Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-04-06
FOR GOVERNOR.
GEN. JOHN w. GEARY.
THE VETO or THE qEvIE. RIGHTS
Bill.

We have again to record veto ~ the
President Of one Of the most important
measures, preparatory to the readnfission oi
the recently rebellious States, that has vet
received the sanction of Congress. His
discussion of the bin by sections while appa-
rcntly cool and calm, displays strange
aversion 10 honest reasoning, while his de-
termination to consent TO no Legislation up
on reconstruction until rebels are permitted
to participate, crops cut in the yery begin
ming of bis message In discussing the first
section he asks Of the freedmen Can It
be reasonably supposed that they possess
the requisite qualifications to entitle them
to all the privileges and inmunities of eiti-
senship Of the United States? What must
We think of the man who asks this question.
when he knows that the section he discusses
simply proposes to give to the classes en-
braced in its provisions, the right d make
and enforce eoatracts, TO sue and Be sued
by parties, and give evidence, to inherit
purchase, lease, sell, hold and convey real
and personal property, and TO Be entitled TO
the full and equal benefit of an laws and
proceedings for the security Of tlleir persons
and property as is enjoyed by white citizens.
In other words II amounts to a simple deni-
al that they who have recently been slaves
have now any right to the protection of the
laws in their persons ana property
Again he argues that because foreigners are
required 70 he in the country Ave years be-
fore they can become citizens, they who
have been 5orn and grown up TO manhood
on the soil, should not have the protection
Of the laws. IF any sane man can under
stand the force Of this logic, he ought to be
sent to Barnum at once. The discussion Of
the first section is fair sample Of the char
acter of the whole message. The special
pleading of the Presidents, against the pro-
visions for the enforcement of the bill, Is
sufficiently answered by the statement that
they are almost identical with those of the
Fugitive Slave law in force a few years ago,
but have the advantage that the amend
ment abolishing slavery efectually cuts off
any objections to the constitutionality Of the
present bill, but Andy johnson and the
whole Democratic party sustained the con-
stitutionality of the fugitive slave law, uu-
der the constitution as it then was and can
make no plea against similar provisions fol
the enforcement of law now. These are
the main features of the message and the
remaining minor parts are discussed in the
same manner in regard to honesty and can
dor. In his concluding remarks he makes
the following statement:
THE white race and black race of the
South have hitherto lived together under
the relation OF master and slaye-capital
owning labor. Now that relation is chang
ed, and as to ownership, capital and labor
are divorced. They stand now each master
OF itself In this new relation, one being
necessary to the other, there viii be a new
adjustment, which both are deeply interes-
ted In making harmonious Each has equal
I'0Jcer N settling the terms and, if left to the
laws that regulate capital and labor, it is
confidently believed that they will satisfac-
torlly work out the problem.
How any man can have the hardihood at
the present time, to stand before the world
and declare that the freedmen of the South
have equal power with the whites in regula-
ting the terms of labor, where even the Sc
curity Of their persons and property is in
many instances denied to the freedmen,
while the whites have all the power of max
ing and enforcing such laws against the
freedmen as their malice and vindictiveness
may suggest, surpasses our comprehension.
In view Of the spirit characteriziug the
present and former veto message, we can
only conclude that whatever course the
President may pursue in other matters, he
is determined to do all in his power to throw
the work of reconstruction into the hands
OF the rebels so as TO enable them to make
their own terms, and compel us to surrender
to the rebels, conquered, all the powers and
privileges for which they fought. IF the
people consent to such iniquity as this, for
what was all our sacrifices of blood and
treasure during four years of bloody, fatri-
cidal war 4?