Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-03-30
The Veto.

The following is the bill which passed
both Houses of Congress ten days since
and which is now asserted has been vetoed
by the President. Our readers will recol-
lect that our Washington correspondent
said that Mr.. Bingham of Ohio. one of the
best lawyers in the House, with some
others. did not quite like this bill. thinking
it open to constitutional objections; and
and that if it should be vetoed it must not
be taken for granted by this act that
President Johnson had gone over to the
Democrats. Most people who have lived
to the age of fifty years and been for the
last thirty years conversant with American
politics, and the different versions given of
our great written charter, by the great
men in the nation must by this time have
come 10 the conclusion that that instru-
ment is not so sacred nor so well defined
III its meaning that equally honest, that
equally we'll read lawyers and statesmen
will not arrive at different conclusions
recollect that the Bank question which so
a@itated this country from 35 TO 81. had
been decided to be both constitutional and
unconstitutional by those who were con-
sidered then the ablest men in the country.
This slavery question. in some one of its
many phases. has called out opinions.
based on the constitution. as diverse rs the
poles. Judge Taney's was the extreme on
one side. So there have been questions
arising. during the rebellion. which have
called forth learned constitutional al gu-
ments pro and cen almost weekly. And
these learned arguments have been urged
with great pertinacity and apparent
honesty. President Jackson administered
the constitution as he understoodit. Every
other President does the same. with this
difference, that they would not. or do not say
so as frankly as did "old Hickory" We
have come to the conclusion that about all
the questions involving nice constitutional
principles. will be decided by an executive
in accordance with his natural prcjudices.
scruples don't override all other feelings.
One man can find constitutional warrant
to do many things. and he will find it be-
cause he wants to do so. while another
equally ardent. equally learned and equally
able man will look in vain for the authority.
This may be a harsh, or uncharitablc con-
clusion 10 arrive at, but we think facts will
sustain it.
.THE CivYI. RIGHTS BILL. This bill as
it passed both Houses of Congress provides;
1. That all persons. irrespective OF color
or condition, born in the United States,
shall he considered as citizens thereof, ex
cept Indians not taxed and persons subject
to foreign powers.
II. That such citizens shall have the.
same rights to make and enforce contracts,
to sue aud be sued, to inherit, purchase,
lease. sell, and convey real and personal
property. and to full and equal benefits of all
laws Tor the security of person aud proper
tv, as are euieyed by other citizens.
III. That any persons deprivlns any CIT
liens ofany Of the rights enumerated in the
bill shall be punished by fue and impris-
ounent.
". That a final appeal in any case that
may arise under this hill NAV be taken to
the Supreme Court of the United States.