whined so piteously is gone, not to re
turn, at least during this Administnv
tion. Wlty not then deal honestly witli
his readers, and mako a public confes-
sion of what ho must know to bo the
fact, if Ids truthful friend Mercur lias
advised him truthfully, to wit: that
Senators turned from him with scorn
after reading Ids letter of tho second of
March to Secretary M'Culloch. And
tho moro radical tho Senator tho more
thorough his contempt for the writer of
" that letter." It need not surprise any
body, therefore, that tho Senato In this
instance gave a unanimous vote to con
firm, after thestruggle had been protract
ed long enough to develop tho whole
case to Senators. How could it be other
wlso?
That tho offer of tho lalo Assessor to soli
not only himself hut tho entire Republi
can party of tho county to the President
without any other condition than ids
retention in office, was dictated and up-
proved by Mercur, was very generally
belioved by Senntors; and when, there
fore, they saw that this bitter and ma
lignant fight against Mr. Clark was led
by the-o two worthies, with such feeble
support as home slanderers could give, no
wonder Senntors concluded to treat tliem
with tho contempt they deserved, and
honorable men everywhere will so treat
them.
MILITARY.
Wr, still havo another gun which tho
editor of tho Jlepublican ought to spike,
whilo in that business. If uotspiked it
may bo discharged. Wo refer to that
Interesting letter of tho Assessor to Sec
retary M'Culloeh, dated February twenty-seventh,
ISO!, five days after tho
President's speech on tho twenty-second.
If wo are compelled todischargo
this gun, its stunning effect will equal
Hint of the tremendous bombshell which
tho military man of tho Ilepublican has
been accustomed from time to timo to
explode in tho camps of his enemies.
Wo givo ono elegant extract from tho
letter: " Tho ehargothat I nm opposing
tho President is unfounded and false."
This Is very sttong,very clear, and very
much to tho point, nnd any ono except
a most uncompromising friend of tho
President would havo been content to
let matters remain as they stood at that
writing. Not so witli our Assessor. In
tho threo days between tho twenty-seventh
of February nnd tho second of
March, tho Republican press assailed
tho President with great virulence Tho
editor of tho Jlepublican saw tho ncccs
sity, as ho thought, of defining his po
sition nnow, and pledging not only ids
own unqualified support, hut the sup
port of tho entire Jlepublican party of
this county. Wo are, however, In error
in saying unqualified, but wero uncon
sciously led into tho error by the trivial
i less of tho qualification, which was that
the J'resident must allow the Assessor to
rdaln his office.
COMMUNICATION.
lltonMsntmo, July 10, ISCfl.
To the Editor of the Columbian :
I observe by tho last Columbia County
Jlepublican that Dr. John has published
a letter purporting to have been written
by me of the date of the tenth of Janu
ary, im-, recommending mm lor tno
ofilco of Rcvcnuo Assessor. 1 suppose
tlio letter is genuine, although I have no
copy, and thercforo cannot speak posi
tively. It is sufficiently humiliating,
however, to mo to have to confess that
In nn unguarded moment I did write n
letter of recommendation for him.
To my friends I owo nn apology. It
has been observed by an eminent writer,
and one of tho best of men, " that no
man has ever lived who upon a review
of his life could not revert to somo ono
net of which ho was not most heartily
ashamed." In looking nt tlio letter re
ferred to I confess I feel the truth of tho
above observation with great force. To
havo been seduced into recommending
this man for any office, knowing him as
I should have known him, Is evidence,
to use tho mildest terms, of weakness,
well calculated to alarm one's friends,
nnd I can only promise that this offence
or folly will never be repeated.
Tlio Doctor soys " this letter is strong,
but it wns given us voluntarily." This
statement of his is impudently untrue.
