Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-03-27
From Washington.

On Saturday, the 3d. the President returned
the Supplemental Bill with his objections. The
Bill provides for an election in ten States for the
purpose Of making constitutional; but all cleo
.tions, while the original bill remains in force,
come within its restrictions. Preliminary to cleo
tions, comes registration. Unregistered citizens
cannot vote. The preliminary to- registration is
ayaguc oath, that the applicant>is not disfr"n-,
chised By participation iu the rebellion, which
requires that the applicant for registration must
decide for himself. There is n fearful RESPONSE
blity, for though the bill does not assign perjury,
nor fix penalty for mistaken swearing, he must
not forget that marshal law prevails, and that
the applicant is responsible to the Military Com
missions, without previous prescntment by grand
iuries, the military commanders determining what
is an offcnco and prescribing the punishment.
Tho fourth section provides that tho military
commander shall appoint the necessary Boards
of Registration, each consisting Of three loyal
persons who may be military officers or citizens
of the State, or strangers, exercising important
functions and vested with unlimited discretion.
ever error or frauds they commit pass unques-
toned. By such measures are conventions Of
delegates to be constituted. These delegates are
to speak for tho people common justice requires
that they should have authority from the people.
No convention so constituted will, il any sense
represent the wishes Of the people, for under all
the embarrassing exceptions and uncertainty
which disfrnnchisement causes, it leaves out the
great. body of the people who may he excluded
from the polls. do not deem it necessary to in
vcstigatc farther the details of the Bill. No con-
sderation could induce him (the Fresident) to
approve such an election law for any purpose,
especially FOR the purpose of forming ConStitu-
ton for State. The President argues the quss-
ton at some length, illustrating that The forma-
ton of Republican Governments, according to
Congressional ideas, may as vel! commence in
Ohio or Pennsylvania ms North Carolina.
The President concludes confidently believe
that tho time will come when these States will
nga;n occupy their true positions ir the Union.
The barriers which now seem go obstinate must
yield to the force of enlightened and just
public opinion sooner or later; unconstitutional
and oppressive legislation will be cf'a:cd from the
statute books when this shall have been consum.
mated. pray God, that the errors of the past
may be forgotten, and that once mora we shall be
Il happy, united una prosperous people, and that,
tlast after the bitter eventul experience through
which the nation hus passed, we ahall all come to
know our only safety in the preservation of the
Federal Constitution. and, in according TO every
American citizen AID every State, the rights which
that Constitution secures.
Immediately after the reading the Presidents
objections, the Supplemental Bill was passed in the
House, the veto notwithstanding by vote Of one
hundred and fourteen to twenty-five.
The House failed to fix the day of adjournment
In the Senate, the Supplemental B!l was passed
by vote Of forty to seven.
The concurrent resolution to adjourn on Tues
day next to the first Monday of December, wa
passed.