New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-04-03
Special Correspondence of the Crescent.
From WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, March u, 1866

From WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON March 27, 1866.
THE SECOND VETO.
After waiting and doubling for several days. we
have at last received the Presidents message, re-
turning the civil rights bill to the House IN winch
it originated, with his objections to its becoming
law, Senator Trumbull has the honor of framing
two eaactments which received the presiden1lai
veto, and of bringing on the Senate an unenvlabie
reputation for disregard of constitutional law.
The trespasses of this gentleman are smpl sins RI
commission, for his legal talent IL well kiis wn, ana
has been lately exhibited In the Stockton case
but, accustomed to disregard the Constitution Tor
political purposes, he has come to look upon that
instrument in company with his eompeers, as
mere secondary consideration. 1t was not ex-
uected that SO much reverence for the compact OF
Union would proceed from one who has long held
official positions, but the policy OF Andrew john
son is now plainly defined, and it is strict regard
for the provisions of the Constitution There IS no
doubt that the President refused to sign this bill
with great reluctance. 1t was clevery framed to
excite the public approVal-civil rights for the
necro-the right to sue and contract. Few novices
could see the subtle and direfu injuries contained
in this apparently harmless proposition.
But the strong and growing confidence in the
| President, was evinced by numerous declarations
| of preyious endorsement. whatever Andy John
son decides, by that decision am contented to
abide" and since the veto, many violent support
| ers of Congress have discovered that some check
on their dings-the doings of the radicals
is evidently requisite. But am anticipating, and
must repeat that the President would have liked
to sign some moderate bill of this character, be.
cause it was obvious that the disunionists would
endeavor to make enormous capital from another
veto. The provisions Of the bill were plainly lille
gal, and in previous letter to the CRESCENT, had
occaton to notice the total disregard Of State Judi
catures, and the revolutionary character of tbs
military clause contained in its provisions.
TIE HISTORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
This second radical viper that has been summa
rily crushed, was introduced in company with tn
r freedmen's bureau bill. II passed through tn
Senate without considerable discussion, but in tn
House Mr.. Bingham Of Ohio, the ablest radica
lawyer in that body, objected to several OF its pr'
Visions because they TECHNICALLY conferred tn
right Of suffrage on the negroes, and for this rea
on he cast his vote on the bill with the consefq
tives. Negro suffrage, made universal by act
: Congress, was astep beyond his plan The bill WI
l. returned to the Senate, with House amendment
= which were accepted by the former body.
: When Mr.. johnson perused the bill with car
he was struck by its juridical provisions, but ha
ing for some time been absent from legal practic
e he called upon the ablest lawyers IN Washington
b. variouspol;tical opinions for their Judgment o5
technical clauses of the act. The unanimous decisl
was against its constitutionaity, and the Preside
thus finding that neither as question OF law Or
policy he could sign the BILL returned it to Congrt
= with his unanswerable reasons for veto. Ii
L act of the executive may not Immediately cref
,f such general appreciation as his former declslt
a. hecause the objections almost entirely leg
but when the tyrannical designs of the bill
a. fully understood the public approval must
T. loud and widespread Of course the veto MESA
lal was expected; only one more day was permit
- by law and the President would scarcely detain
- so long for mere approval. After the bill had
~ NAMED three or four days at the White Hou
suspicious of a veto became current; then it
,k heard that such lawyer was summoned by
he President, and wiseacres knew what Mr.. Johns
- said to Mr.. Stansbury, the great Cincinnati lawy
r, and Just what Mr.. Stansbury replied. The Vt
- was evidently forthcoming.
ne 1t was expected on Monday. The radicals W
Working might anu HihiH W eApol I'LL '9eoei>
- before it's receipt aud they succeeded, with W
the benefit to them the future will soon show.
anticipation of its arrival large crowd had
of lected in The Senate galleries, and, with CONNIE
ion able patience, had listened to the prosy argume
- in the Stockton case. But their virtue was
III warded While Mr.. Hendricks was speaking
- Presidents secretary appeared, and, according
an custom, Mr.. Foster requested the gentleman
' was addressing the Senate to suspend his rema
-, as message had been received from the Pl
ndi. dent of the United States. The suspense was
:, Of long maintained the title Of the message
Immediately announced, but hour after hour,
of half-past s. the intricacies of the contested
Ma ton case were argued with judicial wearine:
- delay the reading. Immediately after the eS
sion of Mr.. Stockton by disgraceful procee
- of the Senate, several members arose, and
nE, for adjournment before the reading of the
sage were vociterousy pronounced on the ra
-,,, side of the hall. Fessenden shouted adj journn
R of Sumner brayed in deep-tone reply; his Sa
Panza, Nye, of Nevada, re-echoed the &c
- The petty victory over the rights of the New
sey legislature should be capitalized until the
for row. Mr.. Wade was stolid for adjournment
ct to delightful chuckling at the late victory was
= be turned to nought. The galleries were
ur,,,; n; ming to wear look of woful disappointme
in the fear that all their vrtuous patience was to re
no reward
DIS. But several radicals were too deeply inter
ame in the reasons of the veto to permit this com
JUS tuous proceeding, and by large majority, i
II the decided that the Senate did take some little
s;,l h est in the message of the President j. W. Fe
the Secretary of the Senate, read the mess
Ds, person, and certainly did it justice with his