New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-08

was sent into Congress yesterday
90 me Senate Of ne Uaiied Slites;
D Ibaye received and considered bill emitted an
- - ,,1at zine elective franchise in the District Of
Columbia passed ?! the senate oN ,no ly'i
ana nv the House OF Representatives on the succeeding
1ov II was presented for my approval on the 2o'n
DAYS after the adjournment OF COngrcSs-Au
IS now returned with my objections to the Senate III
which House IL originated
, Measures having been introduced, at the commence
en OF the first session Of the present Congress- lor .o
,tenon OF the elective franchise TO persons OF color ~
enc Distr1c ~ Columbia steps were taken by the corpo
rate authorities Of Washington and Georgetown 10 49,
tain and make known the opinion OF the people % Wv
two cities upon subject Immediately abec'ins
welfare as a community The question was ~ ~,
the people at special elections, held in the lno'n
cember 1865, when the qualified voters Oh 800 -
and Georgetown, with great unanimty Oh
pressed themselves opposed to tho - ,,tt
non In Washington IN a vote Of 655G-the lalseS" WIN
but two exceptions, ever polled IN 'nas 0i! - -
lots we're cast for negro suffrage; "li'o " 49,
In an aggregate Of sl3 votes-' h.iOoi 49,
e,ee.s nj e average vote at the four preceding annual
,.s ~, 60 ,ras given in favor Of the proposed eX-
,, - ,o elective franchise AS these elections seem
90 have been conducted with entire fairness tue result
must No accepted as truthful expression OIL tue opOu
Of tina peope of the District upon the question "
evoked H. Possessing rs an organized ooininuii'! ~
o ponr,or right as the inhabitants OF state OF 4erf
make
their social and political condition. they 'ouu H0
selected no more appropriate mode Of memorahzne Oon
ress upon the subject OF this bill than through inc SUI
frages Of their qualified voters
Itrelv disregardng the wishes Of the people OF the
District OF Columbia Congress has deemed ltfght anu
cxpedient TO pass the measure now submitted Ior my s
nature It, therefore, becomes the duty OF the
standing between the legislation Of the one and the VIII
Of the other fairly expressed to determine whether ne
sbould approve the bill, and thus aid IN placing upon ~
books Of the nations against when the people
TO whom il Is to apply have sOcnnly ana WIN such una
pmity protested or whether ne should return II WIN MS
objections in the hope that, upon reconsideration oOn
vrss acting rs the representatives of the inhabitants OF
The seat Of Government, win permit them TO regulate
purey local question 10 them may seem best suited 10
their interests and condition.
The District of Columbia was ceded to the United States
by Maryland and Virginia in order that 1t might become
The permanent of Government OF the United STATES
Accented by Congress- II at became subject 10 the
exclusive legislation" for which provision ismade IN the
Federal Constitution IL should be borne IN no' nov"
ever that in exercising its functions as the awmakg
power Of the District Of Columbia, the authority OF the
National Legislature is not without limit, but that Con
ges Is bound to observe the letter aud the spirit OF the
Constitution as well in the enactment Of local laWsor
the seat Of Government in legislation common 10 the
entire Union Were it 10 be admitted that the right 10
exercise exclusive legislation in al cases whatsoever
conferred upon Congress unlimited power WITHIN the DIS
trict OF Columbia, titles OF hOblly InSut De 5t"NVo WIN
In its boundaries; laws might be made respecting an
establishment OF religion, prohibiting the free exercise
thereof or abrdgng the freedom Of speech or OF the
press or the right of the people peaceaby TO assemble
and 70 petition the Government for redress OF gleV-
ances" Despots would thus reign at the seat OF GOV
eminent of free Republic and, place Of permanent
residence it would ayoidedy all who prefer the bless
ings Of liberty the emoments OF official posi-
ton.
II should also be remembered that in legsating for the
District of Columbia under the Federal Constitution, the
relation of Congress tOit inhabtans analogous TO that
Of Legislature to the people of State, under their own
local Constitution II does not therefore, seem TO be
asking too much that IN matters pertaining to the DIS
tct Congress should have like respect for the viii and
interests Of its inhabitants is entertained by STATE
Legislature for the wishes and prosperity OF those Tor
whom they leslate. The spirit of our Constitution ana
the genius of our Government require that in regard 70
auy law which TO affect and have permanent bearing
upon people their wShOud exert at least reasonable
influence upon those whO acting in the capacity
ftheir egsators. Would for instance the Legislature
Of the State Of NewYOrk Of Pennsylvania, or OF In
diana or of any State in the Union, in opposition
20 the expressed will Of a largo majority OF
the people whom they chosen to represent arbitrar
y force upon tem voters al persons Of the African
or negro race and make them eligible for office without
any other qualification than certain term Of residence
within the statei In neither Of the States named would
the oOlored population wien acting together be able to
York. before he vote the man OF color must fulfill con-
dons that are not required white citizen; IN Penn
sylyania the elective franchise Is restricted to white
freemen; while IN Indiana negroes and muatt0es are
expressly excluded from the right Of suffrage 1t hardly
seems consistent with the principles Of right and JUSTICE
that representatives Of States where suffrage is either
denied the colored man, granted to him quaca-
fOns requiring intelligence property should compel
tho people Of the District Of Columbia 10 try expert
nent which Their constituents have thus far shown
anunwingness 20 test fOrensCYes. Nor does itaccOrd
with republican ideas that the principle Of sefgov
should lose its force when applied to presidents
Of the District merely because their legislators not,
like those OF the States responsible through the ballot 10
the people for whom they are the wmakiug power.
The great object Of placing the seat Of government
der the exclusive legislation Of Congress- to secure
the entire independence Of the General Government from
undue state influence and to enable discharge with
out danger OF interruption infringement Of its author
ity the high functions for which it created by the
people For this important purpose II eeded 10 the
United States by Maryland and Virginia. and II certainly
could have been contemplated OF the objects
to be attained by placing It under the exclusive Iuisdc-
on OF Congress- that would afford to prOpsgandsfs
political parties place for experimental test of their
principles and theories While, indeed. the residents Of
the seat Of government not citizens Of any State aud
not therefore allowed voice IN the Electoral College,
or representation In the councils Of the nation they are
nevertheless American citizens entitled as such to every
guarantee Of the Constitution, to every benefit OF the
laws and TO every right which pertains 10 citizens our
country In all matters then affecting their do
nestle affairs the spirit OF democratic form Of gov
eminent demands that their wishes should consulted
and respected and they taught TO feel that although not
permitted practically to Participate in national concerns
they nevertheless under paternal Government
gardfl Of their rights mindful Of their wants and solicit
Gus for their prosperity. 1t evidently contemplated
that all local questions would be left TO their decision at
least to an extent that would not be Incompatible with the
object for which Congress granted exclusive ega-