Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-04-04
The Second Veto.

The Second Veto.
The following is a synopsis Of the Presl-
dent, message, veto:nS the Civil high's
bill"
By the Grst section Of the bill, all persons
born in Ihs United States, and not subject t"
auy foreign power, excluding indians not
taxed. are declared tobe citizens ofthe United
..,ates. 80. rs.3 ,
This provision comprehends the Chinese ct
the Pac' f.: States, Indians sui ject to taxation
and the people called Gypse-, as well as the
entire race des' s'gnated as blacks, people OF
color, negroes mulattoes, and persons OF AT
r;cau blood. Every individual of these races
born in the United States is, by the b!lI,
made citizen Of the United State. 1t docs
not nuroort to declare or confer any other
richt of citizenship than Federal citizenship,
aud does not purport to give these classes OF
persons any status as citizens OF States, ex-
cept that which may result from thelr status
as citizsns of the United StateS.
The power to confer the right of State cit
;zsnship, is lust as exclusively with the seve-
raj States as the power to confer the rlslt II, OF
Federal citizenship is with Congress. Inc
right Federal citizenship thus to be conferred
oa tbs several excepted races before msh-
toned, is now, for The first time, proposed to
be given by law. The bill, in effect, proposes
a discrimination against large numbers OF
foreigners, aud in favor Of the negro, TO
WON, alter long years Of bondage the ave-
uues to freedom ard intelligence have now
been suddenly opened. He must OF necessi-
ty. fros, his previous unfortunate condition ct
seryituae, be less iuf)rmed 81 to the nature
and character of our institutions than he who.
coming from abroad, has to some extent, at
least familiariz.d himself with the principles
of government to which he voluntarily en-
trusted life, liberty and the pursuit OF sap
piness. Yet, it is now proposed by single
legislative enactment TO confer the rights oil
citizens upon all persons Of African descent
horn within the extended limits of the United
States. while persons Of foreign birth who
make our land their homes must undergo s
probation of Eve years, and can only then be
come citizens upon proof that tney are o..
good moral character, attached to the princi-
Dles of the institutions Of the United States,
and we'll disposed to the good order and hap
piness of the same.
In reviewing these sections Of the bill, be
saws: If it DE granted that Congress can re
neal all State laws discriminating between
whites and blacks on the subjects covered by
this bill, why, it may be asked, may not Con-
gross repcal in the same way all State laws
discriminating between tie 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, tken Congress can by
}sw also declare who, without regard to color
or race, .nhall have the right to ACT aG juror
or az Judge, of to hold anr other office, and,
finally, to vote in every State and Territory
o: the United States.
As respects the Territories, they come with
in the power of Congress, for as to them the
lsw.,nsking power is the Federal power; but
as to the States, no similar provision exists
yesting in Congress the power to make rules
and regulations for them. The President
saws. in conclusion, in all our history-in all
our experience as people living under Fed
eral and State law-no such systam as that
contemplated by the details Of this bill has
eyes before been proposed or adopted. They
establish for the security Of the celored race
safeguards which so Infinitely beyond any
that the General Government has ever pro-
yided br the white race. They interfere
With the municipal legislation of the States,
with the relations existing exclusively be-
tween Stats and it's citizens, or between the
inhabitanr, of the same State, in the absorp
ton aad assumption of power by the General
Government, which, if acquiescsd in, must
sap and destroy our fcderati7e system of lin
tied powers, and break down the barriers
which preserve the rights Of the States. II
i. auo,her STEP or rather stride toward. cen
tcallzation and the concentration of all legia-
lative powers in the National Government.
The tendency Of the bill must be to resusci-
tate the split of rebellion, ana to arrest the
progress OF those influence which are more
closely drawing around the States the bonds
0. union aud peace. Ny lanented predcces-
!: il. in his proclamation Of TIE lst Of Janua.
~, 1863, ordered and declared that all person,
held as slaves within certain States and parts
ofStatss therein designated We're snd thence
forward should be fee and further, that the
Executive Government of the United States,
including the military and nayal authorities
thereof, would recognize aud maintain the
freedom Of such persons. This guarantee has
been rendered especially obligatory and sa.
cred by the amendment of the Constitution
abolishing slavery throughout the United
States. / therefore fully recognize the obliga-
lion to protect and defend that class Of our
paople whenever aud wherever it shall become
necessary, and to the full extent compatible
with the Constitutions Of the United Statea.
Entertaining these sentiments, it oa!y re-
mains for mo to say that l will cheerfu!ly CO.
+. oporate.in any measure that may be necessa-
ry for the protection Of The civil rights Of the
freedmen, as well as those Of all other classes
of persons throughout the United States, by
judicial process under equal and impartial
laws, .in conformity With the provisions of the
Federal Court. ..t;. ,y,.-.
l.now return the bill to the S.aate and
regret thst in considering the bills aud joint
resolutions forty two in number. which have
been thus far submitted for my approval, am
compelled to withhold my assent from Sc
cond measure that has received the sanction
of both Houses Of Congress.
.EEw YonE, March 24-zAyoTlIEx GREaT
RoBpEaY-sl64, 600 SroLsS FRoM A DwEL.
LING HoUsE.-Another grca. robbery has oc
Cured and no traces Of the thieves are to be
found, Some time last evening, the residence
of Mr.. ]. P. Moore, on Madison avenue, was
entered and q tin box containing United
States bond5, railroad, State and ether SEGA
rites, vailed in the aggregate at $4,000,
wss carried of. Five thousand dollars has
been offered as reward for the recovery of
the property. If the usual eourse is pursued
however, it is more than probable that the
onerators will refuse to- compromise for any
such sum and viii demand Of least, ,one-third
OF, the whole smouut for their: honesty in
bringing back the other twoIthirda. 1t ap-
,,s.rS frat, tbt front. door of the; house had