Let mo state the facts. The letter re
ferred to was written in Philadelphia,
and mailed to the Doctor, under tlio fol
lowing circumstances. Ho represented
to mo that not only his friend Mercur
but the Commissioner of Internal Rev
enue had determined upon the removal
of Major Monroo, nnd that it was sim
ply a question if whether he (tho Doc
tor) or some other Republican should
supply his place. lie wrote moat Phil
adelphia, whero I spent the most of that
Winter, begging foru letter, and sending
me a copy of one written in ids behalf
by Thomas J. Ingham, Esq., of Sulli
van, with a suggestion that 1 might
adopt it ns my own. To bo rid of
the annoyances of this "importunate
shark," and confiding In his statement
that tho Revenue Department, which
statement was of course false, had con
cluded on Major Monroe's removal, 1
wrote what I did. His allegation that
about this time I gave a similar letter
to Major Monroe is untrue. Subsequent
ly to tho tenth of January, ISfi.'i, sus
pecting that I had been cheated and de
ceived by this man, I wroto to Mercur,
and among other things Inquired wheth
er it was proposed to remove Major
Monroo on charges, nnd thereupon I re
ccived a letter from that distinguished
member of Congress expressing ids sur
prise at my opposition to Ids friend, tlio
Doctor, nnd informing mo that he had
committed himself in favor of Ids ap
pointment, one of his main inducements
being my letter to tlio Commissioner of
Internal Revenue. Satisfied as I was
then that I had been duped and deceiv
ed by the Doctor's false representations,
Mercur's declaration that lie had rec
ommended John to tho office at my in
stance would have added greatly to my
mortification had I for a moment sus
pected that ho (Mercur) told tho truth.
I had no such suspicion. I had come to
understand him, and gave to what he
said tho same weight that tho .Senate of
the United States gave to ids attack re
cently made upon me.
Tho editor of the Jlepublican refers to
what he is pleased to term my "erratic
course" us n politician. For my past
political action 1 have no apology to
make. Heretoforo 1 have always voted
for the candidate who suited mo best,
and I will continue so to do regardless
of threats and denunciations of parties
or individuals. Yours truly,
Runnier F. Cl.yjik.
WASHINGTON LETTER,
WASHINGTON', 1). C, July IS, 18JV5.
Dkak Captain, Popo says "the
proper study of mankind 'is man," nnd
ns your correspondent desires to bo plac
ed on tho record of observers of human
nature, ho will cull attention to a easo
wherein ti great amount of that rare
virtue, disinterestedness, is exhibited
by ono of tho editorial fraternity.
Yon wero mndo acquainted, through
tho medium of my two former letters,
with tlio history of tho confirmation of
Mr. Clnrk as Assessor of your district,
and the discomfiture of Palemon John
and his Congressional Representative.
But your correspondent, In putting the
facts of this easo upon record, was quite
unprepared for tho gratifying exhibition
of Christian resignation, under severe
allllction, which was to be shown by tho
person supplanted in consequenco of tho
new appointment, and which appears in
P. John's paper of July twelfth, which
you sent me. How grateful it is to
every patriotic heart to see an unselfish
citizen seeking tho advancement of tho
public welfare regardless of ids own in
terests; nnd who isabletosay that "tho
I'tnoluments of tlio ofilco nover conipen
satcu ioruuoi its annoyances." (When
tho fox could not reach tho grapes ho
said they were sour.) And this grntlll
cation is increased by considering tlio
sound discretion which was shown by
the cx-ofilcial in the appointment of his
deputies and subordinates, and thntdecp
grief ovor tlio depravity of human na
turo which formerly agitated Ids heart
becauso "seemingly well-meaning peo
plo could not understand why it was
that an officer could not faithfully per
form his duty and yet favor them on the
scoro of personal friendship." It is too
bad thnt such puro liieu as tho ox-AS'
sessor should ho troubled by tho linpor
Utility of friends for low assessments of
their property, and other favors, at the
public expense. It would scent that tho
Radical friends of a public officer will
bear watching, and wo cannot too much
admire that stern sense of duty which
according to his own showing, must
havo actuated P. Joint lit performing
his official duties.
Being assured, then, that this disinter
csted patriot had nothing but publicum!
puro objects In view, can wo wonder
that following tho generous impulses of
liia eoul, aud desiring his country's wel
faro to tho totnl exclusion of self-interest,
ho wroto thnt expostulatory and re
mnrkablo letter to tho Secretary of tho
Treasury In March last? llowaswllf
Ing to sncrlflco himself to tho public
service, although "tho emoluments of
tlio ofilco only eight or ten dollars per
day never compensated for nil of its
annoyances I"
Being actuated by such purely honor
nblo motives we must set down his petty
misrepresentations of Mr. Clark's course
and declarations in Washington nnd
elsewhere ns simply an cirervcseenso of
public zeal not in tho last degree caused
by a spirit of low Jealousy or malicious
spite ; for of such baseness P. John must
bo held Incapable after ids own clear
declarations concerning his disinterest
ednesss and patriotism in tho premises,
But enough concerning this remarkable
patriot. Let us leave him to the sleep
of the Just, sweetened by nn innatocon
sclousness of merit, nnd unenibittered
by tlio stingsof n reproaching conscience.
