The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-04-13
Presidential Ingenuity.

One OF the most curious. and perhaps.
one OF the most significant features of the
Presidents veto l., that If presents a COM
plctc collection OF the argumeniative elec-
tioncering tricks traditional with the dem
ocrltlr party in lis struggles against the
:ntI->;lyerv movement. Here we find the
old worn out >care-crow OF negro equality
Here we have the assertion that the re-
publican- want 10 place the negro above
the white man. Here We have the spec
tire of amal-amation called up before III.
Here We have the fears oi the foreign
born citizen appealed TO, who * made TO
believe that the negro Is preferred 10 him.
All these old. familiar hobbv-horSeS of the
lower order of democratic stump speakers
are troitcd out before Us in formidable ar
ray and with grcat Solemnity.
Let u> pass them in review First
trick: In his objection 10 the first Sec
ton of the civil rights bill. the President
say: Thus Il perfect equality OF the
white and blacI, races l. attempted 10 be
mon. We stated yesterday that. in
order 10 strengthen the position he as
>umc> in hi> veto message. the President
hal rc>nrted tn downright talSelood>
This is one OF them. The civil rights hill
docs. indeed. provide that the negro shall
have the same right 10 make and cntorct
contracts a> Il white man: the same right
10 >rc and he sued. Ia OWL and dispose of
property. a the white man to testify in
the courts of Justice like the white man !:
10 bc subject for the same otien>e>, 10 the
>ame puni>hmcnt> IL the white man.
But the civil rights bill does not provide
that the negro shall vote like the white
man: it does not enable him to hold Office
like ithc white man in short. it docs nnt
cndow him with 4 single one of the politi-
cal rights bv the exercise of which the
white man participates in the admini>tra-
ton of public affairs What. then. lac
comes OF tine '.pey;ct fquaLty" OF the white
! and cclorcd races 10 hc established 10y this
bill. upon which the President laws -
much stress If the President had Sturli-
ed the bill. a. it was his duty 10 10. he
could not have fallen into - glaring a mis-
take. Or. If he made such 4 statement.
knowing ii 10 be false. by what name shall
We call - wanton and reckless Il DISREGARD!
OF truth in one OF the ~raye>t official doc
umcntS a President of the | 'nited States Is
called upon t" issue:
We proceed 10 the second trick The
details OF the bill, SAYS the President. .-t->-
tabli>h. for the security of the colored
race. safeguards which 90 infinitely be-
vond any that the General government ha.
ever established for the white race. Ia
i:ici. the distinction OF race and color l.
hv the bill. made 10 operate IN favor of th'
colorcd and against the white race" On,
would suppose the President must he ac.
qu;lintcd with the fact. that the white peo.
pie of this country find the principal safe
guard OF their rights and Interests in In,
ii"nt 10 Vote, by which they participate
; in the maxim. of the laws and in the clec
ton of the executive and judicial officers
The white people. therefore. are the clas
: of governors, and the colored people. Win
: nc not permitted TO vote. constitute tn
: class of the governed. What man enlow
| ed with fair share of common sens,
would argue that the governing class ,rtuit
? IL much protection IL the governed , Ans
t what decent m;m would have the a>>u
rance TO assert that. il The governed are
5 Us they necessarily must bc, projected b.
f law, the governing class Is therefore dl>
r criminated against What talr-mlnde'
a and honest man c,n read the Civil Right
bill without coming 10 the conclusion tina
: not the least interference with state law
| or stale courts Is intended, if such law
and courts. only concede TO the Freedmen
Y an equality with the whites, not even il
t political rights, but in those civil rights
:. without which they will never become tru
: freemcn We charge the President wit
e having reSorted TO .laring Sophi>trics, an
n we are sorry TO say, his sophistries are no
II even of that ingenious kind which woul'
e give them decent claim 10 re>pectability
t Trick third: After having statec!
with what degree of truth we have alread
t shown, that the Civil Rights bill establish
/ es ''perfect equality between the nesroe
: and whites, he goes on to say that IN som
e states lit is enacted that no white perso