The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-08
WASHINGTON.
The District Suffrage
Bill.
THE PRESIDENTS VETO.
Proposed Reduction Of The Ma
tiOna1 Debt.
WASHINGTON. Jan. z


The President to-day returned to the Senate
the bill entitled San act to regulate the elective
franchise in the District of Columbia" with a
message reciting his objections thereto. He
says first, that at a special election held in
December, 1866 upon this issue, 1887 votes
were cast against negro suffrage, while only 81
were cast in its favor; and believing it TO be a
local question, which the inhabitants of the
District should be permitted to settle as may
seem best suited to their interests, he returns
the bill to the Senate, in the hope that they
will agree with him in this opinion. He fur
Their argues that although the District, upon its
cession to the general government, became the
subject of exclusive legislation the law max
ing power of the national Legislature is not
without limit but that Congress is bound to
observe the letter and spirit of the Constitu-
ton as well in making laws for the seat Of gov
eminent as in the legislation concerning the
entire Union. The relations of Congress to
the inhabitants of the District are analogous
to that OF a Legislature to the people of a
State. 1t seems therefore only just that they
should have like respect for the will and opin-
ions of its inhabitants The Constitution in
spirit requires that the will of tue people
should exert a reasonable influence in making
any law having permanent bearing upon
them. Would the Legislatures OF New Yark,
Pennsylvania, Indiana or any other State in
the Union force upon them all persons of the
African race voters, eligible for office, in OPP
position to the expressed will? 1t seems in
CONSTANT with the principles of right and JUS
tice that the Representatives of States where
suffrage is denied to negroes, or permitted upon
certain conditions, should compel people of the
District to try experiments they are unwilling
to; nor does it seem consistent that the prin-
ciples of self government should lose force as
to the District because its legislators are not
responsible through the ballot to those they
govern. Measures to one community might
not be adapted to another, and the decision of
such questions should be left to those directly
affected. The number of negroes in this Dis
trict has largely increased within i've years.
Lying near TO Maryland and Virginia, during
the war it became place of refuge for those
who escaped from servitude, and is yet the
abiding place OF considerable proportion of
those who sought its limits as shelter from
bondage, until then held in slavery. The ave-
nues OF intelligence and freedom are just open
ed TO them, and it is well to pause and in
quire whether after SO brief a time they are, as
a class, capable of intelligent exercise of sui.
frage or qualified to discharge the duties of off
cial position. People who are daily witnesses
of their mode of living, and are familiar with
their habits, have decided that they are not
capable TO perform either, with right of suf-
frage. Their numbers, already largely in ex-
cess of the demand for labor, would be increas-
ed by the influx from adjoining States. 1t is
within their power in one year to come into the
District in such numbers as to control the
white race, govern by their own officers and
exercise the power OF taxation over property
in which they have no interest. He does not
believe the franchise necessary to their inter
es s or rights, and considering the elective
franchise the highest attribute of the Ameri
can citizen, apprehends great danger from un.
timely extension of it to any new class who do
not comprehend its duties and responsibilities
The President then proceeded to discuss the
relations between Legislative and Executive
Departments, quoting Judge Story against
Legislative Capitalization.
The 4th o. S. Cavalry has left San Antonio
Texas, for the frontier. Several companies OF
regulars have also proceeded to the frontier
and interior towns. e
DR., Lyons, conservative, has been elected
Mayor OF San Antonio, by a majority of 2OC
over his opponent, Judge Stribhng.
Additional documents were transmitted to
the House to-day by the President, in answer
to resolution of that body concerning the
arrest of John III. Surratt. They relate prin-
cipally to the proceedings preliminary to that
event.
Associate Justice Nelson, to-day in the Su.
preme Court of the United States, delivered
an opinion in eleven New York Bank ta1
error, against the Commissioners of taxes and
assessments. The judgment of the Lower
Court was affirmed. Chief Justice Chase and
Judges Wayne and Swayne dissented.
The United States Consul at Alexandria
writes to Secretary Seward, as follows: your
6icBrtiul III answer W ulue Oi the Eltu was
received last evening The circuit of 1900
miles was accomplished in ten days, notwith.
standing the break in the wire between Alex
andria and Malta, made by a steamer"
Our Minister at Rome says: 1.-The witness
St. Marie, has been discharged from the Papa
service at my request He is now on board tn,
Swatara, on his return to America"
The President sent message to the House
to-day, stating that it is not expedient to com
munieate the correspondence relative to the
Island of San Juan.
Representative Randalls bill for the issue o
its object to pay the national debt in thirty
two years, with an appropriation of eighteen
millions per annum for that purpose.
The President will hold three levees during
the winter, viz: on the 18th of January, 9tl
and 22d of February.