If sterling integrity, strict veracity,
sound and discriminating Judgment,
and n truly Christian spirit of resigna
tion, can secure contentment of mind in
tills life, happy indeed will be the re
maining days of the extinguished Assess
or of tlio Thirteenth Rcvenuo District
of Pennsylvania.
I havo somo other matters in mind
which might be written nboitt, but it
would bo in bad taste to come down
from tho contemplation of n high and
noblo subject of reflection to the ordina
ry occurrences nnd oventa of tho time.
a. sr.
GENERAL PRESS DISPATCHES.
From Washington.
A nii.i, in behalf of the Portland suf
ferers was introduced by Mr. Fcsenden
and passed. It authorizes tlio Commis
sioner of Internal Revenue in the dis
trict affected by the fire not to press for
payment of Government claims until
the fourth of March next.
Hon. Lewis D. Campbell lias had ono
or two interviews with Secretary Seward
in relation to the Mexican mission since
his arrival in tho city, but has had no
instructions given him, nor any Intima
tion as to when they would bo forthcom
ing. At tlio United States District Land
Office nt Eau Claire, in tho month of
June, five thousand nine hundred and
eighty-one acres were disposed of, tlio
greater portion for agricultural college
scrip, and the residue for bounty land
warrants, selections with agricultural
college scrip, and by cash sales.
The nomination of A. W. Randall to
be Postmaster-General has been referred
to the Senate Post Ofilco Committee, as
is usual in such cases. Tho speeches
mado on Saturday, when Mr. Dentiison
parted with the officers and clerks of
tho Department, show that the personal
relations between tho gentleman desig
nated to succeed him nnd himself nro of
tho most friendly character, and that
each concedes to tho other a largo degree
of private worth and official ability.
iV strong effort is being made hero bv
Colonel Stokes and other radical men
from Tennessee to havo Congress admit
the Congressional delegation from that
State before Its adjournment, whether
theConstitutional Amendment beadopt-
ed or not. They assert that the Tennes
see Legislature is certain to adopt the
amendment, and probably within two
or three days, and submit thnt in view
of this Congress ought to admit tho dele-
ation nt once. It is shrewdly suspect
ed, however, that if tho delegation wero
onco admitted there would be no untie'
cessary liasto in pressing tlio amend
mcnt.
Tho President on Friday having sign
ed the Internal Revenue Bill, the Inter
nal Rcvenuo Bureau at onco commenced
complying with tlio laws of which it is
amendatory, and the preparation of in
structions and regulations under the
same.
Notwithstanding tho Republican can
cits, by twenty majority, expressed their
desire for nn adjournment sine die on to
morrow (Monday) week, and will exert
themselves to that end, it is not certain
it will tako placo on tho twenty-third,
as a number of the working men in both
Houses, connected with Important com
mittees, do not think so early a day
practicable, but rather about ten days
from this time.
A letter torn Puebla, dated Juno
twenty -seventh, Jit-t received, says
"Tlio last tax imposed by Maximilian
on real cstato is exorbitant. Itnmounts
to one seventeenth per cent, on the pro'
coeds, with other very onerous duties.
Wo havo been favored with some very
queer local regulations, which leave us
as much liberty as tlio Turks have. Wo
must keep our houses open and lighted
until ten p.m. A keeper of n boardln
house must watch closelyoverhlsguests,
excludo nny suspicious persons, nnd re
port ail callers; otherwise ho is subject
to fine. The polico were to superintend
the domestic arrangements."
The reception nnd treatment by Con
gress on Monday of tho message of the
President accompanying his veto of tho
House Frecdmcn's Bureau Bill was emi
nently characteristic of that historic
body. Tho private secretary of tho
President appeared at tho bar of tlio
Housosoon after two o'clock, and was
pormittcd to remain standing there
somo length of timo beforo it was con
vcnlent for Mr. Speaker Colfax to recog'
nlzo him. At last tho Speaker finished
his littlo (etc-a-tele with a member, and
could listen to tho announcement of a
messago from tho President. Tho mes
sago wtu received, nnd very properly,
according to custom, laid aside until tlio
floor was vacant, when a member moved
to order it printed without reading, nnd
that it bo mado tho special order for to
morrow, after tho morning hour. SeV'
era! Radical members objected to glvluj
It oven this consideration, and demand
ed that tho House proceed with its reg
tilnr business. On this Mr, Lo Blond
demanded, in a towering way, why the
majority did not at onco dlspo-o of the
veto. Instantly tho House was a scene
of tho wildest confusion; membors
sprttug to their feet on all sides, mid de
manded imniedlnto ncllon. " Voto on
tho bill," "Nevermind tho message,"
" Previous question," nnd n general
chorus of slnillarsuggestlons and moves".
