The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-03-02
SPEECH OF SENATOR FEssENDEN.

Below we give an extract from the able re-
marks of Senator Fcssenden in the Senate on
Friday last, when he moved to take up the con
current resolution providing that no Senator oil
Representative from lately rebellious State
shall be received in either House until thai
State shall have been declared by Congress en-
titled to such representation. Mr.. +. rcpl'cc
20 tho offensive remarks in the Presidents har
ancue in which Mr.. johnson styled the Join
Committee on Reconstruction "ccntral direct
ory," and in calm and dignifed manner do
Tended Congress from Presidential aspcrsiOns
We give that part relating to the veto message
"Now, sir, II the Exeoutive-and mean t.
speak of the President respectfully. because en-
tertain respe,t for him-if the President has al
idea that all these matters, these several power
which he hos suggcstd. are preliminary to the ad
mission of Senators and Representatives, tn
question arises who Is to exercise that power o
judgment. Does It not belong to us, ifa Senate
presents himself here. to ascertain whether thes
conditions have been complied with, or does !
belong to him!
That brings me to the consideration OF tho yett
message. I win say, sir, with regard to that mes
sage, that I have no very great attachment to th
bill which was thus vetoed. In some particular
It did not meet my approval. / think some 0
the reasons given for not approving 1t are sucl
as will commend themselves to public considera
tion. It Is bill upon the provisions Of whicl
,tckk all ha boro N
opinion. yielded my objections to II because
thought the power did exist, and that 1t wa
especially necessary to exercise II, and the bill
therefore received my vote. Had the Presiden
confined himself to objectionsto to the bill, to criti
SINS Of the bill itself, It is very possible nigh
have waived my own feelings In regard to the bill
and sustained the veto. But on looking at tn
veto message and the reasons given for 1t. and af
ter thorough consideration Of the provisions o
the bill, he gave this reason, which rendered !
impossible for me as n member Of the Senate, ,witl
due respect for myself aud the views Of Congress
to vote otherwise than to sustain the bill-becaus
vote In the negative was an endorsement of th
opinions expressed in the veto. At any rate,
did not put myself in the position of indorsinl
or giving my assent to the closing parts Of thi
veto message. Now, sir, what do understan,
by the closing parts Of this veto messagey Tha
in the judgment ofthe President Congress has, a
at present organized, no right to pass any bill
affecting the interests of those 50 called Confede
rate States while they are not represented here
II follows that We can pass no law laying any re
straint on those States, which fought for fou
years against the Goyernment-that VIC can pas
no law affecting or restraining them, or proyd
ing for any change in the Constitution, or any
thing else. until we admit their Senator's and Re
presentatives to the floor of Congress; that W,
have no right to legisate with regard to them
but must take them just rs they are upon thei
say so, and then, when they arc here we ma,
proceed to legislation. cannot give my consen
to any such proposition. ..
Mr.. Doolittlc rose to say that ho understood th
President to discuss the propriety aud not th,
power to legislate without the Southern members
Mr.. Fessenden--But, sir, he makes that on
ground of his veto. IL he can veto this bill upor
that ground, he can and will for the sake Of con
sistency veto every other bill on the same ground
Talk about propricty, when prorriety is made tn
ground OF veto! That sense Of prOpriety goes t
every other bill.
Mr.. Doolittc-I do not understand that to b.
stated ms the ground Of the veto.
Mr.. Fessenden 1t is stated by tho President a
another grave objection to the BILL
Mr.. Fesscnden continued his animadvcrsion
upon the veto message, stating that IL the Presi
dent had simply dissented from the Freedmen
Bureau bill, nobody would have submitted to j
with better grace than himself. His objection
to II was the argument used by the President I,
sustain 1t. lie contended for the right OF Con
gress to decide the fitness Of the Southern Stnte
for representation In conclusion, he gave hi
views on reconstruction, holding that by the law
of war Congress had right to security for tn,
future. He was In favor Of the admission o.
Southern members and Senators ut the earles
moment consistent with the safety Of the country