The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-04-13
The civil Rights Bill.

prescribed grounds of the Constitu
ton we have no doubt, and our
ablest constitutional cxpounders so
declare it, The veto in deciding to
the contrary makes out but lame
case at least, and one that has not
stood the test of Senatorial scrutiny.
We give the following extracts OF a
speech by Senator Trumbull. where
he speaks of what is considered BY
many as a very Objectionable feature
of the bill and upon which the Presi
dent makes his strongest point in his
objections to IL;
But, sir, perhaps the best answer
to this objection, that the bill pro-
poses to make citizens of Chinese
and Gypsies, and this reference to
tile foreigners, is to be found in u
speech delivered in this body by q
Senator occupying, l think, the seat
now occupied across the chamber by
my friend from Oregon [ Mr.. Viii.
liams less than six years ago, in re.
ply to q message sent to this body
by Mr.. buchanan, the then President
of the United States, returning, with
his objections, what was known as
the homestead bill. On that occa.
sion the Senator to whom l allude
said:
"But this idea about poor foreign
ers' somehow or other, bewildcr and
haunt the imagination OF a great ma
ny
II am constrained to say that ]
look upon this objection to the bill
as n mere quibble on the part of the
President, and as being hard pressed
for some excuse in withholding his
approval of the measure; and his al
lusion 10 foreigners in this connec-
ton looks to me like the ad captain
dun of the mere politician or dema.
gogue, than grave and sound rea-
son to he offered by the President Of
the United States in veto message
upon so important a measure as the
homestead bill"
Mr.. Sumner and Mr.. johnson. Who
was the Senator2
Mr.. Trumbull. That was the Ian
guagc of Senator Andrew johnson,
now President of the United States.
Laughter That is probably the
best answer to this objection, though
! should hardly have yentured to use
such harsh language in reference to
the President as 10 accuse him of
qnibbling and of demagoguery, and
Of playing the mere politician in
sending veto message to the Con
gress of the United States.
Again in regard to the unconstitu-
tionality of the bill. which is another
objection which the President says:
Out of the mouth of Senator An.
drew Johnson, l will prove that Pres
ident Andrew Johnson has violated
the spirit Of the Constitution, il not
its letter, in vetoing this bill. 1t will
be remembered that the bill passed
both Houses of Congress by more
than two. thirds majority, the vote
in the Senate being yeas 30 to nays
II, and, in the House, yeas Ill, nays
3S. / will read from the remarks Of
Senator Andrew Johnson on the We.
to of the homestead bill by Mr.. Bu
chanan:
"The President Of the United States
presumes-yes, sir, l say presumes-
to dictate to the American people
and to the two Houses of Congress, in
violation OF the spirit, if not tho let
ter, of the Constitution, that this
measure 81 all not become a law
Why do i say this? l ask, is there
any difference in the spirit OF the
Constitution whether measure is
by atwc thirds vote before
its passage or aitcrward? When a
measure has been vetoed by the
President, the Constitution requires
that it shall be reconsidered and pass.
ell Ly n two. thirds vote in order to be-
come n law. But there, in the teeth
of tie executive, there was q two.
thirds vote in favor OF this bill. The
vote was SO to 2 in this body. 4, The
two Houses have said that this bill
is constitutional and right. In the
other House, rejecting the popular
sentiment of the nation, the vote was
liz to 5l-.ten more than the two,
thirds majority which the Constitu-
ton requires and when there is a
two thirds vote for measure, say
it is against the spirit of the Consti-
tuition for the Executive to say, No,
you shall not have this measure; |
will take all the chances Of vetoing
it."
And again, in regard to passing
the bill, he quotes the words OF the
President:
] cannot better conclude what |
have to say than in the language of
Mr.. Johnson on the occasion of the
veto OF the homestead bill, when, af.
ter stating the fact that the President
was inconsistent and changed his
opinion with reference to great
measure and great principle is no
reason why Senator or Representa-
tive who had acted understandingly,
should change his opinion, he said:
al hope the Senate and House Of
Representatives, who have sanction
ed this bill, by more than two thirds
majority, will, according to the Con
stitution, exercise their privilege and
power, and let the bill become law