It was not so elaborately debated in either branch as was the original act, but its passage was retarded by the interposition of other measures and it did not reach the President until the first week in July.
The President promptly returned the bill to the House with his veto.
He found it to fall within the objections which he had assigned in his message vetoing the Senate bill on the same subject.

He believed that the only ground upon which this kind of legislation could be justified was that of the war-making power.

He admitted therefore that the original Act organizing a Freedmen's Bureau, passed during the existence of the war, was proper and Constitutional.

By its own terms it would end within one year from the cessation of hostilities and the declaration of peace.

It would probably continue in force, he thought, as long as the freedmen might require the benefit of its provisions.