Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-01-11

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
Veto Of the District Suffrage Bill.
no CRANGEIN TIE COTTON TAN.
WASHINGTON. Monday. Jan. Z.

/ have received and considered the bill
chise IN the District Of Columbia, passed by
the Senate on the 18th Of December, and
by the House OF Representatives the sue
cessling day. Il vas presented for my ap
proval on the Goth ultimo, ok days after
the adjournment Of Congress, and 10 now re-
turned, with my objections, TO the Senate.
in which Il originated.
Measures having been introduced at the
commencement Of the first session Of the
present Congress for the extension Of the
elective franchise 10 persons Of color, in the
District Of Columbia, steps we're taken by
tho corporate authorities Of Washington and
Georgetown 10 ascertain and make known
the opinion Of the people Of the two cities
upon . subject so Immediately affecting their
welfare as n community. The question wac
submitted 10 the people at a special election
held December 1865, when the qualified
voters Of Washington and Georgetown, with
gres, unanimity Of sentiment. expressed
themselves opposed 10 tbs contemplated leg
isla,ion, and IN Washington, in q vote Of
G,55G, t.ic largest, with but two exceptions
ever polcd ia that city, ONLY thirty>tv bal
lots were cast for negro suffrage, who IN
Georgetown 500 votes were cast, number
considerably in excess Of the average vote
the four preceding annual elections, and
but one vote was cast IN favor Of the pro.
posed extension Of the elective franchise. -
As these elections appear 10 have been con-
Quoted with entire fairness, and the result
must be accepted ~ a truthful expression
OF the people ofths District on the question
which evoked il, possessing ~ mn organized
community the same popular right Of in
habitants Of State or territory, 70 make
known their will on matters which effect
their social and political condition, they
could not have selected more appropriate
mode Of ncmorializing Congress upon the
the subject Of this bill than through the
suiIrages OF their qualified voters. Entirely
disregarding the wishes Of the people Of the
n.-.rict Of Columbia, Congress has deemed
1t right and expc iient to pass the measure
now submitted FOR my signature.
II therefore becomes the duty Of the Tx
ecu,ivcs. standing between the legislation Of
one. and the will Of the other fairly express
cd, to determine whether he should disaps
prove Of the bill, and thus aid in placing
upon the statute book Of the nation lAw
against which tho people, 10 whom it 10 ia
apply, have solemn,y, and with such unan-
UNITY protested, or whether he should res
turn, with his objections, in the hope that
upon confederation. Congress, acting IN the
representatives for the inhabitants OF the
seat OF government, will permit them "a
regulate purely local question AS 10 them
may seem best suited to their interests aud
condition. The District Of Columbia was
coded by Maryland and Virginia in order
that Il might become the permanent seat oi
government OF the United states, and was
accepted 10y Congress, II at once became
subject to the exclusive legislation, for
which provision In made in the Federal
Constitution. II should DO born in mind
however, that in exercising its functions as
the law making power Of the District OF
Columbia, the authority Of the national leg
islaiurr i. not without limit, but that Con.
gress is bound TO observe tho letter and
rpirit of the Constitution, as well in the
.nactmcn, OF local laws for the seat of Gov
crnmcnt, as in legislation common TO The
entire Union. Were il 10 DO admitted that
right to exercise exclusive legislation in all
cases whatsoever, conferred upon Congress
unlimited power within the District Of Coz
lumbla, titles Of nobility might he granted
within tho United States boundaries, laws
might DO made respecting an establishment
Of religion, or prohibiting free exercise
thereof, or abridying freedom Of speech, or
OF the press, or the right Of the people TO
pcsccably assembly and TO petition the
Government for redress of grisvanccs.--
Dcspotism would thus reign ., the seat Of
the Government Of free republic, and ~
place Of permanent residence, il would be
crowded by all who prefer the blessings OF
liberty to the mere enactment Of official po-
siiieu. 1t should also be remembered that
IN lcgislating for the District of Columbia,
under the Federal Constitution, the relation
ol congtcss to It's inhabitants is
analogous To that of legislature
To- the reoi le Of "A STATE under Their own
local constitution. II does not, therefore,
seem 10 DO asking too much in matters
pertaining 10 restrict that Congress should
have 4 like respect Tor the welfare and in
'crests OF its inhabitants. as is entertained
hs state leg stature for the wishes and
prosperity Of those for whom they lcgis-
late. The spirit of oar Constitution and
the genius OF our Government require that
in regard to any law which is 10 affect and
have a permanent bearing upon people
tl.cr will should exert at least reasonable
,nhuercc upon. those who are scting in the
capacity OF their legislators. For instance, If
the legislature OF New York or Pcnnsylvanis
~ OF Indiana, or of any other state in the
Union, in opposition TO the expressed will
cf large majority Of the people whom they
wefc chosen t. re resent, arbitrarily forced
upon them as voters all persons Of African
race, and make them eligible for Office with
out any other qualification than certain
term OF residence in the state. In neither
of the states would the colored population,
when acting together. be able TO produce
any great political or social result yet in
New York. before he can vote, man Of col
or must fulfill conditions that are not re-
quired in white citizens. In PENNSYLVANIA
the elective franchise 10 restricted TO the
white ireemen, while in Indiana negroes are
expressly excluded from the right of suf.
frase Il hardly seems consistent With the
principles Of right and justice that repre-
sentatives from = state where suffrage il
either denied the colorcd man, or granted
him on qualifications requiring intelligence
or property, should compel people Of . die.
tinct color 60 try an experiment which their
own constituents have thus far shown an
unwilIingness TO test for themselves, nor
does it accord with our republican ideas,
and its principles Of self government should
lose its forcc when applied 20 residents Of
districts, merely because their Legislators
are not like those states. responsible through
the ballot to the citizen, TO whom they are
the law making power. The great object
IN placing the seat Of government under
the exclusive legislation OF tho Government.
was u secure entire Independence OF the
General Government from under state
influence. and enable it TO Discharge.
without fear Of interruption, or infringe
tncnt. Of its authority, the high functions
for which it was created by the people; for
this important purpose il was ceded to the
United States by Maryland and Virginia,
and certainly It never could have been con-
templa,ed, as one Of the objects to DO ats
tanned by placing il under the exclusive ju.
risdiction Of Congress, that it would afford
TO propsgandists. or political party, = plan
FOX an experimental test Of their principles
aud theories, and while, indeed, residents Of
the seat Of Government afe not citizens O
any State. and are not, therefore, allowed q
voice in the electoral college. or . voice Ia
the couroils Of the nation, thoy arc never
thsless American citizens, subject 10 ever,
guarantee Of the Constitution, TO every ben
eft Of the laws. and to every right which
pertains 70 citizens Of our common country
Ia Ill matters, then, affecting their domss,
tic AFFAIRS, the spirit Of our democratic ioru