The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-30
THE VETO MESSAGE.
wAsHIsGrOS, March %.

{
/ cannot approve consistently with m
sense Of duty TO the whole people and m
obligation to the Constitution of the Unite
States. l am therefore constrained to re
turn il to the Senate and the House, i
which it originated, with my objections {
its becoming a law.
By the first section Of the bill all person
born in the United States, not subject I
any foreign power, excluding Indians, nc
taxed, are declared TO be citizens of th
United States.
This provision comprehends the Chimes
Of the Pacific States, Indiens subject TO tax
alton, the people called Gypsies, as well a
the entire race designated as blacks; peopl
Of color, negroes, mulattoes and persons {
African blood. Every individual Of thes
races, born in the United States, by this bil
are made citizens Of the United States.
1t does not purport to declare or coufe
any other right of citizenship thnn FEEDERS
citizenship. It does not propose to Civ
these classes of persons any status as cti
zens Of States except that which may resul
from their status as citizens of the Unite
States.
The power to confer the right of Stat
citizenship is just as exclusively with tn
several States as the power to confer tn
right Of Federal citizenship is with Con
gress.
The right of Federal citizenship thus T.
be conferred on the generally exceptet
races before mentioned is now for the frs
time proposed TO be given by law.
If (as is claimed by many) al person
who are native-born already are, by virtu
of the Constitution, citizens of the Unite,
States, the passage of the pending bill can.
| not be necessary 10 make them such. II
on the other hand, such persons are not citi
zens, as may be assumed from the propose,
| legislation to make them such, the gray
| question presents itself whether, Will
eleven of the thirty-six States are unrepre
sented in Congress at this time, it is soun,
policy 10 make our entire colored popula
tion, and all other excepted classes, citizen
of the United States.
Four millions of them have just emerged
from slavery into freedom. Can it be rea
sOnably supposed that they possess the re
quisite qualifications to entitle them to al
the privileges and immunities of CITIZENSHIP
of the United States Have the people 0
the several States expressed such convic
tion?
1t may also be asked whether it is ne
cessary that they should be declared citi
zens in order that they may be secured il
the enjoyment of the civil rights proposed
to be conferred by the bill. Tho-e right
are by Federal as well as State laws secured
to ali domiciled aliens and foreigners, ever
before the completion OF the process Of ma
turalization; and it may safety be assumed
that the same enactments are sufficient K
give like protection and benefits to thosC
for whom this bill provides special legis
lation.
Besides, the policy of the Government
from its origin to the present time, seems
10 have been that persons who are stran-
| gers to, and unfamiliar with, our institu-
tions and our laws, should pass through q
| certain probation; at the end of which, be-
| fore allowing them the coveted prize, they
must give evidences Of their fitness to re-
ceive and exerc sc the rights Of citizens, as
| contemplated by the Constitution of the
| United states.
The bill in effect proposes discrlmlna'
| tion against large numbers of intelligent
worthy and patriotic foreigners, and in ia
vor of the negro, TO whom, alter long year:
Of bondage, the .avenues to freedmen and
intelligence have Just now been suddenly
opened.
He must Of necessity, from his previous
unfortunate condition of servitude, be less
informed as TO the nature and character o
our institutions than he who, coming from
abroad, has to some extent at least familiar
lied himself with the principles of Gov
ernment TO which he voluntarily entrusti
"life, liberty, and the pursuit Of happi-
ness"
Yet it is now proposed by a single legis-
latiye enactment to confer the rights o
citizenship on ell persens of African descent
born within the extended limits of tht
United States while persons of foreign
birth, who make our land their home
must undergo a probation of five years, anc
can only then become citizens "upOn proc
that they are of good moral character, at
tached 10 the principles of the Constitution
of the United States, and well disposed L
the good order and happiness Of the same
The first section of the bill also contains
an enumeration of the rights to be enjoy ed
by those classes SO made citizens in every
State and Territory of the United States
These are the power TO give evidence, to in
herit, purchase, lease, sell, hold and convey
real and personal property, and TO have iul
and caual benefit Of all laws and proceed
ngs for The security Of persons and proper
ty Is is enjoyed by white citizens. SO to'
they are made subject to the punishments
pains and penalties common with whit
citzens, ana to none other.
