Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-03-02

some particulars it did not meet my APP
prevail think some of the reasons given
by the President for not approving u are
such as will commend themselves to public
consideration.
| it is bill upon the provisions of which
there might well be very considerable DIFF
ferances of opinion. l yielded my object
ions to it because thought the power did
exist, and that it was especially necessary
to exercise it, and the bill therefore recciv-
ed nv vote. Had the President confined
himself to the bill to criticism OF the bill
itself. it is very possible | might have
waived my own feelings in regard to the
bill. and sustained the veto but on looking
ut the veto message. and the reasons given
! for it. and after IA thorough consideration
of the provisions of the BILL he gave this
reason. which rendered it impossible for
me as member of the Senate, with due
respect for myself and the views of Con-
gress. to vote otherwise thanto sustain the
| bill because vote in the negative was an
endorsement of the opinions expressed in
the veto message. At any rate l did not
mean to put myself in the position of CHI
dorsing or giving my assent to the closing
| parts of this veto message. Now, sir.
what do understand by the closing parts
| of this veto message? That. in the judy
mcnt of the President. Congress has. as at
present organized, no right to pass any bill
affecting The interest of those so-called
confederate States while they are not re-
presented here. 1t follows that we can
pass no law laying any restraint on those
States which have fought for four years
against the government that we can
pass no law affecting them or res
training them. or providing for any change
in the condition or anything else. until we
admit their senators and representatives to
the floor of Congressional we have no
right to legislate with regard to them. but
must take them just rs they are, upon their
say so. and then. when they are here we
may proceed to legislation. l cannot give
my assent to any such proposition.
Mr. Doolittlc rose to asy that he under
stood the President to disciisstiic propriety
and not the power to legislate without the
Southern members.
Mr. Fesscndcn-But. sir. he makes that
one ground of his veto. Ii he can veto
this bill upon that ground, he can and will
for the sake of consistency veto every
other bill on the same ground. Talk about
propriety when propriety is made the
ground of veto.
Mr. Doolittlc-I do not understand that
to be stated as the ground of the veto.
Mr. Fessenden-lt is stated by the Presi-
dent as another grave objection to the
bill. ...
Mr. Fessenden continued his animadver-
sions upon the veto message. stating that
if the Presidcl ! al simply dssented from
the Freedmens Bureau bill nobody would
have submitted to it with Il better grace
than himself. His objection to it was the
argument used by the Senate to sustain it.
He contended for the rights of Congress to
decide on the fitness OF the Southern States
for representation.
| In conclusion he gave his views on re-
construction. holding that by the laws of
war Congress had right TO security for
the future. lie was in favor of the admis-
sion of Southern members and Senators at
the earliest moment consistent with the
safety of the country.
| The Senate then went into executive ses-
sion.
| Adjourned.
| Mr.. Voorhees, to-day spoke in support of
his claim.
! Mr.. Davis spoke in favor of Mr.. Wash
burne.
The House voted. 2s to 96. that Mr..
Voorhees, is not entitled to a seat. and 81 to
36. that Mr.. Washburne is.
| Mr. Stevens introduced bill ty secure 4
speedy construction of the Southern branch
of the Pacific Rrailroad Telegraph Re
| ierred.
| Adjourned.