The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-04-03
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL VETOED.

THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL VEiOED
President johnson has again put bic veto on
a measure adopted by the radical Congress On
Tuesday last the veto Message was sent to the
Senate. in which the President says:
"By the first section of the bill all persons
born in the United States, and not subject to
any foreign Power, excluding Indians not taxed,
are declared to be citizens of the United States.
This provision couprehends the Chinese of
the Pacific States, Indians subject to taxation
and the people called Gypsies, as we'll as the
entire race designated blacks, people of color,
negroes, mulattoes, aud persons OF African
blood Every individual of these races born 10
the United States is, by the bill, made citizen
Of the United States 1t does not purport to
declare or confer any other right of citizenship
than Federal citizenship, aud does not purport
to give these classes of persons any status as
citizens of States, except that which may result
from their status citizens OF the United
States
The power to confer the right of State citi-
zenship is Just as exclusively with the several
States as the power to confer the right of Fede-
raj citizenship is with Congress. The right Of
Federal citizenship thus to be conferred on the
several excepted races before mentioned, is now,
! for the first time, proposed to be given by law
! The bill, in effect, proposes a discrimination
| against large numbers of foreigners, aud In ia
vor of the negEo, to whom, after long years OF
! bondage the avenues to freedom and inteIll-
gence have now been suddenly opened He
must of necessity, from his previous unfortunate
! condition Of servitude, be less informed as to
the nature and character of our institutions than
he who, coming from abroad, has to some ex-
tent, at least iauliarized himself with the prin-
ciplcs Of government to which he voluntarily
entrusted life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness. Yet it is now proposed by single iesls-
| latve enactment TO confer the rights OF citizens
! upon all persons of African descent born within
The extended limits Of the United States while
persons of foreign birth who make our land
their homes must undergo probation o. five
years, and can only then become citizens npon
proof that they are of good moral character, at
! tachcG to the priuci pies OF the institutions OF
the United States, and we'll disposed to the good
order and happiness ofthe same
In reviewing these sections of the bill, he
says: If it be granted that Congress can repeal
all State laws discriminating between whites
and blacks in the subjects covered by this bill,
| why, it may be asked, may not Congress repeal
in the same way all State laws discriminating
between the two races on the subjects Of sut-
frage and Office? If Congress can declare by
law who shall hold lands, who shall testify, who
shall have capacity to make contract in a
State, then Congress can by law also declare
who, without regard to color or race shall have
the right to act juror judge, or to
hold any other office, ana finally to vote in every
State and Territory Of the United States.
! AS respects the territories they come within
| the power Of Congress, for as to them the law
making power is the Federal power; but as to
! the States, similar provision exists vesting
! in Congress the power to make rules and regu-
lations for them. The President says, in con-
clusion, in all our history, in all our experience
as people living under Federal and State law,
no such system that contemplated by the de-
| tails of this bill has ever before been proposed
or adopted. They establish for the security of
the coorcd race safeguards which 60 Infinitely
| beyond any that the General Government has
ever provided for the white rice They interfere
with the pal Legislation Of the States,
with the relations existing exclusively between
a State and its citizens, or between the inhab-
! itants of the same State in the absorption and
assumption Of power by the General Govern
ment, which, if acquiesced in, must sap and de-
stroy our Federative system Of limited powers,
and break down the barriers which preserve the
rights of the States. 1t is another step, or rath
err stride, towards Capitalization, aud the con-
cen;raton of all legislative powers in the Ma
tional Government. The tendency of the bill
must be to resuscitate the spirit Of rebellion,
and to arrest the progress of those Influences
which more closely drawing around the
States the bonds of union aud peace. Ny la
| mented predecessor, in his proclamation of the
LIST of Janaary, 1868, ordered and declared that
all persons held as slaves within certain States
aud parts of States therein designated, were, aud
/ thencGiorward should be tree ;and further, that
! the Executive Government of the United States,
including the military and naval authorities
thereof, would recognize and maintain the free
dom of such persons. This guarantee has been
rendered especially obligatory and sacred by the
amendment of the Constitution abolishing slave
ry throughout the United States. | therefore
fully recognize the obligation to protect and de-
tend that class Of our people whenever and
wherever it shall become necessary, and to the
full extent compatible with tue Constitution of
| the United States.
! Entertaining these sentiments it only remains
for me to say that will cheerfully cooperate
! in any measure that may be necessary for the
protection OF the civil rights of the freedmen,
as well as those of all other classes of persons
throughout the United States, by judicial pro-
cess under equal and impartial laws, in conform
| ity with the provisions of the Federal Court
! | now return the bill to the Senate, and re-
greet that in considering the bills and joint reso
t lutions-forty-two in number-which have been
thus tar submitted for my approval, l am COM
! PEELED to withhold my assent from second
measure that has received the sanction of both
Houses of Congress"
! FRAUDULENT Use OF THE MA1Ls.-An i'm
: por'ant bill, designed to prevent the perverson
Of the mails to fraudulent and illegal PURPOSES