Finally order was sttfilciently restored
for tlio Speaker to bo heard, when a mo
tion was made thnt tho messago bo at
onco rend, and tho bill put upon Its pas
sage, which was carried under spur of
the previous question. Tho messago
was then read. On the conclusion of
the reading the previous question was
again sprung upon tho passage of tho
bill. Another scone of confusion en
sued, members calling to ono another
across the Hall, or gathering in knots
and engaging in loud conversation;
messengers Hying In all directions after
absentees; the Speaker pounding his
desk for order; tlio Clerk calling the
roll; loud bursts of laughter; and a
small-sized Bedlam prevailing general
ly. Senators catno docking into the
Houso to see the fun, and watch that
their members voted right. Trumbull
looked ns pleased as if it were Ids own
bill. Chandler tried to hug threo Mich
igan members nt once, in ids anxiety to
keep them from dodging. Everybody
was Jolly, and so tho call went on. At
its conclusion tho hubbub ceased, that
the result might bo heard ono hundred
nnd threo yeas, thirty-threo nays. The
bill had passed tho House, tho veto of
President to the contrary notwithstand
ing. Instantly a burst of applause broke
forth from the Radical side of the 1 louse.
Such stamping and clapping of hands
was there thnt ono would have thought
there were four times the number of
feet and hands at work. Singularly
enough the gallery failed to respond to
the applause. It was hinted Hint there
had been no time to pack these benches.
Mr. Lo Blond claims that he challenged
Imniedlnto action In order to prevent
this littlo piece of finesse, so often re
sorted to heretofore to manufaoturo po
litical thunder. As was expected, the
message nnd bill wero hurried over to
tho Senate, where they arrived at four
o'clock, interrupting n long-winded dis
cussion of the Northern Pacific Railroad
Bill. Senator Wilson could scarcely
contain himself until Senator Fcssendcn
concluded a very long and very dry
speech to which nobody was listening.
At Inst Wilson got the floor, and moved
that the bill be at once taken up. Mr.
Johnson objected, nnd moved that it lay
on tho table, the message bo printed,
and the whole subject be made the spe
cial order for to-morrow. M. Trumbull
desired to know If Mr. Jonhson objected
to having tlio message read. Mr. John
son would bo pleased to have it read
So the reading was proceeded with. At
its conclusion Mr. WiNon moved that
tho bill be put immediately upon its
passage. Mr. Johnson proposed as n
substituto that the messago bo printed,
nnd tho whole subject laid over until to
morrow. On this the ayes and noes
wero demanded, resulting, uyes 13, noes
.'!l ; so it was clear that there was a two
thirds vote present in favor of tliojias
sago of the bill, nnd it was put on its
passu, e. Mr. Hendricks mado a pow
erful speech against it, followed by Mr.
Snulsbury, after which, at six o'clock,
tho bill was passed, the Radicals of
tho Lower House appearing in time
to join in tlio applause, and participate
In the exultation that one veto message
had not even been dignified with an of
ficial publication, preparatory to action
upon it.
THE VETO MESSAGE.
To the House of Jlepresenlatives:
A CAttKt'ui, examination of tlio bill
passed by the two Houses of Congress,
entitled "An act to contlnuo in force,
nnd to amend an act to establish a Btt
rea for the relief of Freedmen and Ref
ugees, nnd for other purposes," lias con
vinced mo that the legislation which it
proposes would not bo consistent with
tho welfare of tho country, and that it
falls clearly within tho reasons assigned
in my messago of tho nineteenth of
February last, returning without my
signature u similar mensuro which origi
nated in tlio Senate. It Is not my pur
poso to repeat the objections which 1
men urged. Titcy nro fresh in your
recollection, nnd can bo readily oxntuin
ed ns a part of tlio records of one branch
of the National Legislature. Adhering
to tho principles set fortlt in that mes
sage, I now reaffirm them and tho line
of policy therein indicated. The only
ground upon which this kind of legis
lation can bo Justified is that of tho war
making power, nnd tho act of which
this bill is Intended ns amendatory was
passed during tho exlstenco of tlio war,
By Its own provisions it is to terininato
within ono year from tho cessation of
hostilities nnd tlio declaration of peace.
