The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-29
Ill VETO MESSAGE.
wAsHISeroy, March 81.


States. | am therefore constrained TO re-
turn it 10 the Senate and the House, in
which it originated, with my objections TO
its becoming a law.
BY the first section Of tho bill all persons
bora in the United States, not subject 70
any foreign power, excluding Indians, not
taxed and declared TO be citizens Of the
United States.
This provision comprehends the Chinese
Of the Pacific States, Indians subjectto tax
alton, the people-cal3ed Gypsies, aa.Eeu as
the entire race designated as blacks; people
Of color, negroes, mulattoes ard persons Of
African blood. Every individual Of these
races, born in the United States, by this bill
are made citzsns Of the United States.
1t does not purport to declare or confer
any other right Of citizenship than Federal
citizenship. 1t does not propose 10 give
these classes OF persons any status IS eit-
zens Of states except tBat which mayresult
from their status es citizens Of the United
States.
The power to confer the right Of State
! citizenship is Just as exclusively with the
several States as the power TO confer the
right OF Federal citizenship IS with Con-
gress. y
The right Of Federal citizenship thus 70.
be conferred On the centrally excepted
races bsiore mentioned is now for the first
time proposed 10 be given by law.
If las IS claimed by many all persons
who are natiye-boTn already are, by virtue
Of the Constitution, citizens OF the United
States, the passage OF the pending bill can
not be necessary TO make them such. If,
on the other hand such persons are not eiii-
zens, as may be assumed from the proposed
legislation to make them such, the grave
question presents itself whether, while
eleven Of the thirty-six States are unrepre-
ssBted iB Congress at this time, il IS sound
policy 70 make our entire colored Popuia-
ton, and all other excepted classes, citizens
Of the United States.
-Four millions Of them have just emerged
from slavery into freedom. Can 1t be rea-
sonably supposed that they possess the re-
ouisite qua ifcati0us 10 eutitle them 10 all
the privileges and i~mmunitiss Ct citizenship
of the United States Have the people Of
the several States expressed UGH n c%onyic-
ton?
Il may also be asked whether it is ne
cesssry that they should be declared eiii-
zens in order that they may be secured N
the enjoyment Of the civil rights proposed
to be conferred by the bill. ThOse rights
are by Federal as we'll as State laws secured
TO ali domiciled aliens and foreigners, even
before the completion OF the process OF ma
fertilization; and il may safely be assumed
that the same enactmeuts are sufficient to
give like protection and benefits to those
Tor whom this bin provides special legis-
lation.
Besides, the policy Of The Government
from its origin TO the present time, seems
10 have been that persons who are stran-
gers to, and unfamiliar WITH our nstltu-
tons and our laws, should pass through a
certain probation; at the end OF which, be-
fore allowing them the coveted prize, they
must give evidences Of their fitness 10 re-
ceiye and exercise the rights Of citizens, as
contemplated by the Constitution Of the
United States.
TAe bill in effect proposes & discrlmlna-
ton against large numbers Of intelligent
worthy and patriotic foreigners, and ia ia.
yor Of the negro, to whom, alter long years
Of bondage, the avenues to freedmen and
intelligence have just now been suddenly
opened.
He must Of necessity, from his previous
unfortunate condition Of seryitude, be less
informed ss to the nature and character oi
our Institutions than he who, coming iron
abroad, has TO some extent at least familiar
lied himself with the principles Of q Gov
eminent TO which he voluntarily entrust'
"life, liberty, and the pursuit Of happi.
ness"
Yet il is now proposed by a single legis.
lstive enactment to confer the rights O
citizenship on all perseLso OF African descent
born within the extended limits OF tbs
United States while persons Of foreign
birth, who make our land their home
must undergo a probation of i've years, an
can only then become citizens upon proc
that they are of good moral character, at
tached to the principles Of the Constitution
Of the United States, and well disposed Il
the good order and happiness Of the same.
ma 81 - - Al. HgH1 ,1r, o,ntafv
an enumeration Of the rights TO be enJoye'
by those classes SO made citizens IN ever.
state and Territory Of the United States
, These are the power to give evidence, TO IN
? herit, purchase, lease, sell, hold and conye.
real and personal property, and 10 have iul
and equal ben, fit of all laws and proceed
| lngs tor the security Of persons ana proper
ty ss is enjoyed by white citizens. So 10
they are made subject TO The punishment
pans and penalties common with b
, citizens, anu to none other.
