The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-04-17

Senator TrunbuII on the Veto.


it, and in support of the bill. We print
below full report of the priucipa! points
Of this tpeech. Mr.. Trumbull said:
Mr. President [ fully share with the
President of the United States in the re-
gret expressed that he is unable to sign
the bill to protect all persons in the United
States in their civil rights, and to furnish
the means of their vindication / regret
it on my own account, because of the dis
appointment: because the just expecta-
tious raised when the bill was presented
to the President, before its introduction
into the Senate, have been disappointed
regret it on the Presidents account, be-
cause it is calculated to ALLEVIATE him from
those who elevated him to power, and who
gladly have rallied around his administra-
tion to sustain him in the principles upon
which he was elected. But, above all sir,
regret it for liberty's sake, TO secure
which to ourselves and our pOsterity this
government was founded.
NIGHTS OF a CITIZEN OF THE UNITED
STATES.
But if the bill is unconstitutional and
unjust to the whole fpeopIe, 1 would not
have the President sign it. That its pro-
visions are neither unj inst to tho whole, nor
any portion of the people, nor unconstl-
tutionaI, | shall endeavor to show by
candid aud dispassionate review of the
Presidents various objections. lie begins
these objections with the very first lines
of the bill, which declares that all persons
born in the United States and not subject
to any foreign power, except Indians not
taxed, are citizens Of the United States
The bill originally introduced, did not
contain this provision. 1t was believed
by myself and many others, that all ma,
tiVe-born persons, since the abolition of
slavery, we're citizens of the United States.
This was the official opinion of Mr. Bates,
the Attorney General of Mr.. Liucoln's
administration-the opinion adopted by
his administration, and acted upon since
BY all departments of the executive gov
ernment, including the Secretary of State,
who has issued passports to persons of
color, recognising them as citizens. 1t
was the opinion expressed by Mr.. Marcy,
when Secretary of State, that all persons
born in the United States were citizens of
the United States not referring, of course,
to slaves, slavery at that time existing in
the country.
The President does not object to this
declaration In the bill as unconstitutional
lie does, however, say that it does not
purport to declare or confer any other
right of citizenship than federal citizen
ship. 1t does not purr9Ss;t. !, he saws,
to give these Glasses of persons any status
as sec.sft2ehs of states, except that which
may result from their status as citizens of
the United States. The power, he adds,
to confer the right of State citizenship is
just as exclusively with the several states
as the power to declare.the right of fede-
raj citizenship is with Congress.
WHO MAY MAKE CITIZENS.
Now we all know that no State has
the authority to make a citizen of the
United States. The Constitution of the
sole power of naturalization, and it may
make a citizen of foreigner but no
state can make citizen of the United
States of foreigner. But, is it true, sir,
THAI when a person becomes a citizen of
the United States, he is not also a citizen
of the state where he may be residing
On this point | will refer to decision
pronounced by the Supreme Court of the
United States, delivered BY Chief Justice
Marshall, the most eminent iurist who
ever sat upon the American bench. In
the case of Gasse against Ballow, reported
in the sixth volume of Peters Reports,
the Chief Justice, in delivering the opinion
of the Court, says The. defoudent in
error is alleged, in the proceedings, to be
citizen of the United States, naturalized
in Louisiana, and residing there. This is
equivalent to au averment that he is
citizen of that state A citizen of the
United States, residing in any state of the
Union is citizen of that state" This
was the only point in the case This is
the opinion of the highest tribunal in the
country, pronounced by the most eminent
man who ever sat upon the beDch in
America.
Mr.Reverdy Johnson the Senator
give me the pager
Mr. Trumbull-Page 761. But, sir,
unless this authority is to be di5regarded,
the President of the United States is
mistaken in his law. ltis not true that when
q man is made citizen of the United
States he is not citizen of every state
The President next alleges that the right
of federal citizenship, thus to be conferred
on the several excepted races before men
toned, is now for the first time proposed
to be given by law. Now, sir, this is a
mistake-not Of the law. bnt n misannre-