Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-04-03
The Presidents Veto.

The Presidents Veto.
On Tuesday last, President johnson sent to
the Senate his veto of the Civil Rights bill
The following is a summary of the veto mes
sage
BY the first section of the bill all persons born
In the United States, and not subject to any
foreign power, excluding Indians not taxed, are
declared to be citizens Of the United States.
This provision comprehends the Chinese Of
the Pacific States, Indians subject to taxation
and the people called Gypsies, as well as the
entire race designated as black, people OF color,
negroes, mulattoes, and persons of African blood.
Every individual OF these races born in the Uni
ted States is, by the bill, made citizen of the
United States. 1t does not purport to declare
or confer any other right Of citizenship than
Federal citizenship, and does not purport to
give these classes OF persons any status as cltl-
zens Of States, except that which may result
from their status as citizens of the United States.
The power to confer the right Of State citi-
zenship is just as exclusively with the several
States as the power to confer the right OF Fed
eral citizenship is with Congress. The right Of
Federal citizenship thus to be conferred ON the
several excepted races before mentioned is now,
tor the first time, proposed to be given by law
The bill, in effect, proposes a discrimination
against large numbers OF foreigners, and in IA
vor OF the negro, to whom, after long years of
bondage, the avenues to freedom and inte-
gence have now been suddenly opened He
must OF necessity, from his previous unfortunate
condition OF serVitude, be less informed as to
the nature and character of our institutions than
he who, coming from abroad, has to some ex-
tent, at least, familiarized himself with the
principles OF government to which he volunta-
rlly entrusted lfe liberty and the pursuit of hap
plness. Yet tits now proposed by a single legis
latlve enactment to confer the rights of citizens
upon all persons of African descent born within
the extended limits Of the United States, while
persons OF foreign birth who make our land
their homes must undergo probation Of five
years, and can only then become citizens upon
proof that they are of good moral character at
tached to the principles of the institutions OF
the United States, and well disposed to the
good order and happiness of the same.
In reviewing these sections Of the bill, he
says: If it be granted that Congress can repeal
all State laws discriminating between whites and
blacks in the subjects covered by this bill, why,
it may be asked, may not Congress repeal In the
same way all State laws discriminating between
the two races on the subjects Of suffrage and
office? If Congress can declare by law who
shall hold lands, who shall testify, who shall
have capacity to make contract in State,
then Congress can by law also declare who,
without regard to color or race shall have the
right to act as juror or as judge or to hold
any other Office, and finally to vote in every
State and Territory of the United States.
AS respects the territories, they come within
the power of Congress, for as to them the law
making power is the Federal power; but as to
the States, no similar provision exists vesting
in Congress the power to make rules and regu-
lations for them. The President says, in con-
clusion, in all our history, in all experience
as people living under Federal and State law,
no such system as that contemplated by the de-
tails of this bill has ever before been proposed
or adopted. They establish for the security Of
the colored race safeguards which go infinitely
beyond any that the General Government has
ever provided for the white race. They inter-
fere with the municipal legislation ofthe States,
with the relations existing exclusively between
State and it's citizens, or between the inhabi-
tants of the same State in the absorption and
assumption Of power by the General Govern
ment, which, if acquiesced in, must sap and
destroy our Federative system Of limited pow
ers, and break down the barriers which preserve
the rights Of the States. 1t is another step, or
rather stride, towards CONTINUATION, and the
concentration of all legislative powers In the
National Government. The tendency Of the
bill must be to resuscitate the spirit of rebellion
and to arrest the progress Of those influences
which are more closely drawing around the
States the bonds Of union and peace My la
mented predecessor, in his proclamation Of the
lst Of January, 1868, ordered and declared that
all persons held as slaves within certain States
and parts OF States therein designated, were,
and thenceforward should be free, and further,
that the Executive Government of the United
States, including the military and naval author
tiles thereof, would recognize and maintain the
freedom Of such persons. This guarantee has
been rendered especially obligatory and sacred
by the amendment Of the Constitution abolish
ing slavery throughout the United States. [
therefore fully recognize the obligation to pro-
tect and defend that class of our people when
ever and wherever it shall become necessary,
and to the full extent compatible with the Con-
stitution Of the United States.
Entertaining these sentiments it only remains
for me to say that [ will cheerfully cooperate
in any measure that may be necessary for the
protection Of the civil rights Of thefleedmen, as
those Of all other classes of persons throughout
the United States, by judicial process under
equal and impartial law, in conformity with the
provisions Of the Fedral Court.
] now return the bill to the Senate, and regret
that in considering the bills and joint resolutions
forty two In number-which have beenthus
far submitted for my approval, am compelled
to withhold my assent from second measure
that has received the sanction Of both Houses
OF Congress.
For the SPECTATOR
A Marriage Extraordinary.