Thus a perfect equality Of the white an
! colored races is attempted 10 be fixed b.
Federal law in every State Of the Unlou
over the vast field of State Jurisdiction GOV
cred by these enumerated rights.
In no one Of them can any Stale exercise
any power Of discrimination between dIi
ferent races, in the exercise OF State policy
5 over matters exclusively affecting the PEG
. pie Of each State.
It has been frequently thought expe
r. dent to discriminate bo~tweenthe Two race
; by the statutes Of some of she States, NORTH
as well as S nth. il is enacted for instanel
e that no white person shall ~iIiermarIy wltl
s Il negro or mulatto.
D Chancellor Kent asserts, in speaking O
. the blacks, that marriages between then
i and the whites are forbidden IN some OF IN
j States where slavery does not now exist
and they are prohibited in all slaveholdln.
o States by law, and when not absolutely en-
c trary 10 law they are revolving, and regard
ed as an Otense against public uecorul1
r. do not saw that this bill repeals Slate l6E
. on the subject Of marriage between the wv
{ races for, as the whites are forbidden I
intermarry with blacks, the blacks can onl
make such contracts IS whites themselve
q are allowed to make, and therefore, cannot
under this bill, euter n'o marriage coptraC
y with the whites. | cite this, However, @
an instance Of the state policy as TO DIS
elimination, and 70 llquIre whether,
e Congress can RbrOgate ala state laws OF dl
,g elimination between the two rgce5 IN n
matter Of real estate, of suits, ana Of COZ
r tracts generally, Congress may not ais
,s repeal the STATE laws as TO the contract
! marriage between the races2
Hitherto every subject embraced in Ii
II enumeration OF rights contained ~ the bal
IL has been considered 80 exclusively belong
ing 20 the United States. They all rela.
' to the internal policy aud economy OF u
Of respective States. They are matters whieI
, in each State, concern the domestic o
= ton Of the people; varying in each accor'
ing 10 It's own peculinr circumstances 81
n. the safety and wel-being Of its own eat
zsns.
or do not mean to say that upon all the
subjects there are not Federal restraints
as. Tor instance, ia The State power OF tegi
lauon over contracts, there rs g FEEDER
a limitation that no State shall pa s a law in
- pairing the obligations 81 contracts, an
" as 10 crimes, that no Slate shall pass q
q ~erpost facio law and, as 70 money, that /
State shall make anything but gold and s..
yer a legal tender.
lie But where can we End Federal prohib
Il ton against the power OF any State 10 d
criminate tas the most Of them do) betwet
IN aliens and citizens, between artificial pc
~ sons (called c-orporauons) and natural pc
sons, IN the right 20 hold real estate
le II it br granted that Congress can rope
or an State laws discriminating betWee
whites and blacks on the subjects covsre
bv this bill, why, may be asked, may "a
II, Congress repeal in the same way ell Stat
laws discriminating between the two rae
- on the subject Of suffrage and oikcef
n Congress can declare by Law who shall no.
~. lands, who shall testify, who b have c.
pscity 10 make contracts iD 3 State, the
ST Congress can also, by law, declare wi
IS without regard 10 race or colorl shall hG'
u the right &c al rs n juror or as a judge,
g" hold any Office, ard huslly 70 vote in ever
n State and Territory IN The United States.
"A A respects the Territories. they con
within The power OF Congress-; for, &C.
d them, the laE-makiag power is the FEEDER.
power; but 81 10 tha States no suitable prs
vision exists, vestinE in Congress the p0wt
&c 70 make rules and regulations for them.
of The object OF the second section OF th
-, bill is 90 afford discrimination and prote,
q ton 10 the colored persons in the fun en-
e joyment Of an the rights secured 10 thcl
a by the precediUg section.
Il declares tnat any person who, uu6s
color Of any Law, s%tstute, ordinance, regu
% Iati0n or custom, shall subject or cause {
be subjected, any inbabitsnt OF any State @
Territory 10 the deprivation Of any rirht 81
cured or protected by this act, or 10 diner
bal cUt punlshpentss pain or penalties, en- aC
count Of such person having 81 any um
a. been held IN q cond uUu Of slavery, or in