Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-04-13
NUMBER FORTY-TWO

States, :he right OF suffrage should be ex-
tended 10 the cOl1rcd man. Thopgh ttis
was not the prevailing sentiment cf Congress.
all were anxious Tor reorganization Of the
rebeliioUs States and for their full uarticipa-
tlon IN the federal governments, ~ so0n as
these relations could ~ restored with safety
10 all concerned. Feeling the impor.sucs Of
harmonious acticr between the different de-
p2r'ments OF the government, and an anx-
lous desire % sustain the Plesdtnt, for
| wEOm had always entertained the highest
respect. had frequent interview. with hin.
during the early psri of she session. With.
out mentioning any thing said by him. nav
win perfect safety state that, acting uuon
the considerations | have stated. and tcIicv-
ing that the passage ut law IS CONGRESS
securing equality IN civil rights. when de-
MED by State authorities. 10 freedmen ami all
other inhabitants Of the United States would
do much to relieve anxiety m the North 2,
Inddce the Southern S.ltcs % secure these
rights by their own action and thereby re-
move many Of the obstacles % an rarIv r.
construction, prepared the bill su5stan-
italy as It now returns with the President
objections. After the bill was introduced
and printed, copy was Furnished him. and
- - '.'''r tNstA fNAA"fais M44Il IL kln EfE
al 'hlt be We h'sI'ttlng about sigaius the
Frcedmen's BGTcau bill, BE- was informed Of
the condition OF the Civil Rights bill, then
pending in the House, and hope expressed
that, II h' hal any Objection 10 any Of its
provisions, he would make them known Il
It's friends That tlcY might be reutdieI. II
no, destructive ol the measure: tra, there
Va believed o b. NJ di-pp-i.i,n., ., ta,. ulrt
oi Congress. and certainly uDne On nv part.
o. aaye bills presented To hlm w.,!ct he
wOull uOt uppruy-. lie never Indicut.,! Z,
ue, nor, - la - | know, 10 any Of i,s
'ri-nt,. she least objection % any %. ta,. mo-
Visions IF tie bill s.ii after IT, p3sslsr. how
could lie cJnsis.eaty with himself? The
bill was framed, - WIS suypo,, u. in e,.tire
harn'Iy wish hIs yicws, and {. r.ainIv in
harmony with what he was then, and H.
since been dlIag, m projecting freedmen IN
the cIvA rls = tciongiug - every freeman.
the l.rtrr ght VI very American. a:i care
fully avoided conf rnug OF lntcrlerIny with
p iiical ris.'ts or privileges Of anv kind -
The bill neither cJniers nor abTIlyes tb.
rights Of any one, hn; simply declare. taet
in civil rights, shcre shall be an equality
among all classes Of citizens, and ,bat all
alike shall be subject to same punishnen, in
each State. So long as State does not
abritge the great fundamental rights belonr
irg, under the Constitution. to all citizens
it may gran. or withhold such civil rights as
it pleases. All tina. Is required is that, in
shis respect, its law shall be impartial.
And yet this bill Is now returned with the
Presidents Ohjeetious-an such ohiectionsI
What arc they? That in all our history
all our evrarIenee a
federal and State laws, no such system "a =
that contemplated by the details of hi, biII
has ever been proposed OF adopted, Have
not already shown, IN the action Of the Pres
ident himself. through General SickIes. de-
,laring shat all laws shall be applicable alike
10 all inhabitants, and IN various acts of
Congress, precedent for every provision of
this bill? The details Of the bill, " saws
.he President, establish for the security OF
he colOred race, safeguards which 20 inf
litely beyond any that the general govern
nent has ever provided for the white race"
With what truth this can be sand Of bill
which declares that tie civil rights and the
punishment OF all races, including. of course
he colOred the same as those Of the whites
ct an intelligent public judgel .The
etaIis. says the President. ..interfsre with
he municipal legislation Of the States. with
he relations existing exclusively between
tate and lts citizens, OF between inhabitants
I the same State an absorption and a-sump-
ION OF power by the general government.
ThIeh II aequlesced in, must sap and DESTROY
ur federal system Of limited powers. and
reak down the barriers which preserye
be rights of the States. IL Is another
-cp, or rather stride towards Capitalization
nd the concentration OF all legislative pow
rs IN the national government. All tbis
SAID by President, vino, by his own fiat
issued through General Howard-set aside
n act OF the Legislature Of Mississippi, and
: another order. through General Terry,
q act Of the Virginia Legislature, and for
ade any magistrate OF civil officers from
tempting 20 execute it; who, through
enerai Candy, ordered the State courts in
l. department to suspend all suits against
ersOns charged with offences for which
hite persons were not punished; and we
! know the penalty which would have been
sited upon State judges OF officials for vio-
tions OF any Of these orders. \ president
ho, after vetOing provision Of the Freed
zen : Bureau Bill because il secured posses
on 10 the occupants Of land under Major
eneral Sherman's order, for the limited
-riod OF three years, himself issued an or
r. within less than thirty DAYS afterwards,
rough II. W. Smith, Assistant Adiutant
eneral, declaring that grants of land to the
eed people IN compliance withGeneral Sher-
an's special field order No. lj, dated jan
ary 10, 1865, will be regarded as good and
alid. Well may we exelaim, in view OF
le acts OF the President, in his language
hen discussing the veto Of President Buc6-
nan, ''On, consistency thou art Jewell -
l view Of these facts, who is 1t that is
reaking down the barriers OF the States and
aking strides toward Capitalization? Is it
Ongress by the passing Of this bill or the
resident who withOu. law is arrOgating to
lmseli far greater powers than any confer
d by this bill? The President is required,
/ carrying out his powers, to act in obedi-
ice to law, the very thing which he refuses
} do. lie says the tendency of this bill
ust be to resuscitate the spirit Of the rebel
on, What assumption in one who denies
le authority TO punish those who violate
nited States laws under color of State au-
iOrity-a doctrine from which the rebellion
1rung and in entire harmony with the de-
aration of Mr. Buchanan, that there was
U power 10 eoerce a State.
.ndrew johnson will prove that President
ndrew johnson has violated the spirit of
be Constitution, if lot the letter, in Veto
lg this bill 1t will be remembered that
he bill passed both Houses of Congress by
lore than two-thirds majority, the vote
a the Senate being, ayes SO, to nays 70; in
he House, ayes Ill, nays 3s- l will read
ON the remarks Of Senator Andrew john
IN ON the veto Of the Homestead bill by Mr..
buchanan:
- The President Of the United States pre-
lmes, yes, sir, say presumes 10 dictate 70 the
merican people and to the two Houses Of Con-
ress, in violation Of the spirit if not the letter
/ the Constitution, that this measure shall not
seome law. Why do | say this, I ask, is
iere any difference in the spirit Of the COnstl-
ition. whether measure is sanctioned by
sO-thirds vote before its passage or aiterwari
hen measure has been vetoed by the Presil
ent, the Constitution requires that il shall be-
and passed by a two-;hiris vote,
order to become a Law. But here 10 the
eth Of the Executive, there was a tsO-thrds
ote in favor Of this bill. The vote WAS thirty