The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-08
TEIEGRAPHIC.
VETO MESSAGE
PRESIDENT JoHNsoN
SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE SUFFRAGE BILL FOR THE Dis
TRICT OF COLUMBIA.


sented for my approval on the Goth ult., SIX days
after the adjournment Of Congress, and is row re-
turned with my objections to the Senate, in which
house it originated Measures having been intro
duced at the commencement of the first session OF
the present Congress- for the extension OF the cleo
tive franchise to persons Of color in the District OF
Columbia, steps were takon by tho corporate au-
thorities OF Washington and Georgetown to ascer-
tain and make known the opinions of the people OF
the two cities upon subject SO Immediately affect
ing their wolfare as community. The question
was submitted to tho people at special elections,
held in the month Of Docomber, 1856, when the
with great unannaty Of sentiment, expressed them
selves opposed to tho cont :mp1e +ad Legislation.
In Washington, in vote Of 5000, the largest, with
put two exceptions, ever poued in thai city, only
35 ballots were cast for negro suffrage while in
Georgetown an aggregate OF s19 votes, q number
considerably in excess Of the average vote at tho
four preceding annual elections-but one was given
franchise. ~ -0'''-'
AS these elections seem to have been conducted
with entire fairness the result must be accepted as
truthful expression Of the opinion of the people Of
the District upon the question which evoked it. Pos
ular right the inhabitants Of State or Territory
to make known their will upon rnattors which af-
feet their social and political condition, they
Bill than through the sufrages Of their qualified
Of F5 Int BsrGs 8 as o St 5
deemed it right and expedlent to pass the mea-
sure now submitted for ny signature. It, thero-
fore, becomes the duty Of the Executive, standing
between the legislation of the one and the will Of
the other fairly expressed. to determine whether
he should approve the Bill and thus aid in placing
which the people to whom it is to apply have
solemnly, and with such unnnrnty, protested, or
whether he,should return it, with his objections,
in the hope that, upon reconsideration, Congress,
acting as the representev of tho inhabitants Of
the seatof government will permit then, toregu-
seem best suited to their interests and Condition.
The District Of Columbia was ceded to the Unit
ed States by Maryland and Virginia, in order that
ment Of the United States. Accepted e by ts9l Con-
sive Legislation for which provision is made in
mind however that, in exercising it's functions as
the law-makng power Of the District of Columbia,
the M authority q the National Legislature is not
without limit, but that Congress is bound to OBJ
serve the letter and spirit Of the Constitution as
well In the enactment OF local laws for the seat of
Union. We're it 70 Be admitted that the fright to
exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatso-
ever conferred upon Congress unlimited power
might be granted within its boundaries; Laws
might be made respecting an establishment of re-
hgion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or
or the right Of the people peaceably to asem,
Bile and petition the Government for redress of
grievances. Despotlsm would thus reign at the
SCAT Of government ola free republic, and, as a
place Of permanent residence, it would be avoided
by all who prefer the blessings of liberty to the
mere e em9lnments mol Of official position
for the District Of Columbia - under the Federal
Constitution, the relation Of Congress to its in
habitants is analogous to that of legislature to
the people of State under their own local const-
tuition It does not, therefore, seem to be asking
TOO much that in matters pertaining to the Dis
Tlct, Congress should have a like respect for the
viii and interests OF its inhabitants as Is entertain
ed BY State Legislature for tho wishes and pros
aa and ins tS
Government require that, in regard to any law
which is to affect and have apermanent bearing up
able influence upon those who are acting in the
capacity Of their legislators Would, for instance,
the ,Legisl allure OF the State Of New York, or OF
Union in opposition to the expressed will OF aiarge
majority Of the people whom they were chosen 20
represent, arbitrarily force upon them, US voters
all persons OF the African or negro race and make
them eligible for Office without any other qualih-
cation than certain term Of residence within the
colored population, when acting together be able
IN New York before he can vote, the man Of color
must fulfill conditions that not required Of the
white citzon InPennsylvania tho elective franchise
is restricted to white heenen; while in Indiana
negroes and mulattoes are expressly excluded from
sistent With the principles Of right and
Justice that representatives Of States where sui
rage ls either denied the colored man or grant
ed to him on qualifications requiring intelligence
or property, should compel the people Of the Dis
trict OF Columbia to try an experiment. which their
own constituents have thus far shown an unwii-
ingness to test for themselves; nor does it accord
with our republican ideas that the principles of
self-goyernment should lose it's force when applied
their legislators not like those of the States re-
sponsible through the ballot to the people, for
whom they are the law-making power. The great
exclusive legislation Of congfess was to secure the
entire Independence Of the General Government
from undue State influence, and to enable it to dis
ment Of It's suthority the high functions for which
purpose it was eeded to the United States by
Maryland and Virginia; and it certainly never
could have been Contemplated, as one Of the OBJ
tects to b. attained, by placing i under the exelu
ye jussdieti:eaa Of .co9gress that it wenld afford
experimental test Of their principles and theories
While indeed the residents Of the seat Of govern
therefore, allowed Voice IL the electoral COLLEGE @
or representation in the COUNCILS OF The nation
they are, nevertheless American citizens, entitled
every benefit Of the laws and to every right which
pertains TO citizens Of onr common country.
In all matters, then, affecting their domestic af-
ment demands that their wishes should 30 con-
suited and respected, and they taught to feel
that, although not permitted practically to partic-
under paternal Government regardful Of their
rights, mindful OF their wants, and solictous for
their prosperity. It was evidently contempla-
ted that all local questions would be left to
their decision, at least to nn extent that would
not be incompatible with the object which
Congress contemplated when it assumed exclu-
sive legislation over the seat OF government.
When the Constitution was yet under considera-
tion, it was assumed by Mr.. Madison that it's in
habltants would be allowed "a municipal legialat-
nre" for local purposes derived from their own s-
frages Whom for the first, tnne Congress in the
year 1900 assembled at Washington. President
Adams in his speech at it's opening reminded the
two Houses that 1t pns- for them to sConsidar
whether the local powers over tho District 0Y Co.
lumbia vested by Che Constitution in the Conoress
OF the United States, should be immediately exer-
cised; and he asked them to consider It as the
Capital Of this great nation, advanced with pnex-
ampled rapidity in arts, in commerce, in wealth
resources which, IT, not thrown away or lament
ably misdirected, would seonfe TO 1t long course
OF prosperity and self government,
Three years had not elapsed, when Congress was
called upon to determine the propriety OF retro
ceding to Maryland and Virginia the. iurisdioior
Of the territory whiciathey hed respectively relin
quished to the Goveru1ent Qf tho United States
It was urged, on the one hand, that exclusive ju
riedichon was not necessary or useful TO the Gov
ernment; that It deprived the inhASitants of thl
District Of their political rights; that much OF tn
&Ine OF Congress was consumed in leEsiHtiUh per
tail;ing to it; that its government was expensive
that Ccneress vas NOT compet TO lagislste "a
the District, becauso the members were stranger
70 it's loccs concerns; and that It was OF example
Of government without Representation @e1
pezfrdeEt dangerous to the hborties of the stgtee
On the othsr band, it was held, nnoao other raa
eors and successfully, that the Constitution tn.