Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-03-27

Coupons, l41..; Five Twenties, 1862, 1U3y;
Five Twenties. 1864, 1857; Five Twentes,
1866, iG3T; Ten Forties, Soy: Seven Thirtles,
100; CERTIFICATES. s94; Gold. ia6H.
-~e~~
VETO OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
SnbJoined Will be found the important mes
sage OF the President to the Senate OF the Uni.
ted States, giving his reasons for returning the
civil rights bill without his approval. These
reasons are set forth most clearly and conclu-
sively. and must afford convincing proof to
every lair mind that The bill as passed had
| fatal defects, rendering il impossible for the
President TO give his assent to it
To the Senate Of the United States:
regret that the bill which has passed both
Houses Of Congress, entitled San act to pro-
tect all persons in the United States in their
civil rights, and furnish the means for their
vindication," contains provisions which can /.
not approve, consistently with my sense of
duty to the whole people, and my obligations
to the Constitution OF the United States. am
therefore constrained to return it 10 the Senate
the house in which it originated, with nv OBJ.
jections to its becoming law.
By the first section of the bill, all persons
born in the United States, and not subject 1,
any foreign power, excluding Indians not
taxed, are declared TO be citizens OF the Unit ID
States. This provision comprehends the G. n
nese OF the Pacific States, Indians subject
to taxation, the people called Gypsies. as well
as the entire race designated as blacks people
OF color, negroes, mulattoes, and persons OF
African blood. Every individual of these
races, born in the United States is by the bill
made citizen OF the United States 1t d les
not purport to declare or confer any other ri ght
of citizenship, than Federal citizenship 1t
Goes not puTport TO give these classes of pr
sons any status rs citizens OF States, except Iat
VIII Ch may result from their status as citiZ ms
of the United States. The power to confer the
right OF State citizenship is just as exclusively
Win The several States us the power to confer
the right OF Federal citizenship is with Con
grpss.
The right OF Federal citizenship thus to be
conferred on the several excepted races
t GgIsIe mentioned Mentioned is nov, for the first
law. ", as is claimed by many. all pers, ms
Who are natiye-born, already are, by virtue Of
me constitution, citizens OF the United Stats,
me passage OF the pending bill cannot be nee -
sary TO make them such. If, on the 9th =.
hano, such persons are not citizens, may BE-
assumed from the proposed legislation to make
them such, the grave question presents itself,
whether, when eleven Of the thirty-siS States
are inexperienced IN Congress- at this time il
is sound policy 20 make our entire colored
zens OF the United States Four millions of
them have just emerged from slavery into
freedom Can il be reasonably supposed that
they Possess the requisite Qualifications 10
entitlc them TO all the privileges and immuni
ties OF citizens of the United States! Have the
peopie OF the several States expressed such a
- IL
is necessary that they should ba declared citi-
Gems, in order that they may be secured IN the
enjoyment OF c,yil rights Those rights pro-
posed 10 be conferred by the bill, are, by Fed
ciled aliens and foreigners even before
the completion OF the process of natur-
a sha. and !. may safely BE- assumed
tnat the same eEactnents are SUIT
fcient to give like protection and benefits to
those for whom this bill provides special leeis-
iation; Besides, the policy Of the Government,
n fh1 Ant
nave been that persons VINO are strangers TO,
and unfamiliar with our institutions and our
laws shonld pass through certain probation,
at the end Of which, before attaining the Gov.
eted prize, they must give evidence OF their
illness TO receive and 10 exercise the rights OF
CITIZENS. as contemplated ny the Constitution
poses discrimination agaiusi large numbers
OF intelligent, worthy and patriotic foreigners,
ana III FAVOR Of The negro, 70 whom, after long
years OF bondage, the avenues 10 freedom
and intelligence have now been suddenly
opened. He must OF necessity, from his
previous unfortunate condition Of sery:-
tude, be less Informed as 70 the nature
and character OF our institutions tkan he
who, corning from abroad. has. To some
extent al least familiarized himself with the
principles OF government to which he yoInn-
tarily entrusts elite, liberty and the pursnit Of
happiness" Yet 1t is now p.opCsrd ny :.
single legislative enactment, 10 confer the
liahts OF CITIZENS upon all persons OF African
descent born within the extended limits OF the
Chiteo States, " lille persons OF foreign birth
who make our land their home must undergo,
a probation Of five years, and can only then
become citizens upon proof that they are of
good moral character, attached 10 the min
ciples Of the Constitution OF The United States,
and Wei disposed TO the god order and hap
piness OF the same 2 - ..s 81 .. g.. -
The first sect ton OF the bill also contains An
enumeration OF the rights 70 be enjoyed by
these classes, so made citizens. 'ir every state
These rights are: ITO make ami enforce CON
tracts. TO sue, be parties, and give eyidence TO
inherit, purchase, lease, sell hold and convey
real and personal property" ana 10 have ..full
and equal benefit Of ali laws ana nroceedinns
Tor me security, OF person aild property as is
enjoyed ny white citiZens.nl So. too thew are
maae SUBJECT 10 the same punishment. pains
and penalties III common with white citizens
ana 10 none others. Thus pei feet equality
OF the white and black races is a:tnlnp;ed 10 he
liked by Federal law, IN every State of the
Mon, over the vast Held OF Safe iurisGic lion
covered by these enumerated rights In no
one or these can any Stale eyer exercise any
power OF discrimination between the different
races. g.. .
In the exercise Of State policy over matters
extensively affecting the people OF each STATE
IL mas frequently been thought axped!-ut to
statutes of sOiie OF the States ortucru ;s we'll
as SOUTHERN, II is enacted, for instance, that no
whf'e person shall inter- marry v5iih !. negro
err III uiftto Chancellor Kent SAYS. spaaking
Of The blacks, that smarrIages b-t .yec,. tlIem
snk the whites are forbidden III some OF the
States, where slavery does no. exist, and they
and vixen not absolutely contrary TO law they
are rrvo''ng and regarded as an Off nee against
public decorum.' .'''-''1@
do not say this bin repeats State laws on
the subject OF marriage between the Two races
Tor as the whites are forbidden to inter-m,irry
with the blacks, the blacks can only make
such contracts as the whites thenlselvcs are
allowed to make, and Therefore cannot. under
TINS bill enter into the marriage contract with
the whites. cite this diserimi M ton. how.
ever, az an instance of the State policy as to
discrimination. and 10 inquire whether, IL
Congress can abrogate all State laws OF dis
crlmination between the two races, in tina
matter OF real estate, of suits, and of ontracts
generally, Congress may not also repeal the
STATE laws rs TO the contract of marriage be-
tween the two races! Hitherto every subject
embraced in the enumeration If rights con-
tanned in this bill, has been con idered a. ex-
c.nsiyely belonging TO the States They all re.
late TO the internal police and economy OF the
respeciivs States. They are matters which
in each State concern the domestic condi ion Of
its people, varying in each according to it's
own peculiar circumstances, ard the safety
and well being OF its own citizens. do not
mean TO say that upon all these subjects there
are not federal Restraints, as for instance, in
the State power Of legislation over contracts
there is \ federal Limitation that no State