The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1866-04-05
Special Message Of the President
VetOing the Cival Rfs hts Hill.
w ashlngton, March 27

1' - ~' Washington, March 81.
Iregret that the bill which has passed
both houses of congress, entitled can
act to protect all persons in the United
States in their civil rights, and furnish
the mean ftheirl lvindication." contains
provisions which l cannot approve con-
sistently with my sense OF. duty TO The
whole people and my obligations to the
constitution of the United States. l
am, therefore, collstrainedcto return it
to the senate and the house, in which it
originated with my objections to It's
becoming law. ..
BY the first section of the bill all per-
sons born in the United States, and not
subject to any foreign power, excluding
Indians, not taxed, arc declared to be
citizens of the United States. This
provision comprehends the Chinese of
the Bacs6o siaiesy istlians esubjccts 10
taxation; the people called Gypsies, as
well as the entire race designated as
blacks-people of color, negroes mulat-
toes and persons of African blood
every individual of these races born in
the United States Is, by the bill, made
a citizen of the United States. Ii does
not purport to declare or confer any
other right OF citizenship than federal
citizenship, 1t does not propose to
givethese classes of persons any status
of citizenship of states, except that
which may result from their status as
rs citizens of the United States The
power 10 confer the right o. state citi
nenship is just as exclusively with the
several states as the power to confer
the right Of fnderal citizenship is with
congress. TOO - Jt-ts.s s1s-@
The right of fcperal citizenship thus
to be conferred in the several expected
relations before mentioned, is now, ior
the first time, proposed to be given by
law. II, as is clalmed by many, all
persons who are native-boril already,
are, by virtue of the constitution, citi.
zens of tbs United States, the passage
of the pending bill cannot be necessary
to make them such. If, on the other
hand, such persons are not citizens-as
may be assumed from the proposed
legislative.to make them such-thc grave
question presents itself whether when
eleven OF the thirty-six states are un-
represented in Congress at this. time, it
is sound policy to make our entire col
ored population, and all other excepted
classes, citizens of the United States
Fonr millions ofthea. have just emerg
ed from SLAYER, Into freedom Can it
be supposed that they possess the re-
quisile qualifications to entitle them to
all the privileges and immunitirs OF citi-
zenship OF the United States? Have
the people of the several states express
ed such a conyiction2 II may also be
asked whether it is necessary that they
should be declared citizens, in order that
they may be secured in the enjoyment
of the civil rights proposed to bc con-
feried by the BILL These rights are
by federal, as well as state laws, secured
to all domiciledy aliens and fors ~ ners
ever before the conpletios of the pro
cess of naturalization, and it may safely
be assured that the same enactments are
sufficient to give like protection and
benefits 10 those for whom this bill pro-
vides special legislation. Besides the
policy OF the government from it's origin
10 the present time seems to have been
that rersoHs who are strangers to-. and
unfamiliar with our institutions and our
laws should pass through e-rtain pro.
baton, at the end of which before al
lowing the coveted prize, they must
evince their fitness to receive and to
exercise the rights Of citizens, as con
templated by the constitution of The
United States. The bill in effect pro-
poses discrimination against large
numbers of intelligent, worthy and
patriotic foreigners and in favor of the
negro to whom after long years of bond
age, the avenues to freedom and intclli.
gence have just now been suddenly
opened. He must Of necessity f,om his
previous unfortunate condition of SER
vitude be less informed as to the nature
and character of our institutions, than
he who coming from aboard, has to some
extent, at last, familarized himself with
the principles Ofa government, by which
he voluntarily entrusts life, liberty and
the ,gtYspitEof happiness, yetit is now
presumed by Il single Legislative enact
ment to confer the rights of citisels upon
all persons OF African descent, born
within the extended limits Of, the United
States, while persons Of foreign birth
who make'our land their home, must
undergo a probation of five years and
can only then become ciizens .upa,I
proof that they are OF good moral char
acter, attached to the principles of the
constitution of the United States and
well disposed to the good order and
happiness of the same. The first Sec
ton of the bin also contains an Senumer.
alton of the rights to be. enjoyed by
those classes so made citzcns in every
state and territory in the United States.
These rights are to make and enfo. ce
contracts, to sue the parties, and to give
evidence, to. inherit. purchase lease,
sell, holdand convey real personal pro-
perty, and to have fall and equal benefit
ofall laws and proceedings tor the
security of persons and property, as is
enjoyed by white citizens. SO they
are made subject to the same punish
pent, pains and penalties common with
white citizens and to none Others.
Thus a perfect equality of the white
and colored races is attempted to be
fixed by federal law in every state of
the Sbnion over the vast field of state
jurisd iction covered by those enumerat-
ed rights. In no one of them can any
state exercise any power of discrimina-
tion between the different races in the