The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-04-06
The Civil Rights Bill and the Veto.

The Civil Rights Bill and the Veto.
This important Bill passed by both houses
of Congress is very appropriately caneo an
act to protect all persons in the United o'a'es
in their civil rights, and furnish the means Oh
their yindication.n If there is any country
on the face of the earth where law thus en-
titled ought to be found, that country IS our
own and if there is any government IN Cnrls
tendon to which the Liberals OF all civilized
nations might naturally and nationally look
for such an enactment, that government is
the American government. Where should
they look for such law if not to our govern
ment and country? The world is wide and
contains many nationalities, but none so free
as ours. More is now expected of us than of
any other nation by the lovers of liberty the
world over, and especially since the slammed
spot" of human bondage which, has SO long
stained our escutcheon has been washed out
by the best blood of our citizens. --aaA Is
We can hardly appreciate the intense anxi-
ETY. the lovers of true liberty in other coun-
tries have felt while watching the progress Of
events during the past fouryears, and we have
reason to believe their anxiety is no less now
as they read the accounts of the doings at !
Washington. We deeply regret that any one
holding official power in our government,
whether in high or low position, should so
act as to send pang through any liberal heart
in this country or in any other; but we fear
the recent acts of our Nations head have done
SO. From his past record they had reason to
hope for more liberal demonstrations; for
better spirit; for more tender regard for the
down-trodden; for more respect for the rights
of humanity. No wonder the liberal Journals
of other nations express their sorrow and re-
greet that our brilliant career in the path Of
Justice and Liberty and Humanity should be
thus impeded by him who of all men should,
be first and foremost in the good work. aa.qa
We are not surprised that the editor of the
Toronto Globe should utter the following SEN
timents in viewing our present crisis from. his
unprecedented stand-poin In speaking of the
Presidents second veto he says: lseiu8 q
SIT seems to be more and more apparent ey-
cry day that President johnson is determined
to prevent any trammels being placed upon
the Southern States in their dealings with the
blacks. In other words, he is for leaving the
freedmen to the tender mercies of their late
masters, and relinquishing one-half of the le-
climate advantages of the war. s9h s7Ez
We too begin to entertain the same opinion,
and yet we have all along endeavored to throw
the mantle of charity over him and hope for
better things. While remembering his record
during the dark days of our struggle against
southern traitors and Northern doughfaces
and copperheads, while reading his speech
in Nashville but short time previous to his
nomination as a candidate for Vice President
by the, great Union party of the country;
while bearing in mind the ISLANDERS with which
he was despatched and the abuse heaped up
on him by the democratic papers and the lead
ing demagogues Of the North who opposed the
war from the beginning to the end; while
thinking of his own struggles against enlbit-
tered and od-thfrsty traitors in his own
State and of the dangers through which he
passed while remembering all these things, we
confess our utter amazement at the course he
has recently pursued and the doctrines he has
advocated and published to the world. '1'2,9A
When comparing the two records made in
such brief space of time, we can recollect no
parallel in the history of any prominentman
in any age Of the world. The change has in
deed been marvellous one and must attract
the attention of European statesmen as well
as excite the wonder OF Liberals everywhere.
The change has been almost as sudden and
quite as great as that of Saul of Tarsus while
ON his way to Damascus. Toa But we confess
there is worldwide difference in the CONVEX
sions, and the advantage Is altosathar in favor
of him who once 'sbreathed ont threatenings
and slaughter" against the Christians. And
il we cast our horoscope Alright we venture
the opinion that the President will find it as
hard to- "kick against the pricks" as others
have who have gone before him. idgy s.rf 3.
That we may not be accused of going too
fast and too far, we once more copy the first
section of the Bill which the President has We
toed Here it is, and we desire our readers to
peruse ii carefully and seriously; for upon our
conscience we can see nothing in it but the
spirit of Justice, Liberty and Equality, such as
all. civilized nations have reason to expect
from a government like ours. r7i ,-,i-,.5f7
Be 1t enacted, &c. That all persons horn in
the United States and not subject to foreign
power, excluding Indians not taxed, are hereby
declared to be citizens of the United States, and
such citizens Of every race and color, without
regard to any previous condition OF slavery or |
mvolun tary servitude, except as punishment |
for crime whereof the party shall have been |
duly convicted, shall have the same right, in |
every State and Territory in the United States,
to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be par 4
ties, and give evidence, to inherit, purchase, |
lease, sell, hold, and convey real and personal |
property, and to full and equal benefit of all |
laws and proceedings for the security of per-
son and property, as is enjoyed by white citi-.
zens, and shall be subject to like punishment,
pains, and penalties, and to none other, any |
law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, |
to the contrary notwithstanding j.
Now why should the Head of republican
government raise objections to such doctrines
and principles as are embodied in the abeveex-
tracta Why should he put in special plead
ings to such doctrines? They are plain and
simple, and no very profound philosophy is
needed to understand them perfectly Why,
we ask in all seriousness, should the President
Of free Republic repudiate the doctrine that
all persons born in the United States, of every
race and color, are, and of right ought to be
citizens thereof? The very spirit of all our
free institutions recognizes such a principle
Why should he attempt to deprive the children
Of any generation of such glorious inheri-
tanceaefWhy deprive the mother of the bless
ed hope, when she gives birth to her child,
that he will enjoy the .full and equal benefit
ofSan laws and proceedings for the security of
person and property ?" What right has he to
say to any child, no matter what is the color
OF his skin, SYou shall notenjoy equal priy-
Ieges with other children; some of the rights
winch God hath given you'll will Tot permit
you to enjoy. Your skin is not quite so white
as the skin OF my children, and therefore you
shall notpossess equal rights with themF-