It is, therefore, yet in existence, nnd' it
is likely that it will contlnuo in forco as
long ns tlio Freedmen may require tho
benefits of Its provisions. It will cer
tainly remain in operation us a law
until some months .subsequent to tho
meeting of tho next session of Congress,
"when, If experience shall mako evident
the necessity of additional legislation,
the two Houses will havo aniplotlino to
maturo and pass tho requisite measures.
In tho meantliuo tho questions arise,
Why should this war measure bo con
tinned beyond tho period designated in
tho original act? and why, In timo of
peace, should military tribunals bo erea
ted to contlnuo until each Stato shall bo
fully restored In Its constitutional relit
turns to the Government, and shall bo
duly represented In the Congress of tho
United States? It wns manifest with
respect to tlio act approved March third
ISO.'), thnt prudenco and wisdom nllko
required that Jurisdiction overall cases
concerning tho freo enjoyment of the
Immunities nnd rights of citizenship, as
well as tho protection of person and
property, should bo conferred upon somo
tribunal lu every Stato or district whero
tho ordinary course of Judicial proceed
ings wns interrupted by tho Rebellion,
nud until tlio same should bo fully re
stored. At thnt time, therefore, an ur
gent necessity existed for tho passagoof
sucii a law, now tlio wor lias substanti
ally ceased. Tlio ordinary course of Ju
dicial proceeding is no longer Interrupt
ed. The Courts, both Slntoand Federal,
are lit full, complete, and successful oper
ation, and tllrotlgh them every person,
regardless of race or color, is entitled to
and cult bo heard. The protection grunt
ed to tito white citizen is ul ready confer
red by law upon tho Freedmen. Strong
nnd stringent guards, by way of penal-
tlcsund punishments, nro thrown around
ids person nnd property, nnd It Is be
lieved that amplo protection will bo nf-
forded him by duo process of law,
without resort to tlio dangerous expedi
ent of military tribunals. Now that
tho war has been brought to a close, tho
necessity no longer existing for such
tribunals as hnd their origin In tho War,
gravo objections to their continuance
must present themselves to tho minds
of nil rcfloctlngmnd dispassionate. In
dependently of tho danger in represen
tative Republics of conferring upon the
military In timo of pence extraordinary
powers, so carefully guarded against by
the patriots and statesmen of the earlier
days of tlio Republic, so frequently tho
ruin of governments founded upon tlio
same free principles, and subversive of
tlio rights nnd liberties of the citizen,
the question of practical economy earn
estly commends Itself to the considera
tion of tho law-making power. With
nn immense debt already burdening the
energies of tlio industrial and laboring
classes, a due regard for their interests,
so inseparably connected with the wel
fare of the country, should prompt its to
rigid enconomy and retrenchment, and
Influence us to abstain from all legisla
tion that would unnecessarily Increase
the public Indebtedness. Tested by this
rulo of sound political wisdom, I ean
sco no reason for tho establishment of
the military jurisdiction conferred upon
the officials of the Bureau by tho four
teenth section of the bill. By tlio laws
of tho United States and of the different
States competent courts, Federal nnd
State, havo been established, and are
now In full practical operation. By
means of these civil tribunals nmplb
redress isaflbrded for till private wrongs,
whether to tlio person or the property
of the citizen, without denial or unne
cessary delay. They ato open to nil
without regard to color or race. I feel
well assured that it will be better to
trust the rights, privileges, and immuni
ties of tho citizens to tribunals thus es
tablished and presided over by compe
tent nnd impartial judges, bound by
fixed rules of law nnd evidence, and
when tho right of trial by Jury is guar
anteed and secured, than lo the caprice
or Judgment of an officer of the Bureau,
who it is possible may be entirely ig
norant of the principles that underlie
tlio just administration of the law
There Is danger, too, that conflict of Ju
risdiction will frequently arise between
the civil courts and tlicso military trl-
btinals, each having concurrent Juris
diction over tho person and cause of
action ; tho ono Jurisdiction adminis
tered and controlled by civil law, tho
other by military. How is tho conflict
to bo settled, and who Is to determino
between the two tribunals, when it
arises? In my opinion it is wise to
guard against such conflict by leaving
to tho courts nnd juries tho protection
of all civil rights and the redress of all
civil grievances. The fact cannot bo de
nied that since the actual cessation of
hostilities many acts of violence, such,
perhaps, as had never been witnessed in
their previous history, havo occurred in
the States involved in the recent Rebel!
