The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1867-01-19


Columbia, is regarded and We think
iustly rs the most able Stat. n,per
~ -. n.r,';,
'n"' W naS '''' "'''''"' 'u' '''"'''
VIII not permit us TO pupl''s"ft en-
tire hu, a few brief extracts will
give the reader an idea eff It's merits.
Measures having been introduced,
at the commencement OF the hrst SEES
sion Of the present Congress, for the
extension Of the elective franchise TO
persons of color, in the District of
Columbia, steps were taken by the
corporate authorities ct Washington
and Gcorgctovn to ascertain and
make known the opinion OF the peo-
pie Of the two cities upon subject
80 immediately affecting their welfare
as a community. Tie question was
submitted to the people at special
elections, held IN the month OF De.
cember, 1850, when the qualified
voters OF Washington and Georgetown,
with great unanlmlty OF sentiment,
expressed themselves opposed to the
contemplated legislation. In Wash
ington in vote OF 5000, the largest,
with but two exceptions, ever polled
in that city, only thlrty-hye ballots
were cast for negro suffrage, while in
Georgetown IN an aggregate OF sl3
votes a number considerably IN cx-
cess of the average vote at the four
preceding annual elections, but one
was given in favor of the proposed
extension o. the elective franchise.
As these elections seem to have been
! conducted with entire fairness, the
result must be accepted as truthful
expression of the opinion OF The peo-
pie Of the district upon thc question
which evoked IT. Possessing As an
| organized community the same ropu-
lar right as the inhabitants OF a state
or Territory to make known their
will upon matters which affect their
social and political condition, they
could have selected no more appro-
pirate mode Of memoriallzng Ton
gress upon the subject of tins biil
than through the sufraees OF Their
qualified voters Entlrely'disregard
ing the wishes of the people OF the
District of Columbia, Congress has
deemed It right and eSpcdient to pass
the measure now submitted for my
signature. II therefore becomes 'he
duty Of the Executive, standing be.
tween the legislation of the one and
the will of the other fairly expressed,
to determine whether he should ap.
prove the bill, and thus placing upon
the statute books Of the nation law
against which the people to whom It
is TO apply have solcmnly and with
much unanlmity protested, or wheth'
er he should return 1t with his oDoc-
tons, IN the hope that, upon recon
slderltion, Congress, acting ~ the
representative OF the inhabitants OF
the seat of government, will permit
them 10 regulate a purely local qncs-
ton, as To them may seem best suited
To their interests and condition The
District of Columbia was coded to the
United States by Maryland and Viz
.inia in order that It might become
the permanent scat of government of
the United States Accepted by
Congress, 1t at once became subject
to the exclusive legislation for which
provision Is made in the Federal
Constitution. It should be borne in
mind, however, that in exercising its
functions as the law making power
OF the District Of Columbia, the au-
thofi,y Of the national legislature Is
not without limit, but that Congress
Is bound To observe the letter snd
spirit Of the Constitution as well in
the enactment of local laws for the
seat OF government as IN legislation
common 10 the entire Union. Were
1t To be admitted that the right to
exercise exclusive legislation IN all
cases whatsoever conferred upon CON
grcss unlimited power within the
District OF Columbia, utlcs OF nohlli-
y might be granted within IT'S hoan'
darlcs, laws might be made respect
ing an establishment OF religion or
prohibiting the tree exercise thereof
or ahrldcine the freedom OF speech,
or oil The press or the riEh' oi U1'
people P'a'''ul'y 70 ''S',t'o'o '"n 10
lctU"h tue government '"' " 'o'' .,'5
VI grievances, ho'pc''S" "o''u
mus fClFh ~ wv ''a' " government :
" lf'e r'puu''' 'n" az P'",e ~
ie'""n'n' 'e,'''','''' ~ n ,"'", !" "
''"'''o ~ ''' ""' ''''' .''' -
'hes o' ''p,''y " t''e "'''I e,no' ',,
menus W o'"''s' PoS''''" ~ s"ou''
''H' .' 'ou'''', o,,',' j." ,'H''','"5 '''
luz, Tue, ''S'I,'' % ,"'"',iu'" unue, ."o
c,''''' '""s'' ''''V' '','' '"o ''''''''
u '"ne''sS !" US '"nau','.'N y ''la'
os'us ~ Una, W i'E's,''u'' ~ we
people oi . 9'a's u,'u,r 'pc'r own ~
C e 'o"s'''a''pn' ~, ~ u''S no' ," '1',
,o'' S'e'n W y. a'N'"E VOC "'I w. '.'.'
:" n''''o'' '' W, ,l'p LIE W W., NJ ,''','o'
onI'cS' >, S''"",' nave ny t'p','
!o' ''' wiz '"' '",o'eS', ", ''' ''.'"
,'an's as ~ en,o''a. .' V! '''''
'cRiN'''uic ,u' 'n' "',"'S anu P'oN'
lei'Y o' '"o'' 'o' ""oh tue! 'osN-
'''''
As general rulc sound policy re.