Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-05
Bradford &eporter.
Towanda, Thursday, April 5, 1866.
ANOTHER VETO.


shocked by another veto message from
President johnson. The propriety of vest
ing the Executive of the nation with the
veto power has always been questioned by
many Of our soundest statesmen, and those
of ous Presidents who best understood their
duty have been the most careful IN eXer-
csing this power believing that 1t should
never be called into requstion, except in
extreme cases. and then only when doubt
full measures are adopted by doubtful ma
iortics for doubtful expedients. Indeed,
the express object of the veto power was
to prevent corrupt and unconstitutional
legislation, and not for the purpose Of ell
abling Il vindctivc Executive to crafty
the personal spleen he holds towards GER
tain members OF Congress, or to thwart
honest legislation because it does not suit
his peculiar whims, and no President of the
United States has ever had the hardlhoOd
to veto two measures Ill so short time,
Il at passed by such large majorities, as
Civil Rights bill The presumption which
leads our Executive to veto bill that has
passed both Houses Of Congress by a vote
of two to one, must be excessive ; and none
other than one thus surcharged would talk
to the Congress of the United -two-thirds
of whose members are his equal in intelli-
gence in ability, and patriotism does
President Johnson, in this veto of the Civil
Rights bill 1t sounds as if it's author re-
ally thought no one had ever before under
stood the constitution.
But it was our purpose i'll referring to
the veto of the Civil Rights bill to examine
the chief objections urged by its author to
| this measure. He sets out by questioning
the propriety Of depriving the rights of
| federal citizenship, because ii has nerer been
done before Queer inference According
to this theory a principle of right, on a law
| TO protect right cannot be adopted, if the
right and the protection were not in exis-
tence before This puts an end to ali law
making iii future.
Then it is held, that as all native born
persons are citizens Of the United States
by the constitution, it is not necessary to
declare this fact by law. And pray, Mr.
Johnson what harm will this Civil Rights
bill do, if it only eXpounds, OF conforms to
the constitution But says the President,
if this is a mistake, and the persons made
citizens by this bill are not such already. is
| it sound policy to make them citizens in
view Of the fact, that eleven out Of thirty
SIX States are not represented III the gov
crnment when this law is enacted! This
is quibbling. For the President knows
very well, that if the eleven rebel States
were represented in Congress, they could
not hinder the passage of this bill, the re-
publicans having majority over copper
heads and rebels combined And indie
pcndcnrof Of his consideration, there remains
the important fact, that when the copper
heads ard rebels get Il majority in Con
grcsS, as they say they will before the
next President is sworn in, they can repea
this law if they see proper. But above anG
beyond this. the President declared, short
ly after taking the oath OF office, that
treason was great crime, and should be
punished :" and the citizens Of the clever
States, which he now claims are not repre-
scented in Congress, committed the bOldest
and the most outrageous treason that was
ever laid TO the charge Of any men. This
is unquestioned Nor have they been pun
ishcd fer this and instead of furnishing
the President. who was so fierce only "a few
months ago 10 punish treason now com
plains that laws are passed without tn,
, participation OF the rebels, thus complain
"a ing that criminals are not reirdJded insteat
t Of punished What change has com,
over this mans dreams? Why does he no
complain that the jails and penitentiare
are not represented in Congress More
wicked and villianOus crimes were commit
ted in any one of the eleven rebel States
during the rebellion, than were committed
e in the whole country from its organization
t to the present time; and we have Presi
e dent who complains that these monstrou
Williams are not represented i'll Congress
Well, we do not admire his taste, let alon
the Justice of the thing.
p Then he objects to making the freedmen
, citizens because he doubts whether the
t have the requisite qualifications and al
: cues that as foreigners are placed upol
probation before allowing them the priv
ilegcs and immunities Of citizenship, tn,
Civil Rights bill discriminatcS in favor .
the blacks against the foreigner, as by this
law this probation is not required Of til,
f freedman. We hold this discrimination I,
be right. First, and chiefly, because this i:
the frccdman's native land, as mach so Il.
} President .Johnsons. The white man holds
citizenship as his birthright, and we exac
probation and sworn allegiance from foreign
erS because no immunities inhere to then
when born therefore the negro slave has
Just what the foreigner has not, to cntitlC
him to citizenship, and needs only its ac