The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-04-06
Comments on the TetO Of the CirN
Rights Bill.

We deeply regret the appearance OF tins
document The bill which it seeks to sup
press was framed in turtherance Of an OBJ
iect of transcendent Importance, made nee
essary by the triumph of the national call>e, I
and dear to the hearts OF the patriotic /
MASSES. That object is 10 secure the
equality of American citizenship, 10 real
ize for the first time the fundamental doc
trines of the declaration o. independence
and carry out the avowed purposes OF the
constitution. The loyal people are per-
fctly convinced that in this way only can
we end up the gigantic evils illustrated Icy
and inherited from the rebellion, and re-
store solid harmony and prosperity 10 the
regenerated Union. As the FLAG is one
and the country is one, the law must he
one, reaching to every citizen alike. con-
veyins the same rights and securities.
without regard TO color or former cl;,S>
and condition When we get down TO
that broad and sclid foundation every
thin. will 90 well, and not before.
And yet when Il measure OF these be-
inefficient aims i, brought before the Pre>i-
dent, instead OF looking upon ii flvorabIy,
and even, Us hi ght he supposed, stretch
ins his desire TO approve the main features
of the bill TO cover some objectionable de
tails. he makes the details the main thin"
and regards the whole bill as critically H.
ii its purpose We're 10 give power 10 u cor
poration or 10 Il class. instead of diiil.>ln@
! equality anon. all. No -rcat mc;l>urc-
certainly no measure adequate to the cNi
.ency which this Is designed 10 meet
could be criticized in this minute WAY
without finding many apparent objections.
and it must be said that several OF those
. urged 10y the President are only apparent
lie asks, for instance. whether the people
, OF the southern states have called Tor such
t legislation OF course they have mott
| is their hostility TO equal rights which his
, made the legislation necessary. lie pre-
tends that the foreigner is Disseminated
against for the sake of the negro, whereas
the sole distinction is between the native
r born and the foreign born. which the con-
/ >titulion has always and with perfect JUS
tice recognized. lie LAYS @rcat SIrc>s Up
Oh the evils OF :; conflict between this
+ measure and state legislation. and Vel
himself says that he does not apprchcnl
: any such conflicting legislation" Why
= not, then. approve a measure >;,lutarv in
| the main, and meet any Incidental difficult
| ties when they actuly come up
t But the worst OF ii i there i motiin.
Z in the veto 10 show that the President
: looks upon TIM, ;.> in any >cn>c Il s;,Iu!lry
f measure He claims that slavery bcin.
: annuIlcd and being no attempt TO revive il.
e there Is no need OF any such securities Tor
4 the nero. He seems wholly 10 tor-et
t about the black codes of several STATES ami
. the numerous law, and customs ROW Ell
:; forcing :, crushing intcriority upon thy
; freedman. He even affects Ia think il
{ wonderful that ain all oar history. Il" such
V system a. that contemplated hy the details
n of this hill ha> ever hytor. hcci propo>eI
+ or adopted, When before. W. ak. MA,
there such IN occasion. sIlcii a demand tol
II ii When did We ever have inur million,
l. OF freedmen, sill li,in" i'll the midst u
/ their former m;I-tcr-. To ic4i-l;Iic fog
n To say that the hill i calculated i" "op-
= crate in FAVOR oi the cnl"rri race i IL
J. say Just what ii claims and What it OUGHT
: TO do. Everything in the southern stale,
l. i HOW against the nc.ro-thc laws. tn,
: customs. tic habits and the prciulicc> o
;. the White AMI ruling cl;.>- All the die,
are loaded AGAINST the trrcima:i. and il,
Il has Il fair chance nowhere. outside Ia,
: protection of the federal hayrnct> AMI III,
l. federal laws, This civil rights hili Nh,
ii designed 10 furnish linn adequate ;ln,l PEI.
|. mancni security. AMI We believe ii dee j
II with no INJURY and a liitl,. Inconvenience,
/ IL i possible under The circumstances
l. We are sorry The President docs noi - IT.
IL gard ii. and We hope il Will IL rcl,a>~e,
Is over hi~ vct".-bo,to. .joumaL
t. The New York Evening rn>t, wlici
; has Sustained President .loln>"m- cour>-
!, Tor the most part >Imcc lis divergence
u from the majority OF Congress. rct,Ile
Il ncarl y all hi> arguments I'm this la>i Vel,
II MESSAGE. ana concludes ;t> follows:
, We regret that We are compelled /,
= dissent lhu> widely from the position l:lkel
: i'll the Message We thought we'll ni tn,
proposal favored by Mr., Johnson TO adm
- into Congress the loyal representatives q
:. the late rebel states We approved a
many Of his objections 10 the I'LL Tor en-
. lar"ing the powers of the trcclmcn's hu
-, rc;lu- But, Us 10 the civil rights bill
, though We are not wholly satisfied will
:, every one of liz provi>ion>-it seems 10 II
a> good Il measure a. We are Likely 10 Oh
"a tain, and We heartily hope that il viii re
- celve i'll both houses of Congress the rclui
=, site majority of two-thlrl>.''
:. NEW JERSEY SENAroR>Hr-Nlr l.
:, ID. Pan"born, formerly we'll known il
this State. IN 4 note TO the New lori
Evening Post. makes the following cx
W PLANTATION OF the hitch i'll the election O
al the New jersey Senator:
\. A.. 4