ion. I believe, however, that public
sentiment will sustain me in the asser
tion that such deeds of wrong aro not
confined to any particular Stato or sec
tion, but nro manifested over the entiro
country, demonstrating that the causo
that produced them docs not depend
upon nny particular locality, but is tlio
result of the agitation and derangement
incident to a long nnd bloody war.
While the prevalence of such disorders
must bo greatly deplored, their occ.t'
sional and temporary recurrence would
seem to furnish no necssity for tho ex
tension of the Bureau beyond tho pe
riod fixed in tlio original act. Besides
tho objections I have thus briefly stated,
1 may urge upon your consideration the
additional reason that recent develop
ments in regard to tho practical opera
tlons of tho Bureau lu many of the
States show that in numerous instances
it is used by its agents as a means of
promoting their Individual advantage,
and that the Freedmen aro employed
for tho udvaneement of the personal
ends of the officers Instead of their own
improvement and welfare; thus con
firming tho fears originally entertained
by many that the continuation of such
u Bureau for nny immediate length of
timo would Inevitably result in fraud,
corruption, nnd oppression. It is proper
to stnto that in cases of this character
Investigations havo been promptly or
dered, and tho offender punished when
ever Ids guilt has been satisfactorily es
tablished. As another reason against tlio neces
sity of the legislation contemplated by
this measure, reference may bo hud to
tho Civil Rights Bill, now n law of the
land, nnd which will bo faithfully exe
cuted so long as it shall remain unre
pealed, and not bo declared unconstitu
tional by Courts of competent jurisdic
tion. By that act It is enacted, " That
all persons born in tlio United States,
nnd not subject to any foreign Power,
excluding Indians not taxed, nro hereby
declared to bo citizens of tho United
States ; nnd such citizens of overy race
and color, without any regard to any
previous condition of slavery or invol
untary servitudo, except as a punish.
niont for crime, whereof tlio party shall
havo been duly convicted, shall havo
tlio samo right in overy Stato nnd Ter
ritory in tho United States, toniakoand
eulorco contracts, to sue, bo parties and
glvoovldenee, to Inherit, purclmso.lcuse,
sell, hold, and convoy real and personal
property, nnd to full and equal benefit
of nil laws and proceedings for tho sc
curlty of person nnd property ns Is en
joyed by tho white citizens, and shall
bo subject to llko punishments, pains.
and penalties, nnd nono other, any law,
statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom
to the contrary notwijlutandin';." Iiy
tho provisions of tlio net full protection
is afforded through tho District Courts
of tlio United States to nil poi'sotls in
jured, nnd whoso privileges as thus do
clnred aro lu nny wny Impaired, and
very heavy penalties aro denounced
against tho person who wilfully violates
tho law. I need not stato that tltot law
did not receive my approval, yet iU
remedies nro far moro preferable than
those proposed in tlio present bill, tlio
ono being civil nnd the other military.
By the sixth section of tho bill, here
with returned, certain proceedings by
which tho lands in tho Parishes of St.
Helena ntld St. Luke, South Carolina,
were sold and bid In, and afterward tils
posed of by the Tax Commissioners, nro
confirmed nnd ratified. By tlio7th,8th,
nth, 10th, and 11th sections provisions
aro mado by law for the disposal of tho
lands thus acquired to a particular clasd
of citizens.
While tho granting of titles' in deemed
very Important and desirable, the dis
crimination mado in the bill seems ob
jectionable, as docs also the attempt to
confer upon tho Commissioners Judicial
powers by which citizens of the United
States are to bo deprived of their prop
erty In a mode contrary to that provis
ion of the Constitution which declared
that no person shall be deprived of life,
liberty, or property without duo process
of law. As a general principle such
legislation Is unsafe, unwise, partial, and
unconstitutional. It may deprlvo per
sons of property who nro equally de
serving objects of tho nation's bounty
as those whom by this legislation Con
gress seeks to benefit. Tho title to tho
land thus to bo proportioned out to n
favored class of citizens must depend
upon tho regularity of tho tax sales un
der the law as It existed at tlio time of
tho sale, and no subsequent legislation
can give validity to tho rights thus ac
quired as ngaiust the original claimant.
