The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-03-29
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
RETURNING THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL TO THE
SENATE WITH OBJECTIONS.
WASHINGTON, March 27.


RETURNING THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL TO THE
SENATE WITH OBJECTIONS.
- 9f WASHINGTON, March 27.
To the Senate of the United States:
1 regret that the bill which has passed both
branches of Congress, entitled an "Act to pro-
tecI all persons in the United States in their
Sivn rights and furnish the means of their vim
oroa.lon, o, contains provisions which / cannot
~ atpproye consistently with my sense of duty to
Sae wnoie people and my obligations to the
Sohstitution Of the United States. / am
.ierelore constrained to return it to the Senate,
.ne mouse, IN which il originated, with INV OBJ
Jectlons 70 Its becoming a law.
Dy tne nrst section of the bill all persons
born In the U. States, and not subiect IN any
foreign power, exclu ling Indians moi taxed s ars
declared to be citizens Of the United States
This provision comprehends the Chinese of
the Pacific States, Indians subject to taxation.
the people called "Gypsies" as well as the en-,
tire race designated as black-people of color,
negroes, mulattoes and persons of African
blood. Every individual OF these races born in
the United States, is by this bill made citi-
zen OF the United States. 1t does not purport
to declare or confer any other right of citizen
snip than federal citizenship. 1t does not pro-
pose 70 give these classes of persons any status
-. opheSo CACCpt tudL WHICH HAY IT.
suit from their status as citizens of the United
States. The power to confer the right of State
cltlzens IS just as exclusively with the several
States as the power to confer the right of fed
eral citizenship is with Congress. The right
OF FEDERAL citizenship thus to be conferred ON
the several excepted races before mentioned is
now FOR the first time proposed to be given by
law. II, as is claimed by many, all persons
VINO are native born already are by virtue of
the constitution citizens OF the United States,
the passage OF the pending bill cannot be ne
cessary to make them such. If on the other
hand such persons are not citizens, as may be
assumed from the proposed legislation to make
them such, the grave question presents itself.
whether, where eleven of the thirty-six States
are unrepresented at this time, it is sound
policy to make our entire colored population
citizens OF the United States. -Four mil ions
have just emerged from slavery into free
dom. Can 1t reasonably be supposed that
they possess the requisite qualifications to
entitle them to all the privileges and immu-
| mites Of citizenship of the United States ?
Have the people of the several States express
ed such conviction ? 1t may also be ask
ed 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 be conferred by the bill. Those
rights are by Federal as well as by State laws,
secured to all domiciled aliens and foreigners
even before the completion of the process of
naturalization, and it may safely be assumed
That the same enactments are sufficient to
give like protection and benefits to those for
whom the bill provides special legislation.
Besides, the policy of the Government, from
its origin to the present time, seems to have
been, that persons who are strangers and un-
familiar with our institutions and our laws
should pass through certain probation. Al
the end of which, before attaining the coveted
prize, they must give evidence of their fitness
to receive and to exercise the rights of citizens
as contemplated by the Constitution of the
United States. I tH 2-iAt9laa. m
The bill, in effect, proposes discrimination
against large numbers of intelligent, worthy
and patriotic foreigners, and in favor of the
negro, to whom after long years of bondage
the avenues to freedom and intelligence have
just now been suddenly opened. He must, OF
necessity, from his, previous unfortunate con-
dition OF servltude, be less informed as to the
nature and character of our Institutions than
he, who coming from abroad, has to some ex-
tent, at least, familiarized himself with the
principles OF government to which he volun-
tarily entrusts life, liberty and pursuit of hap
piness. Yet it is now proposed by single
LEGISLATIVE s;nt,nffrtn afqr te G9nter the right OF
scent, born WEB Wffbm I'll The extenaed limits Of the
United States, while persons of foreign birth,
probation of five wears. and can onlv then he
come citizens UPON proof that thew are of
good moral character, attached to the princi-
Piles of the Constitution of the United States,
and well disposed to the good order and happi-
ness of the same. aiiieCgl 70 La-a9la IE
The first section of the bill also contains an
enumeration of the rights to be enjoyed by
those classes SO made citizens, in every State
anu IerIiOoiy Vi eue Cniecu loIaees. 1hese
rights are 70 MAKE ana enlorce contracts, 10
sue, pe parties anu gise eviuence. 70 ,nnerit'
purchase, seh' hoio ana convey rea ana perso,
mai properly, anu 10 nave tne iuli ana equal
Denent Oh All laws anu proceealngs ior tne Sc,
t, curly oa persons ana properly, as is enjoyed
w WHY tt cit.zens. 90 Ioo tney are made SUD
Ject 70 tne same punishment, pains and penal
.ies conTon T% VIII sa ml.e er.lLens, ana 70 none
oenels S ,aI a equay ~ cue wnlte
anu cviViou 49, - y oT nAeo py
.Suela iam ~ S.y S:a.4 y; tno Con, 11eI %
~ .,ie sasS me.u =. S.asJ So'eseI =. py
Inese enu.neiaeou rSu'o. N nv ono VI .neli
Can any D.a.e eAniSise any power VI I'serliii-
nasiois StSso ;n @ ~ sno 80
t; etse =, S.a.e az pooy S onh g.. ~
enee.lns .ue p1op.e ~ , eaon Ssa'e, ~ mas Ire
quentiy peeh .nouSnt eAPeuiehe 70 ulscrimi-
nate peeween .ue .w1 Iaces, W Tue statutes VI
some Oh tne States Nortn as wen as south
l Is exacted Ior instance .aa tnat no wmte person
snau mIeri4arry WIN negro OF muiatto;-
Chancelloi AenI says, speakng OF tne oiacks
tnat marIiaseS oetween tneIl anu tne Wnltes
are Iorpiuoen IN some 9i tne states Wnere
slavery uoss n1i snist, anu tney are pronlDioeo
IN an tne Slavenoidlng otates Dy law, ana WheI
nos aDsoiutely contrary 70 law, tney are re
voiung anu fessardeu as an ouence against pup
nc decorum. .cn.
90 QOL Say tQaL LQc Dill rCpedIS OCaJ6 laws
on the subject OF marriage between the tive
races, ior as tne WnItes themselves are Iorold-
aen 70 lhtermalry WIN Lnem, lne piacks can can
only MAKE sucn conlracss ~ az tney lnemseTes
az AZ ', " anu
1,io III on'o NV " soH~-"So "ion