The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1867-01-17

" 'hShiNhipNf bdH. - ne TeSl-
dent returned to- the Senate this morning
the District Suffrage bill, with the fol.
lowing Message, stating his objections
thereto; .a
To the Senate ofhc United States:
have received and considered bill
entitled "An act to regulate the elective
franchise Of the District OF Columbia, !"
passed by the Senate on the 18th of
December, ani BY the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes on the succeeding day. 1t
was presented for my approval on the
2Gth ultimo--six days after the ud.
journment Of Congress and is now re-
turned with my objections to the Sen.
ate, in which house it originsted.
Measures having been introduced, at
the commencement of the sirst session
of the present Congress, for the extcn-
sion Of the elective franchise to persons
Of color in the District of Columbia.
steps were taken by the corporate au-
thoritics Of Washington aud George
town to ascertain aud make known the
opinion of the people of the two cities
upon a subject so immediately affecting
there welfare rs community The
question was submitted TO the people at
special elections, held in the mouth of
December, 1865, when the qualified
voters Of Washington and Georgetown,
ith great unauimity of sentiment. ex-
pressed themselves opposed 10 the con-
templated legislation. A.
In Washington, in vote Of G,55G--
the largest. with but two exceptions,
ever polled in that city--only thirty five
ballots were cast Tor negro suffrage i;
while in Georgetown, in an aggregate
of Sl3 votes--a number considerably in
excess OF the average vute at the four
preceding annual lelections--but one was
given in favor of the proposed extension
Of the elective franchise As these elec.
tons seem to have been conducted with
entire fairness, the result must be ac.
ccptcd as truthful expression Of the
opinion of tho people Of the District
upon the question which evoked it.
Possessing, as an organized eommu.
nifty, the same popular right as the in
habitants Of State or Territory, to
make known their win upon matters
which affect their social and political
condition, they could have selected no
more appropriate mode of mcmorialixing
Congress upon the subject Of this bill
than through the sufirages of their quail
| fed voters.
Entirely disrcgarding the wishes Of
the people Of the District of Columbia,
Congress has deemed it right and expc.
dient to pass the measure now. submit.
ted for my signature. 1t, therefore,
becomes the duty Of the Executive.
standing between the Legislation Of the
one aud the will of the other. fairly ex.
pressed, to determine whether he should
approve the bill, and thus aid in placing
upon the statute. books OF the nation d
law, against which the people to whom
il is to apply have solemnly and with
such unanimity protested, or whether
be should return il with his objections,
in the hope that, upon reconsideration,
Congress, acting as the Representatives
Of the inhabitants Of the seat of govern.
meut, win permit them to regulate a
purely local question, as to them may
seem best suited to their interests and
condition. aH4
| The District Of Columbia was ccded
to the United States by Maryland and
Virginia, in order that it might become
the permanent seat Of government OF
the United States. Accepted By Con.
gress, Il at once became subject to the
aexclrsive Legislation" for which proyi-
sion, Is made ia the Federal constitu,
tion. II should be borne in mind, how
ever, that in exercising its functions as
the law making power Of the District o
Columbia, the National Legislature i
not without limit, but that Congress Is
bound to observe ihe letter aud spirit
Of the Constitution, as we'll in tho en-.
actinent of local laws for the seat Of
government, as 10 the legislation com.
1imon to the whole Union.