The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-04-13
THE LAST VETO.

THE LAST VETO.
Tho Utica Herald has some carefully prepar-
ed words in relation to Mr.. Johnson's veto OF
the Civil Rights Bill, which will be found in
teresting:
Mr.. johnson bases his objections 10 the Civil
Rights bill on no matter of detail. Ills veto
is sweeping, and goes to the root Of the matter.
The matter invulvsl is vital. The civil rights
Of four millions oi people are ut stake. Care
had been taken 10 waive the question OF sui
iragc, and by express WORKS this was excluded
liom the enactment. The provisions all lelat
cd to the simples conditions Of liberty, To the
protection OF person aud property, To the right
of persons To appear ut all in court. These
are fundamental they spring ont OF the ma.
turc of government. All subjects OF law and
institutions are entitled to security from them
Protection il the correatiyc Of allegiance. All
pcoplo who live within the Union, owe sub
mission to it's Government; by that fact the
Government IN bound 10 protect them. but
Mr.. johnson steps between Congress and the
people, and refuses this protection. To the
moral altitude Of the great principle, hc does
not approach at all. lie makes q special plea.
such ~ II lawyer might deliver on II contest
about boundaries. and with this quibbling IN.
sumcs to override the conscience and the moral
sentiments OF the American people.
Mr.. johnson proceeds ON the extreme south
cru doctrine of State rights. In seeking to
protect our allies and to establish their freedom.
Congress trenches, no argues, upon the powers
heretofore exercised by tho res pectiye States.
IIe il tendery solicitous of the rights Of State
L.: nd of Soata He clIuyS
tenaciously to precedent, and insists that the
national statute books do not contain any such
legislation. lie casts the freedmen where they
were before tho war, into the absolute control
of their rebel masters. And all out OF regard
for their abstraction of State rights lie sets
up this corner stone OF the rebellion, against
tho protection and security of our allies,
against tho plighted faith Of tho nation.
Against the civil rights Of men he pleads State
rights. Against freedom and humanity, his
plea is still, State rights.
This man who proclaimed himself tho Moses
To lead the colorcd race out OF bondage, dcscends
10 Il tricky appeal To prejudice against color.
lie pretcnds that tho principle oi this bill
might permit Congress to remove State restric-
tions on intcrmarriages between the races, and
indulgcs in the dcmagoguc's prctcxt that dis
elimination is created against tho foreigner.
The sneers are significant only as shaving the
animus Of the author. Mr.. johnson knows
that amalgamation thrivcs best where castc pre-
walls. lie knows. too, that all the ,,hts and
immnnitics OF citizenship arc open To aliens
after a short probation. lilo attempts to clo1c
the door of hope against the freedmen. lie
declares that 50 far as his influence goes, the
black soldier Of the Union shall never DO a cit.
iacn of the Union, and that he shall have only
such rights AZ his rebel enemies shall conccdc.
For Congress, Iorsooth, in establishing on q
Grmcr basis the civil rights Of four millions al
human beings, il guilty of q "stride towards
Capitalization. This isa new term for nj
ding to the guarantees OF liberty. 1t is made
as q prctcxt for setting M tho will OF IN in
dividual against the deliberate wisdom Of the
REPRESENTATIVES of the people. Its put forward
as u part OF policy Tor taking from tho Amer.
lean Congress it, supreme privilege. II is an
excuse for handing over our loyal allies, white
M well rs black, To organizations springing
from the will Of one man without any warrant
of law to estate Governments" which are
nero military creations having no popular In.
sis, nnd no recognition by Congress. "Ccn.
tralizition" is the old catchword Of tho scccs-
sionists. II las n strange sound coming from
one who nrrogatcs powers above constitutions,
greater than any crowned monarch dare resort
to.
Section hy section the Executive finger runs
through this bill Of rights, and upon every one
he writes, veto. IL il rs il every word which
protects our allies, which establishes human
rights, which cnacts impartial Justice, were
offensive, and every idea which triumphcd in
the war, were culpthlc.
Mr. johnson again intimatcs that the non.
representation of eleven States, taints the leg.
slation of Congress. II Is to-day his fault that
restoration is not much farther advanced than
it is. lie thruss his policy AZ an obstacle tn
such action m Congress deems Just and safe
and he now insists that the States must secure
representation rs he dictltcs. This veto is one
of tho scvercst blows to reconstruction which
could be given.
Conceive this bill placed before Abraham
Lincoln, were that noble martyr still alive.
How gladly would his great soul append the
word "approved," with the same signature
which made vital the emancipation proclama.
ton! Conceive the same act submitted to that
silent soldier, who crushed tho rebellion. How
quickly would 10 added tho autograph Of u.
s. Grant Were the bill to bc subjected tn
the scrutiny OF Jefferson Davis, what worse
could he say than has been said in this veto !
What further condemnation could Robert +.
Lee utter against this Legislative expression of
loyal desire and determination?
The appeal is now to the people and the
flag is the old 0a:, and the watchword is Civil
Rights to all men