Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-04-05
RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, MARCH 81, 1866.
me Veto OF ,he civil Rights Bin.

We were not especially pleased win
the Presidents veto message of the Civil
Rights bill, aud when we had carefully
read the message, and carefully weighed
the ursumen'~ brought forward, we were
still ~ pleas.d There were solid rea-
sons ln our uuud for some action by
Congress for tn, protection Of the poor
Africans suddenly freed from bondage.
Their exposure 20 suffering and abuse
no one can reasonably question and
that the government has not only the
right, but that II is its duty TO protect
the humbest and most obscure of the
citizens or inhabitants who by their
capital or labor contribute to the sup
port of the government, Ia as clear to
our mind as the sunlight of heaven.
That the bill was perfect, we are not
at all disposed to believe Indeed, we
think the President has clearly shown
some striking defects in it. while on
the other hand, we regard some of his
objections as quite too frivolous for seri-
Gus consideration. But his sweeping
opposition to all legislation by Congress
for the protection Of three or four mil
lions of helpless race among us, is to
US the most Objectionable feature of the
message.
That the President honestly differs
nom the majority in Congress we are
not disposed to question. He had
adopted a policy substantially the
same as the one adopted by his
lamented predecessor. That policy de-
mands of the States recently in re-
bellion as few conditions for their re-
turn into the Union as was deemed safe
for the peace and integrity of the whole
country. These conditions were Qne-
quivocal acknowledgment of the SUI
premacy of the general government over
State authority, a thorough and COM
plete acceptance of emancipation, the
Republication Of all rebel war debts, ratif-
cation Of the anti-slavery amendment to
the nationaj Constitution, and such laws
enacted by State legislation, or State
constitutional amendments, as would
explicitly recognize the abolition of
slavery and protect the freedmen, who
without protection would be exposed to
unbearable hardships and trials among
people who have been educated to own
and treat them as slaves and who still
entertain prejudices against them in
compatible with the peace and well.being
of the whole people irrespective of race
or color. These primary conditions once
complied with, the States were to be
left free to arrange and manage their
domestic affairs unmOlested as they
were formerly permitted to do. Presi-
dent LinColn's plan embraced fewer con-
ditions, embracing only submission to
the national authority, and emancipa
ton, with such protection to freedmen
"a would be implied 10 thoroughly
practical emancipation. The conditions
added by President johnson were doubt
less regarded as necessary auXiliaries to
those prescribed by his predecessor.
Mr.. Lincoln had made the condition
of the South subject of careful, anX-
ious study, and deemed it good policy to
demand of it as few conditions as prac-
ticably possible, believing that to bur-
den the Southern people with too many
requirements, would retard rather than
advance the work of reconstruction.
He was anxious to convince them that
the public safety and the national in
tegrity was what the government and
the loyal people demanded and not their
humiliation, and perpetual subjugation.
President Johnson, born, raised, and ed
ucated among the Southern people, must
be even better acquainted with their
needs, their temper, and peculiar char
acter. We cannot doubt his patriotism,
for that has been tried as that of few
Union men has been tried but we do
not believe him infallible, for that Is not
a human virtue.
The difference between what may be
regarded as the views Of Presidents Lin
coin and Johnson, and those of major
ity of Congress, is apparent enough.
The two Presidents, by their simple pro-
gramme, wished TO convince the South
ern people that they were willing to put
some confidence in them-take them at
their word, believing that by extending
TO them that confidence they in turn
would be likely to trust to the good
faith of the government and Northern
people. Congress, on the other hand,
claims that the Southern States have
not yet complied with the terms of the
Presidential programme, but have shown
by their conduct that they are not to be
trusted-that some stringent measures
of national legislation are needed, not
only for the peace and safety of the
white people, but for the protection of
the colored. The President claims that
a fair trial has not been made. and proh-