Des Arc citizen., 1867-01-12
THE PRESIDENT. VETO.

standing the mighty influence of the Radical party, their belligcrent ntti- tude and numerous threats, they have not succeeded in intimidating, or forc- ing from his line of policy, that bold and fearless tatcsman--Andrew k Johnson. True to the principles he has 60 long advocated, the President, on the 6th inst returned to the Senate bin which was passed by that body on the 18th nlt. and by the House of Representatives on the 14th--entitled "An act 10 regulate the elective fran chise Tn the District of Columbia" !" with his entire disapproval. Heurges \ his objections SO forcibly, and proves % conclusively that the provisions of tho bill are at variance with the almost puaniTnuus wishes of the citizens that Congress attempts to force it upon.
 that if there was in that body the least
 particle of reason or patriotism, they must see the folly of their course, and
 act in accordance. Upon this subject
 he says: "The question was submitted to the people at special elections, held in the month of December, 1865, when
 the qualified voters of Washington and
 Georgetown, with great unanimity of
 sentiment, expressed themselves oppo- {. ned to the contemplated legislation.
 n Washington in vote of 6556, the
 largest with but two exceptions ever
 boiled in that city, only thirty-fivc bal
 lots were cast for negro suffrage, while
 in Georgetown, in an aggregate of SIS
 votes, number considerably in ex-
 cess of the average vote at the four
 preceding annual elections, but one
 was given in favor of the proposed ex- tension of the elective franchise. As
 these elections seem to have been con- ducted with entire fairness, the result must be accepted as truthful expres- si0n of the opinion of the people .ofthe District upon the question which evok- cd it." From this extract it will be }1een that the President is determined 70 consider the wishes of THE PEOPLE,
 and not ofpartv, and let the voice of the people control him while acting as the peoplo's servant. He proceeds to argue that the Congress occupies much the same position regarding legisla- ton to the people of the District of 9oolumbia, as does Legislature to the
 people of the State for which they leg fslate, and says: "Were it admitted that the right to exercise exclusive leg islation in all cases whatsoever con- ferred on Congress unlimited power within the tract of Columbia, titles of nobility might be granted within it's boundaries, laws might be made res- pecting an establishment of the relig- ! Ion or prohibiting the free exercise
 thereof, or abridging the freedom of
 speech, or of the press, or the right of
 the people peaceably to assemble and
 topetition the Government for a redress
 of grievances. Despotism would pre-
 vail at the scat of Government of a
 free republic, and as place of perma-
 nent residence, it would be avoided by
 all who prefer the blessings of liberty
 to the mere emoluments of official po-
 sition.
 < Tho spirit of our Constitution and
 the genius of our Government require that in regard to any law which is to
 affect and have permanent bearing upon a people, their will should exact It least a reasonable influence upor those who arc acting in the capacity o1
 their legislators" Proceeding to dis cuss the feasibility of negro suffrage ir | sound and Democratic manner, he says: "Thc exercise of the elective franchise is the highest attribute of ar American citizen, and when guided by virtue, intelligence, patriotism and 6 proper appreciation of our institutions constitutes the true basis of Demo. cratic form of government in whicl the sovereign power is lodged in the body of the people. Its influence fol
 
 good necessarily depends upon the el. evated character and patriotism of the elector, for if exercised by persons who do not justly estimate its value nnd who are indifferent as to its re- suits, it will only serve as a means ot placing power in the hands of the un principled and ambitious, and mus cventuate in the complete destruction of that liberty which should be tho most powerful conservator. Grea danger is therefore to be apprehendeG from an untimely extension of tho elective franchise to any new class 1T our country, especially when the large majority of that class, in yielding tho power thus placed in their hands can not be expected correctly to compre bend the duties and responsibilities which pertain to suffrage. Yesterday as 1t were, four millions of persons were held in condition of slavery tha had existed for generations to-da, they are free edmen, and are assumed b,