Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-03-03
ZANEsv1LIE, Feb. 27, 1866.
John o. English, Chairman, etc.:

audience Win MANIFESTATIONS OF Cnelr graf
ihcatlon: fi-
F ZANEsvILLE, Feb. q, 1866.
John O. English, Chairman, ETC.: De-. -r
DEAR SIR--Your valued favor of yester-
days date, requesting me to act as Presi-
dent of meeting TO be held this evening
for the purpose of approving the action of
the President, in vetOing the bill known as
the Freedpen's bill, has just been placed in
my hands. @
Previous engagements as well as the
state of my health, will prevent my COM
plying with your request. The bill was
Objectionable in many of its provisions,
some of them, in the opinion of the Presi-
dent, unauthorized by the Constitution,
destructive to the interests and dangerous
to the liberties of the people. Entertain
ing these opinions, he but discharged his
sworn constitutional duty, in declining to
approve the bill, and returning it to the
House in which 1t originated, with his OBJ
iections to it becoming law.
Under ordinary circumstances and with
a proper state of feeling, in Congress and
in the country, the President could dis
charge this constitutional duty, without
any fear of being arraigned before the
world, by those who had elected him to
power, as betrayer of confidence, and a
traitor to the best interests of his country;
but those having places in the Legislative
departments of the Government, and those
holding positions of influence among the
people who acknowledge no constitutional
obligation, cannot appreciate, that the
President should recognize any such
authority, or look to that instrument for
any directions as to his duty; and being
defeated, by his testing the bill, by the
principles and provisions of the Constitu-
tion, they become violent, and by this vio-
lence seek to deter him from the discharge
of the same duty should the same cOnting-
ency again present itself. 1t, therefore, be-
comes the duty of all the people who are
in favor of the Constitution, and OF the ex-
ercise by those in authority of such powers
only, as are granted by that instrument,
to communicate to the President their ap-'
proval of the veto, and of the exercise by
him, whenever in his opinion the emergen-
CIV arises, of the veto power. A power in
trusted to him by the Constitution and in
tended by the founders of the Government
as a protection OF the rights and interests
Df the people against legislation having its
origin in passion and prejudice, which to
The great detriment OF the country, are
now the controlling elements with many of
our Legislators and many of our Legisla-
tive bodies.
g. regret my inability to take part in the
meeting this evening, but believing that
your deliberations will be calm, considerate,
{ hnd to the end that the President may feel
assured that the people everywhere, with
put regard to past political difference, or
.uture political alliances, approve of his
forts to maintain the Constitution and re-
tore the Union under its existing provis-
.ons, shall hope tor you, large and en-
Lhusiastic gatheringslt.g..
,h +. Very respectfully,
IA -,f.. .s 7,.'r.i II. j. JEwETT.
ol General George w. Morgan being present
was called upon to address the meeting, and
upon,his introduction was enthusiastically
greeted. In the course of his remarks he
lndorsed the late veto message of President
johnson, and submitted broad and COM
Drehensive view of the theory and princi-
bles of our Government. He f6rcibly Illus
trated the unconstitutionality of the Freed
mems Bureau bill, and the danger 1t threat
ened to our common liberties.
The committee on Resolutions made the
following report, which was unanimously
adopted: r.fr io i ~ alJ
ResoIued, As the expression Of the people
here assembled, that thepreservation of the
Constitution and the Union, are alike in-
separately connected with the best welfare
of the epeople of the United States, and that
TO maintain and preserve them In their ll-
tegrity;is eDjoiAed upon all In authority,
as well Of the State the National Govern
ment. ~,
United States guarantees to each State the