The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-07
THIRD EDITION
PRESIDE ENTIAL VETO.
Message Of the President of the
United states Returning to the
Senate a Bill Entitled An
Act to Regulate the
Elective Franchise
in the District Of
Columbia"

To ne Senate of The URited Idtes:-
have received and considered bill entitled
IAN act to regulate the elective franchise in
the District of Columbia" passed by the Senate
on the 18th of December, and by the House of
Representatives on the succeeding day. 1t was
presented for my approval on the 2Gth ultimo-
six days after the adjournment Of Congress-and
IN now returned with my objections to the
Senate, in which House it originated.
Measures having been introduced, at the COM
mencement of the first session of the present
Congress, for the extension Of the elective fran
Chse to persons of color in the District of
Columbia, steps were taken by the corporate
authorities of Washington and Georgetown to
ascertain and make known the opinion of the
people of the two cities upon subject so imme-
diately affecting their welfare as a community.
The question was submitted to the people at
special elections held in the month OF Decem-
Der, 1866, when the qualified voters of Washing
ton and Georgetown, with great unanimity of
sentiment expressed themselves opposed to the
contemplated legislation. In Washington, in a
vote of 6556-the largest, with but two eXcep
tions, ever polled in that city-only thirty-ive
ballots were cast fo- negro suffrage; while in
Georgetown, in an aggregate of Sl3 votes-a
number considerably in excess of the average
voteDt the four preceding annual elections
but one was given in favor of the proposed eX-
tension of the elective franchise.
AS these elections seem 20 have been con-
Quoted with entire fairness, the result must be
accepted as a truthful expression OF the opinion
OF the people OF the District upon the question
which evoked If. Possessing, as an organized
community, the same popular right as the inha-
bitants OF State or territory, to make known
their will upon matters which affect their social
and political condition, they could have selected
no more appropriate mode of memoralizng
Congress upon the subject of this bill than
through the suffrages OF their qualified voters.
Entirely disregardng the wishes of the people
of the District of Columbia, Congress has deemed
it right and eXpedient TO pass the measure now
submitted Tor my signature It. therefore, be-
comes 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 upon the statute books of the
nation a law against which the people TO whom
it is to apply have solemnly and with such
unanimity protested, or whether he should
return it with his objections in the hope that,
upon reconsideration Congress, acting as the
representatives OF the Inhabitants OF the seat of
government, will permit them to regulate a
purely local question, as to them may seem best
suited to their interests and condition.
The District OF Columbia was ceded 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 Congress, it at once became subject to the
exclusive legislation for which provision is
made in the Federal Constitution. 1t should
be borne In mind, however, that in exercising
it's functions as the law-making power of the
District OF Columbia, the authority of the Ma
tiOnal Legislature is not without limit, but that
Congress is bound to observe the letter and
spirit of the Constitution as well in the enact
ment of local laws tor the seat of government,
as in legislation common to the entire Union.
Were it to be admitted that the right 'to ex-
ercise exclusive legislation in all cases what
soever," conferred upon Congress unlimited
power within the District of Columbia, titles OF
nobility might be granted within its bounda.
r1es; laws might be made respecting an esta'
blishment Of religion, or prohiblng the free
exercise thereof; or abridgtng the freedom o.
speech or of the press or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble and to petition the Gov.
vernment for a redress OF grievances Despot
ism would thus reign at the seat OF government
OF free republic and, as place OF permanent
residence, it would be avoided by all who prefer
the blessings of liberty to the mere emolument>
of official position.
1t should also be remembered that in legis
lating for the District of Columbia, under the
Federal Constitution, the relation of Congress tC
its inhabitants is analogous to that of Legis
lature to the people OF State, under their Owl
local Constitution. 1t does .iot, therefore, seen
to be asking too much that in matters pertain
ing to the District, Congress should have lilSt
respect for the Will and interests of its inhabi
tants as is entertained By State Legislature fO
the wishes and prosperity OF those for whom they
legislate. The spirit of our Constitution anC
the genius OF our Government require that, il
regard to any law which is to affect and have
permanent bearing upon people their vii
should exert at least reasonable influence upol
those who are acting in the capacity of thei
Legislators.
Would, for instance, the Legislature OF the
State of New York, or of Pennsyl ania, or o
Indiana, or of any State in the Union, in oppo
stion TO the expressed will of large majority
Of, the people whom they were chosen to repre-
sent, arbitrarily force upon them, as voters, al
persons of the African or negro race, and maxi
them eligible for Office, without any other quail
fcatiOn than certain term OF residence within
the Stateg In neither of the States nameC
would the Colored population, when actinl
together, be able to produce any great social o.
political result. Yet, in New York, before hi
can vote, the man OF color must fulfil condition
that are not required of the white citizen; il
Pennsylvania the elective franchise is restricte
TO white freemen: while III Indiana negroes ant
mnlattoes are expressly excluded from the righ
OF suffrage.
It hardly seems consistent with the principle
of right and justice that OF State
where suffrage is either denied the colored man
or granted to him on qualifications requirln
intelligence or property, should compel tn
people Of the District of Columbia to try an e.
pertinent which their own constituents haV
thus lar shown an unWillingness TO test 10
themselves. Nor does 1t accord with our reput
lican ideas that the principle of selEgOvernmeI
should lose its force when applied to the res
dents of the District merely because their legi
latoTs are NOT. like those OF the States, respous
bic, through the ballot, TO the people for wboI
they are the law-making power.
The great object OF placing the seat OF govern
ment under the exclusive legislation Of Cor
Rress, was TO secure the entire independence q
the general Government from undue State iDhy