Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-02-20
OH A1exan|!aria 4. G !, TT ;
TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 20.
THE PRESIDENTS VETO.

The conservative people Of the .. S. IN all
sections, north and south, east and west, will
heartily approve of his course in this particu-
Ear. His arguments against the proposed
measure are conclusive, and the spirit and
temper Of his remarks admirable His objec-
tions are fundamental and exceptioness. The
President not only pronouncas the measure
unconstitutional but inexpedjent, impractica-
BE, and expensive in its operation, and as IN
violation of the rights and interests OF the
States He tells Congress that s'queray may
well arise whether the system proposed by this
bill would not, when put into complete opera
ton, practically transfer the entire case, sup
port and control Of four millions of emanclpated
slaves 70 agents, overseers, OF taskmasters
who, appointed at Washington, are to be 10
Gated in every county and parish throughout
the United States containing freedmen and
refugees? Such system would inevitably
tend to a concentration Of power in the Execu
tive which would enable him, if SO disposed,
to control the action Of this numerous class,
and use them for the attainment OF his own
political ends. -
The conclusion Of this admirable document
is as follows :-"As eleven States are not at
this time represented in either branch OF Con
gress it would seem to be his duty on all pro-
per occasions to present their just claims to
Congress- There always will be differences OF
opinion in the community, and Individuals may
be guilty Of transgressicns of the law; but these
do not constitute valid objections against the
right Of State to representation. would IN
no wise interfere with the discretion OF Con-
gress with regard to the qualifications OF mem
bers, bat hold it my duty to recommend to
you, in the interests OF peace and IN the Inter
ests of Union, the admission OF every State to
its share in public legislation, when, however
insubordinate, insurgent, or rebe!llous its peo-
ple may have been it presents itself not only
10 an attitude of loyalty and harmony, but in
the persons of representatives, whose loyalty
cannot be questioned under any existing Con,
stitutional or legal test. ~. III. Gvr7
1t is plain that.an indefinite or permanent
exclusion of any part of the country from rep
.resentation must be- attended by spirit OF
dieuuiet and complaint. 1t is unwlse and
dangerous to pursue course OF measures
which will unite a very large section OF the
country against another large section OF the
country, however much the latter may prepon-
derate. The course of emigration, the develop
yments of industry and business, and natural
causes, will raise up at the South men as devo-
ted to the Union as those Of any other part OF
the land. But if they are all excluded from
Congress-if, in permanent statute, they are
declared not to be in full
totthe country, they may think they have cause
to- become unit in feelings and sentiment
against the Government. Under the political
education of the American people, the idea is
%:.L,.o,,4 onJ a1ioohlo that no .ooncoDt Of
the majority of the whole people is necessary
to secure willing acqeiescence in legislation.
- The bill under consideration refers to certain
of the States as though they had not 'been
fully restored in all their constitutional rea-
tions to the United States. Ii they have not,
let us at once act together to secure that desl-
rable end atthe earliest possible moment, Il
as hardly necessary for me to inform Congress
SO far at least as depends upon their own action,
that in my own judgment most Of those States,
have already been fully restored, and are to be
deemed as entitled to enjoy their constitutional
rights as members OF the Union. Reasoning
from the Constitution itself, and from the actual
situation of the country, feel not only entitled,
but bo5l,4d to assume that with the Federal
courts restored, and those Of the several States
in the full exercise of their functions, the rights
and interests of all classes of the people will,
with the aid of the military in cases Of resis
lance to the law, be essentially protected against
unconstitutional Infringement and violation
Should this expectation unhappily fail, which
+ do not anticipate, then the Executive is al
ready fully armed with the powers conferred by
the act of March, 1865, establishing the Freed
mems Bureau, and hereafter, as heretofore
he can employ the land and naval forces Of the
country to suppress lnsurreetion or to ever
come Instructions to the the laws"