Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-01-19
The Presidents Veto Message.
} "a Nfnals oL "a LMlLfa Slalts

The Presidents Veto Message.
TO ne Senate of hs United States;
| have received and considered an acl en-
titled, An Act TO regulate the elective fran
chisc in the District Of Columbia, passed by
the Senate on the 18th OF December and by
the House Of Representatives on the sue
eeeding day, IL was presontated for my
approval on the 10th ult., six days aflerthe
adjournment Of Congress, and II now re-
turned, with my objections, TO the Senate,
In which II 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 were taken by
the corporate authorities Of Washington
and Georgetown TO ascertain md make
known the opinion Of The people Of the two
cities upon n subject so imminently affecting
their welfare MS community. The ques.
ton was submitted 10 the people NJ n speci-
al election held in the month of DeccmN Nrii
1860, when the qualified voters of Wash
ingIon aud Georgetown with gren' una
nimity OF sentiment, expressed themselves
opposed 10 the contemplated leGis'nton.-
In Washington in u vote OF 1856, the arg
est with but ,wo exceptions ever pollcd in
that city, only 80 ballots were east for
negro suffrage; while in Georgetown, in an
ngp,r gate OF Sl3 votes, number consider
ably in excess of the average vote at the
FOUR preceding animal elections, but one
was given in favor Of the proposed cxten-
sion of the elective franchise. AS those
elections seem 10 have Teen conducted with
entire fairness. the rcsu,! must be accepted
as trnthiul expression .; the Gnlnion OF
the people OF the District upon the iueslic'
which evoked it. Possessing as an organ.
lied community the same popular right as
the inhabitants of State or Territory to
make known their will upon matters which
affect their social or political condition,
they could have selected no more appropri-
ate mode Of memoralizirg Congress upon
the subject of this bill than through the
suffrage, of their qualified voters.
Entirely disregarding the wishes of the
people Of the District Of Columbia, Congress
has deemed it right and expedient to pass
the measure now submitted for my sigma
ture. 1t therefore becomes the duty OF the
Executive, standing between the legislation
of the one and the will of the oil err, fairly
expressed to determine whether he should
approve the bill and thus aid in placing
upon the Statute book of the nation n law
against which The people to whom it is TO
apply have solemhly and with such una
nmity protested, or whether he should re-
lurn 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 purely local question as TO them
may seem best suited to their interest 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 the 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 min !, however, that in exercising
its functions as the law-making power Of
the District of Columbia the authority Of
the national legislature is not without lin
it; that Congress is bound to observe the
letter and spirit of the constitution, as well
in the enactment of local laws for the Seat
of Government as in legislation common to
the entire Union.
We're il to he admitted that the right to
exercise exclusive legislation in all cases
whatsoever, conferred upon Congress unlim-
tied power in the District of Columbia,
titles of nobility might be granted within
its boundaries, laws might be made respect.
ing the esia aolishment of religion, or pro-
hibiling the free exercise thereof or abolish
ing the freedom OF speech. of the press, or
the right of The people peaccnbly TO assem-
hln and nathan thu Gnynrnmnnt fnr n
dless of grievances, Despotism would
thus reign at the seat of Government OF II
fee Republic, and MS place Of permanent
residence il would he avoided by all who
prefer he blessings Of liberty 10 the mere
cmuiumenrs OF uifcinl position.
1t should lie remembered tiai in |egisla--
tug for The District OF CUiumlia, under tie
Fedctai Constitution, iue relations OF Com
g,ess to its Ini btan'J il ana agous 10 th"t
OF lrgisa ure TO the people of a STATE nh-
der their own local constitution. 10 n0rs
not, therefore, seem To BE- nskihg i". much
that, In matters pertaining tu the D.st ici,
Congress should have n like respect fur the
will and interests of its inhabilants as is
entertained by State Legislature for the
wishes and prosperity Of those for whom
they iegislaie. The spirit of our Constiiu.
ton and the genius of our Government re-
quire thai in regard to any law which is to
affect and have II ornament bearing upon
people. their will should exert at least
rea sunnbIe influence upon those who are
acting in the capacity Vt their Legislators.
Would. for instance, the Legislature Of the
State of New York, Pennsylvania or lndi-
ana, or of any State in the Union, in op-
position to the expressed will of large
majority of the people whom they were
chosen to represent, arbitrarily force upon
them ms voters, all persons of the African
or negro race, ani make them eligible for
office without any other qualification than
certain term of residence within the State?
Neither of the States named would. The
colored popnlation, when acting together,
would not be able to produce any great,
socIal and political results. In New York,
before he can tote The man of color must
fulfill conditions that are not required of
white citizens In Pennsylvania the elect
i've FRANCHISE is restricted to the white free
men: while in Indiana negroes and mulat-
toes are expressly excluded from the right
of suffrage. 1t hardly seems seems consistent
with The principles Of right and justice
that representatives of States where suffrage
is either denied the colored man, or granted
to him in qualifications, requiring inteli-
gence or property, should compel the people
of the District of Columbia to try an ex-
pertinent which their cwn constituents have
thus far shown an unwillingness TO test for
themselves; nor does il accord with our
Republican ideas that the principle Of self
Government, should lose its force when ap-
piled TO the residents Of the District, merely
because their Legislators are not, like those
Of the States, responsible through the ballot
to the people, for whom they are the law
making power.
The great object Of placing The seat OF
Government under the exclusive Legisla-
tion Of Congress was 10 secure the entire in
dependence Of the general Government
from undue State influence, and enable it
to discharge, without danger Of interruption
or infringement Of iis authority, the high
functions for which il was created by the
people. For this important purpose il vas
ceded to the. United States by Maryland
and Virginia, and il certainly never could
have been contemplated as one oftbe objects
10 be attained, By placing il under the eH-
elusive jurisdiction Of Congress, that il