The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-04-05
Editorial Correspondence.
THE PRESIDENTS VETO OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS
BILL.

we take our pen more IN SOrrOW tndn
in anger" to give expression to our views
and feelings in regard to this second veto
message of the President; and We may
premise our remarks by saying that We do
not partake of that spirit which denoun-
ces Mr.. johnson as insincere, unpatriotic,
and willfully blind TO the best interests
of the country. We will say that we
consider him honest, patriotic, and devoted
to what he esteems the best interests of
the government and nation,-but we
differ with him IA toto in his Judgment
The position taken by Andrew johnson
in the Senate of the United States during
those dark days Immediately preceding
the outbreak of the Rebellion, the course
pursued by him all through the period of
our great struggle, and his constant and
emphatic den1nciation of treason and
traitors, have given to the country and to
the world such unmistakable evidence of
honesty and patriotism that we cannot
ind it in our heart to denouncs him.
Great men sometimes make great mis-
takes; and the greater the man, and the
more exalted his position, the more disas-
trous and deplorable are the results which
follow these mistakes.
The President assumes that this bill is
unconstitutional. Now, we are not
lawyer, and we think Mr.. johnson does
not set up any claim to be learned in the
law; still he may be good and able
expounder Of Constitutional law. He
certainly, as public man, has had great
opportunities to make himself familiar
with that great instrument of the peoples
liberties. We know, however, this much,
that the very best lawyers and statesmen
in Congress, as well as many out of it,
believe the bill to be constitutional, and
we prefer to take sides with these men, es-
pecially when we find every Copperhead-
secessionist and and semi-secessionist on
the side of the President. The best law
yers in Congress tell US the law is con-
stitutional, and we believe them. The
President asserts that the law is not
needed. But it appears to US there are
too many facts showing that the former
slaves of the South are badly treated, and
are in most of the States suffering under
immense disabilities, which the old Slave
Code imposed laws, too, which have not,
and will not, according to present appear
ances, be repealed. The President admits
that the Constitutional Amendment abol-
ishing Slavery secures to the former slave
his right of personal freedom, but how
is this Amendment to be made effective
except through the processes of law? 1t
certainly is the duty of Congress to make
such laws as shall render this Constitu-
tional Amendment operative. 1t appears
to US, that any one who is familiar with
Southern society, and is informed of what
is now transpiring there, must see and
admit that it is the duty of the General
Government to protect, not only the
rights and liberties of the colored man,
but also as well the rights and liberties of
the true and earnest white Unionists of
that community-and this is what the
Civil Rights Bill proposes to do.
This Government cannot neglect to give
to all of its citizens protection to life, lib
erty and property. The American Gov
ernment does all this for all its citizens
wherever found on the face of the globe
1t is enough for any man, however humble,
VINO is oppressed in any foreign country,
to say, 81 am an American citizen" and
to make known his condition, when the
whole power of the government is at once
brought to bear in his behalf Shall the
American Government protect its citizens
in every part of the habitable globe, and
then refuse to protect The humblest of its
people at home? The veto of this Civil
Rights Bill would seem to indicate as
much.
We do not accuse Mr.. johnson of not
wanting to do anything to protect the
rights of those who are or may be oppressed
at tho South but from careful reading
of his message, we confess TO our utter
inability to understand what he would
have Congress do to guarantee the personal
liberty of the citizen, and were we to
undertake to frame bill, we should hard
" know how to do it, so as to o5viate his
objections.