ed against the bill in the
President's Message. The President said, "The bill, should it become a
law will have no limitation in point of time, but will form a part of
the permanent legislation of the country."

"The object of the bill," replied Mr. Trumbull, "was to continue in
existence the Freedmen's Bureau--not as a permanent institution. Any
such intent was disavowed during the discussion of the bill. It is
true, no time is expressly limited in the bill itself when it shall
cease to operate, nor is it customary to insert such a clause in a
law; but it is declared that the bill shall operate until otherwise
provided by law. It is known that the Congress of the United States
assembles every year, and no one supposed that this bill was to
establish a bureau to be ingrafted upon the country as a permanent
institution; far from it. Nor is it a bill that is intended to go into
the States and take control of the domestic affairs of the States."

"There is no immediate necessity for the proposed measure," said the
President; "the act to establish a Bureau for the Relief of Freedmen
and Refugees, which was approved in the month of March last, has not
yet expired. It was thought stringent and extensive enough for the
purpose in view in time of war."

Mr. Trumbull replied: "By the terms of the act, it was to continue
'during the present war of rebellion and for one year thereafter.'
Now, when did the war of rebellion cease? So far as the conflict of
arms is concerned, we all admit that the war of rebellion ceased when
the last rebel army laid down its arms, and that was some time in the
month of May, when the rebel army in Texas surrendered to the Union
forces. I do not hold that the consequences of the war are over. I do
not understand that peace is restored with all its consequences. We
have not yet escaped from the evils inflicted by the war. Peace and
harmony are not yet restored, but the war of rebellion is over, and
this bureau must expire in May next, according to the terms of the act
that was passed on the 3d of March, 1865, and according to the views
of the President as expressed in his Veto Message."

"The bill," said the President, "proposes to establish by authority of
Congress, military jurisdiction over all parts of the United States
containing refugees and freedmen."

"I would like to know," said Mr. Trumbull, "where in that bill is any
provision extending military jurisdiction over all parts of the United