The Portland daily press., 1866-03-29

Terms SIS 90 per gear in adrance.
~ Reading Matter on all Four Pages.
The Veto Message.
We publish this morning the entire text OF
the Presidents second veto message, carefully
corrected. In another column will be found
the civil rights bill, as it passed both houses OF
Congress. The bill passed the Senate by a
vote of SO yeas to 10 nays; it passed the House
of Representatives by Ill yeas to SS nays
We will not stop now to consider the respon-
sibility which the President takes upon him
self, when he sets his individual opinion in OPP
position to the deliberate judgment of the rep
resentatives of the people, SO emphatieany ex-
pressed by these votes. We will not no"
pause to urge that the constitutionailty OF
law passed by more than two-thirds OF each
house of Congress, ought to have been lett 10
the Supreme Court of the United States, and
not brought into question in the Presidents
private office with the advice of an attorney OF
the Presidents selection.
Waving these considerations, we prefer to
come directly to the consideration of the rea-
sons assigned by the President, for the exer-
else ofthe power SO unfortunately fallen into
his hands. The message says truly, that "a
perfect equality of the white and colored races
is attempted to be fixed by Federal law in
every State of the Union, over the vast field
of State Jurisdiction, covered by these enumer-
ated rights" In another passage we are told
that for the Territories, the Federal power is
the law-making power, "but as to the States
no similar provision exists, vesting in Con-
gress the power to make rules and regulations
for them" Is this SOP Is there not a provis-
ion attached to the last amendment of the
Constitution, authorizing Congress to enforce
the abolition of slavery By suitable legislation?
If the freedmen by the very fact of their free
dom, have already become citizens of the
United States, Congress is surely competent
to announce the civil rights thus acquired and
provide for their lawful vindicatiOn. The
amendment did not contemplate any result
short of the utter extinction of slavery. The
American people will not be satisfied with
words. IF the Southern communities stop
half way, and attempt to rebuild their social
aristocracy, with pariahs instead of slaves at
the bottom, they must understand once for
all that it will not be permitted. We did not
interfere with their social system, until COM
PEELED to, in self defence; but now, after these
four bitter years, they must at last adopt a re-
publican form of government as condition
precedent to the resumption of their former
privileges. Slavery cannot be resuscitated;
society ofcastes fixed by immutable laws,
will not satisfy our just demands. 2.
Rightsl what rights have these conquered
communities? By the fortune of war they
are utterly at the mercy of the conqueror, and
the exercise of the powers thus acquired is
simply matter of discretion. We propose to
bestow upon them the privilege of representa-
ton; we have no wish to humiliate them,
but they must remember that they have no
rights to claim. We ask of them only to con-
form to the provisions of the Constitution,
and so do doing to offer us satisfactory guar
anty against future wars and connections.
Under the Constitution the negroes are now
free. Their rights under the Constitution
,.,-,e L. ~.ssIeu. What are tbos, ;..s
Where can we seek information on this port,
more trustworthy than the words of the
founders of the Constitution, in their own
commentary upon our Magma Charterp Here
is what Hamilton says, speaking of the COM
promising expedient by which athe slaoe is
Invested of two-fifths of the man." -saa
1t is only under the pretsxt that the laws have
transferred the negroes into subjects of property that
aplace is disputed them in the computation Of num-
bers; AND 1T 10 ADMITTED THAT IF THE LAWS
WERE TO RESTORE THE RIGHTS WHICH HAVE
BEEN TAKEN AWAY, THE NEGROES COULD NO
LONGER BE REFUSED AN EQUAL SHARE OF REP
PRESENTATION WITH THE OTHER INHABITANTS.
The Federalist, No. 81.
An equal share of representation! Are
they not then citizenss And if so, shall not
Congress provide for the vindication of their
civil rights ut is admitted" Hamilton writes,
that these rights "could no longer be refused"
In these days it is no longer admitted. An
American President refuses to allow an Amer
lean Congress to confer upon American citi-
zens, rights which the trainers of the Consti-
tuition say "cannot be refused" and pronoun-
ces the action of Congress Unconstitutional; =
objects to an act of justice, because it compre-
bends the Chinese and Gypsies; would make 4
the laws to be framed by communities lately
in rebellion paramount to the authority of the
government which subdued them; declares
that bill which is designed to place black
and white citizens on footing of equality be-
fore the laws, "discriminates in favor of the
negro;" in fine, re-afirms the bred Scott de-
cision and separates finally from the party
which elected him. -i913D OIL ~
The President returns to the conspicuous
topic of his former veto message. 1t is "a
grave question:" he says, whether "while
eleven of the thirty-six States are unrepre-
sented"-any legislation is possible, in short
Congress holds that legislation for future Sc
curity is necessary before the rebellious States
can safely be restored. The President pro-
poses to prevent legislation, to the extent of
his power, until they are restored. That is
the position of affairs at Washington. There
was man who accepted the nomination of
the Republican party for the second place in
this Government; who said that traitors
should take back seat in the ,oork of res
toration !" and again, "Before these repent;nq
rebels can be trusted, let them bring forth the
fruits Of repentance" Andrew johnson has
forgotten these brave words, and urges now
that repenting rebels be admitted to assist in
the work of restoration, and allowed to bring
forth fruits of repentance at their leisure. The
Republican party is not made of such flexible
stuff as to follow the windings of course like