Tlio attention of Congreas is thercforo
invited to a more mature consideration
of tlio measures propoposed in tlicso
sections of the hill.
In conclusion I ngain urge upon Con
gress the danger of class legislation, so
well calculated to keep the public mind
in a state of uncertain expectation, dis
quiet, and restlessness, and to encourago
interested hopes nnd fears that tho Na
tional Government will contlnuo to
furnish to classes of citizens in tho sev
eral States means for support nnd main
tenance regardless as to whether they
pursue a life of Indolence or of labor,
and regardless also of the constitutional
limitations of the national authority in
times of peace nnd tranquility.
The bill is herewith returned to tlio
House of Representatives, in which it
originated, for its llnnl action.
Anwiew Johnpon.
Wakiiikotov, n. 12., July 10, ISO).
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
To the Editor London Daily Kews:
Snt, I. am afraid I shall seem to bo
forever recurring to a worn-out nnd dis
tasteful theme; but the chango of feel
ing toward America which tho conduct
of tlio American Government in tlio
matter of Fenianlsm lias produced en
courages mo once more to mention in
your columns the case of tho Alabama.
It is late, no doubt, but I trust not too
late to pluck out of tho bosom of tho
American nation tills thorn, which will
otherwise, I fear, long rankle there, and
render impossible a cordial union be
tween tlio two great communities of our
raco.
In his dispatch on tho subject of tho
ravages committed by the Shenandoah,
Mr. Seward, under tho Influence of tv
not unpardonablo irritation, nllowed
himself to use lnnguage which could not
be defended, and which lowered his own
position. But, with this singlo excep
tion, tho American Government has
done nothing to render difficult to us tho
path of international justice. On tho
contrary, it lias dono everything to
render that pntli easy. It has disarmed
unconditionally ; and now, in spito of
nil that has been endured both in tho
way of loss nnd insult nt our hands, It
performs its international obligations to
us, under trying circumstances, with a
fidelity which all acknowledge.
What tho Americans demand in tho
matter of tho Alabama is a fair Inquiry
into n easo in which tlioy beliovo them
selves to havo suffered wrong, such att
inquiry as honor need not refuse, os tho
most punctilious honor, on tlio contra
ry, would court for its own vindication.
That there Is a easo for Inquiry wo can
hardly deny. The illness of the Queen's
ndvocnto Is pleaded by our Government;
as an excuse for its tardiness; and of
cotirso tho excuse admits tho fact.
Tho law officers of tho crown wouldi
probably renew their objections. But
tlio law officers of tho crown have- do
their duty In advising the Government
on the legal question. They ought not
to put a legal voto ou tho promptings of
national honor. Already the conduct of
our Government in these matters ho.-
been guided too much by tho technlcnl
arguments of lawyers, and too. littlo by
the wisdom of statesman.
Recent events in tlio diplomatic world!
havo taught England her real wcaktusi.
Let them also teach her her real strength.
Tho military despots of Europo, among
whom wo stand ns a freo nation almost
unfriended, havo their alliances, tlw ar
tificial creatures of a selfish diplomacy.
'dark, hollow, and perfidious. Wo nlso,
11 wo will only clear our henrts of base
ness and unworthy prejudices, may havo
an nlllanco neither dark, nor perfidious,
tno uoiut ot nature, not of diplomacy,
with tlio ga-at commonwealth of our
raco. To repress lior rising aud expand
ing greatness, tlio aim of a shallow and
malignant party, is not in our power;
it Is in our power to sliaro it, if wo will
only cultivate tlio affection which wi
havo labored, but not yet with compieto
succc-s, to kill in tho hearts of our kins
men. A fatal malady paralyzed tho
reconciling liand of Chatham. But what
Chatham left undone truo statesmen
oven now may do. Tlio confederation
of tho Anglo-Saxon raco is nn object
hard of achievement, no doubt, and
tbero nro somo interests and passions
umong us which btnud vory much In Its
way; but, nevertheless, It Is no dream.
i hm, etc., woijnvtx smith.