The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-03-31
Letter from the Federal Capital.
WASHINGTON, March 2S, 1885.

WASHINGTON, March rs, 1856.
To the Editor Of the Press:
Another veto. The Civil Rights bill, which |
is legal rendering of Mr.. Johnson's declara-
ton to the colored regiment last FAN, that
freedom for the black man means freedom to
labor and to enjoy the fruits OF his labor
the Civil Rights bill, so righteous and so nee
essary, has been returned with objections
This bill is by no means full measure of JUS
tice to those who so nobly stood by the coun-
try in its hour of mortal peril, yet had it been
nation of the sable soldier when he heard that
declaration of the President, "Ihdnk God fo'
that nauch"i Unhappily we have not the OPP
portunity. ~ = FAE'a'@ ftS-s
At an early hour on Monday the galleries OF
the Senate were filed with crowd expectant
of the veto message. They were disappointed
however. The seat Of MFR. Stockton'of New
JERSEY. into which he had comfortably, and as
it seemed securely settled himself by his own
vote on Friday, became, by motion to amend
the journal by striking out his vote for him
self, once more a subject Of debate. After
including some remarks from Mr.. Stockton of
a sort not very beneficial to his cause, the
vote of Friday giving him his seat was recon
sidered, motion to recommit to the judiciary
committee was lost, and pending a motion to
postpone till Thursday the Senate adjourned.
On Tuesday the galleries were crowded, and
even before the expiration of the morning
hour their capacity was exceeded by the num-
Der of those who sought admittance. The
Stockton matter had become quite exciting,
but then, as upon the preceding day, there
was far more powerful attraction than any
contested election case. Amid scene of
anxious suspense, and curious expectancy, the
day wore away, Mr.. Stockton occupying much
time in the reading of an deliberately prepared
and printed speech. At length between four
and five vote was reached, and the minority
senator from New Jersey was relieved from
further service by vote of % to 20.
And now at last the crowd in the galleries
was rewarded by whatever satisfaction could
be found in listening to the Veto Message,
which had been received soon after the expira-
ton ofthe morning hour. The COLLECTIONS"
of the President are sweeping and fundamen-
tai This veto message, though in some re-
spects unparalleled in our history, IS very
much of a piece with the former one. It more
clearly defines the Presidents position toward
| the party that elected him, and leaves no room
| for friendly doubts and charitable misconstruc-
tons. 1t produced no such intense excite
,,,.o <,<,,or
been foreseen to a moral certainty. At the
time of this writing hopes are entertained of
the passage Of the bill over the veto, but the
developments Of day or an hour may change
the prospect. Nor is it certain when the de-
cisive vote win be reached, the Senate being
apparently disposed to proceed deliberately
and take its own time. The vote will clearly
be closer than that upon the Freedmen's Bre
reau bill ~ ~ '3i','
Well and truly said DR.. Chalmers, sDeath
is a tremendous necessity! 1t is necessity
that regards no position however exalted,
needs no employment however urgent, re-
spects not power or prestige, but breaches dali
! ly and nightly in the ears Of men "God alone
is greatT All through the hours Of Tuesday,
so rife at the Capitol with hustle and excite
ment, in quiet room hardly stones throw
distant. amid "a group of sorrowlstsicken
friends lay one who had otter. presided in the
Senate Chamber. and often borne part in its.
intellectual conflicts, slowly breathing away
his life. At twenty minutes before eight on
Wednesday morning expiredone ofthe purest
statesmen and truest patriots with which the
country was ever blessed, Solomon Foot Of
Vermont. Senator Foot was born at Corn
wal, Addison County, Vermont, Nov. 10, 49,
! g. He received liberal education, gradual
ing at Middlebury College, and adopted the
| law for a -nEnfassiaa--H--------n s07 years
| member of the Vermont House of Repre-
| sentatives, the last three of which he was
Speaker of that body. From 1843 to 1847 he
4 sat in the national House of Representatives,
and in 1850 was elected to the Senate, of
which he continued a member until his death.
His present term of service would have expir-
ed in 1869. He filed the Office ofPresident of
the Senate pro tempore at various times dur
ing the Seth and 9Th Congresses. As pre-
siding officer he had oflate years no superior,
and probably no equal in the Senate. He sell
dom spoke but he never failed to speak we'll
He was as true as his own noble State to the
Union and the rights of men,. Though not a
brilliant, he was wise and able statesman, and
his private worth well beseemed his great pub
lie virtues The Senate adjourned early on
Wednesday, as mark of respect to his MEM
DRY. a ln als'9 IT'S. p. q