o assume
that, with the Federal courts restored, and those of the
several States in the full exercise of their functions, the
rights and interests of all classes of the people will, with
the aid of the military in cases of resistance to the laws,
be essentially protected against unconstitutional
infringement or violation. Should this expectation unhappily
fail--which I do not anticipate--then the Executive is
already fully armed with the powers conferred by the act of
March, 1865, establishing the Freedmen's Bureau, and
hereafter, as heretofore, he can employ the land and naval
forces of the country to suppress insurrection or to
overcome obstructions to the laws.

"In accordance with the Constitution, I return the bill to
the Senate, in the earnest hope that a measure involving
questions and interests so important to the country will not
become a law unless, upon deliberate consideration by the
people, it shall receive the sanction of an enlightened
public judgment.

"ANDREW JOHNSON."

[Illustration: Hon. S. C. Pomeroy.]

The majority of the Senate was in favor of proceeding immediately to
the consideration of the message, and to have a vote as to whether the
bill should be passed, "the objections of the President to the
contrary notwithstanding." To this Mr. Lane, of Kansas, was opposed.
He said: "There are several Senators absent, and I think it but just
to them that they should have an opportunity to be present when the
vote is taken on this bill. I can not consent, so long as I can
postpone this question by the rules of the Senate, to have a vote upon
it to-night." Mr. Lane accordingly made four successive motions to
adjourn, in each of which he called for the yeas and nays. Finally,
the motion for adjournment having been made for the fifth time, it was
carried, with the understanding that the bill should be the pending
question at one o'clock on the following day.

On that day, February 20th, the bill and the message came duly before
the Senate. Mr. Davis obtained the floor, and made a long speech in
opposition to the bill and in favor of the Veto Message. He expressed
his aversion to the bill, and the objects sought to be attained under
it in very emphatic terms, but added nothing to the arguments which
had already been adduced.

Mr. Trumbull replied to the objections urg