Thus Q perfect equality of the white anC
colored races is attempted to bo fixed by
Federal law in every State Of the Union
over the vast field Of State jurisdiction GOV
cred by these enumerated rights.
In DO one Of them can any State exercise
cny power Of discrimination between diff
ferent races, in the exercise of State policy
over matters exclusively affecting the peo
pie Of each State.
Il has been frequently thought expe
| dent to discriminate between the two race
by the statutes Of some of The States, Nortt
as well asS nth. Il is enacted for instancl
that no white person shall intermarry will
a negro or Inulatto.
| Chancellor Kent asserts, in speaking o
the blacks, that marriages between then
| and the whites are forbidden in some Of thu
States where slavery does net now exist
and they are prohibited in all slRyeholdinl
] States by law, and when not absolutely con
/ trsry to law they are revolving, and regard
ed rs an Ohense against public decorum
| [ do not say that this bill repesls State law
on the subject Of marriage between the twl
races for, as the whites are forbidden 4
| iDtermarry with blacks, the blacks can opll
| make such contracts IS whites themselye
are allowed to make, and therefore, cannot
under this bill, enter into marriage contrae
with the whites. / cite this, however, a
an instance Of the State policy as 20 dis
elimination, and 20 Inquire whether, l
Congress can abrogate all state laws OF dls
/
| matter of real estate, of suits, and oil con
tracts generally, Congress msy not ais
repeal the State laws as 10 the contract 9
marriage between the races?
Hitherto every subject embraced in tn
enumeration OF rights contained IN the bal
has been considered as exclusively belong
iur 10 the United States. They all relst
70 the internal policy and economy Of tn
respsctive States. 1hcy are matters which
in each State, concern the domestic condl
tion Of the people varying in each accord
| inc 10 It's oEn pecuiisr circumstances, an
the safety and we.l-being Of Its own cit
p zeus.
DO not mean 10 say thst upon ali thea
subjects there are not Federal restraints
as, f0r instance, in the State power Of legls
latiou over contracts, there Is FEEDERS
Limitation that no state shall pass law I'm
pairing the obligations Of contracts, ano
as to crimes, that no State shall psss a
| c-post Jacto law and, as to money, that n
State shall make anything but gold and 81
/ yer legal tender.
But where can we fnd Federal prohi5i
ton against the power Of any State 20 dis
: crimInate (as the most OF them do) betUee
aliens and citizens, between artificial per
sons (called corporations) AMI natural per
sons, in the right 10 hold real estate
/ II il be granted that Congress can repes
nli State laws discriminating betweel
whites and blacks on the subjects covere,
I ! bv this bill, why, may be ssked, may nc
5 Congress repeal in the same way ali Stat
e Avs discriminating between the two race
| on The subject Of suffrage aud oficeg ]
Congress can declare by law who shall hol
/ lands. who shall testify, who shall have ca
70 pseity 20 make contracts in State, the
Congress can also, By law declare wh
, | without regard 20 race or color) shall hGv
the right 10 SIT as Juror or as judge,
hold any ofice, and inslly to vote in ever
I state and Territory in the ORited States.
As respects the Territories, they com
within The power Of Cougtess Tor, IS
them, the laW-making power - the FedeTi
power; but as 70 the States no suitable prl
vision exists, vssting IL Congress TIE poVt
10 make rules and regulations fer them,
The object OF the second section Of "a
hin i 10 afford Discrimination and proses
tion 70 the colored persons in the full er
ioymeat Of al tha rights secured 70 thei
o llv the preceding section-
), Il declares tnat any person vho' ana'
= color of any law, statute, ordnance res.
lauon or custom, shsll saeieeA e' sae's