Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-04-06
The Civil Rights Bill Veto.

we nave ttptIi ITOftl t1le IIst. UNIV iIiiiiS
to believe that Andrew johnson of Ten
nessec. now President of the United States,
was bent on deserving the party that
elected him, and the principles upon which
the party stood in the last great qnadrennial
contest. We could not bring our mind to
believe that such was to be the case, be-
cause we could see. no cause for such
desertion; nor could we find any thing in
the previous public character of the man to
Justify such conclusion. Therefore we
| have counselled forbcarance and modera-
ton. we'll knowing that public men are of
| ten judged enormously, because judged
hastily. We recollected when Mr.. Lin
coin was denounced by men all around us
for his hesitancy and want Of policy. But
few men, especially those of ardent tenn
permanent, but wanted to supply his place,
and at once. with some more earnest, ar
dent. and active man. 10 some extent we
fell into this way of thinking; and are
now obliged to say, ''all is well that ends
well;" and we feel that we may have
wronged Mr.. Lincoln, Wewere detcrmin-
ed from the first that We would not hastily
condemn President johnson. but give him
all the opportunity to be heard. and then
Judge him on 4 full hearing. We are not
sure bat we have gone rs far in this di-
reoton As our feelings. or our sense of
duty. or justice to the President demands,
and therefore we mos; heartily regret this
last veto message. because it does not ac-
cord with our ideas of duty to Congress.
or the people. Nay more. it is a further
alienation from the party; and if he once
gets started in direct opposition to the
majority in Congress. there must be more
or less of passion or Of vindicativencss min
cled with his acts. lie must be something
less or more than man to be entirely free
from such feelings. W. subjnin the fol-
lowing happily expressed views of i CO.
temporary As being very nearly in accord
with those of the people in this locality:
If there We're anything of qHestionab bic
cxpediency in the bill. it it were the in
auyuratipn of new. doubtful and extra
ordinary policy. its veto might be excepted
without a murmrr. But it is simply the
consequences Of what has been already
done. 1t is simply the fultillment of Il
pledge which the nation caunot violate
without di>gracing itself and inviting the
yen rcancc OF Heaven. We have enamel
patcd the slaves in nane--thiS bill makes
them free in fact. We have declared them4
bill endows them with the |
citizens rights. We have pronounced |
them a part of the pcople-this bill secures |
I,
the freedmen are in Il most helpless and |
deplarable position. They owe allegiance /
to the Government. yet they receive no |
protection in return. They are bound to
render it service. Vet they receive nothing
from it. They are compel,cdto contribute
to its support. yet they enjoy none of its
benefits. If traitors they would receive
the punishment OF treason. yet being faith
FIJI they have none OF the rewards of fidcli-
ty. They are fi-admen without being free
and citizens without the rights of citizen
ship. In all Of the Southern States they
are subjected to the most grievous disa-
bilitics without a chance of relief from the |
local authorities.
The bill. which the President has vetoed.
holds out the remedy. Ii embodies no dis
putcd question of suffrage and no bugbear
of political equality. Itmcrely guarantees
the elemental rights of humanity. the
rights without which freedoms worse than
mockery. the rights which throughout the
world belong to all the citizens of civilized
nations. and which are essential to the
security of life, liberty and property. 1t is
not based upon military force. 1t does
not create military tribunals, 1t simply
enforces the rights of the freedmen through
the calm. firm. dignified forms of judicial
procedure. and when the States get ready
to abolish their outrageous determinations
this measure will be virtually superseded.
The nation must insist upon what the bill
proposes. TO do less would he an I'M
paralleled violation of plighted faith and
shameful disregard of the plainest princi-
pies of justice.