New-York tribune., 1867-03-25
TILE LIST VETO.

IHE L1oI fEIO'
The President on Saturday vetoed the Sup
Elementary Reconstruction bill; but Congress
immediately repassed it without debate-the
| House by ia Yeas to 25 Nays: the Senate
by 40 Yeas to Z Nays-and 1t is now the
law of the land. We believe these votes
are more decided than those by which any
former veto of any President were ever over
ruled Some one who has kept count says
this is the twelfh veto overruled within the
last fifteen months and it is facetlously sug-
gested that the Constitution be so amended as
TO read that every act of Congress, when We
toed by the President, shall be the law OF the
land. As the vetoed bills are so easily re-
passed this change would seem needless.
We cannot help regarding this last Veto as
the least excusable of any, Congress, in despite
of veto, had prescribed terms of Reconstruc-
ton which the South has already virtally ac-
cepted. Yet there was great danger that the
hostile predictions of anarchy and bloodshed
at the South would be realized through an un-
foreseen collision of authority--or rather col
lisiOn in the absence of authority Rival parties
at the South were about to call Constitutional
Conventions in their several States and thus TO
"organiz he'll " by getting up rival Constitu-
of Rhode Island in the days of DOrr 1t thus
became indispensable that Congress should in
terpose, and, by directing how and by whom
Conventions should be called and held, avert
disorder and secure peace. We hold That one
who agreed with the President i'll condemnlng
the Military Reconstruction bill of the last
Congress. might nevertheless rejoice over the
passage of this.
The gist of Mr.. Johnson's objections is this:
The Military Commanders appointed by him
self, responsible directly TO him, and not
allowed TO inflct or allow to be inflicted any
extreme penalty without his express peImis-
sion, may treat the Southern people unjustly
and harshly. We feel sure that this fear does
Injustice not only TO his officers but to him.
self.
Mr.. johnson asserts that nearly every one in
the South, "the negro as well as the white"
has aided the Rebellion in some way; and that
all are required to make oath-not that they
have not voluntarily rendered such all, but that
they have not been disfranchised (by Congress-
therefor. Yet he proceeds To assert that this
bill provides for Universal Negro Suffrage"
with White disfranchisemcnt," rgor of mar
"tal law &c. &c. But Mr.. johnson was
himself among the first TO proclaim that loyal
"men, White or Black must rule this country;"
that treason is a crime, and must be pun
"ished," &C., &c. We have not fully con-
CURED in these inculcations; and we are heartily
glad that Congress has not been imbued with
their spirit. Every loyal citizen, Black or
White, is enabled, by the two Reconstruction
acts TO have a voice in the good work OF
| restoration, with at least four-fifths of those
4 IL. u. ....aV.s
we hope to see enfranchsed very soon. Con-
gress has provided for that in the pending
Constitutional Amendment, and we trust that
its consummation will not long be delayed.
The South clearly understands, IA we do, that
the way to this lies through prompt and
cheerful conformity to the requirements of
Congress. The South seems to be acting well
Der part Mr. InI,nso'. elVa.V 10 oaNIIInB ana OBJ
structing.
The sum and substance of this Veto Message
is-Congrcss has not seen this matter Of
Reconstruction through the Presidents spec
tacles He had a plan OF policy" which put
all power in the late Rebel States into the
hands of the leading Rebels-which gave those
States governors, Legislators, &C., &c, who had
been Rebel chiefs, and who proceeded to dis
arm the Blacks and reduce them TO an intOlcr-
able serfdom, wherein they had no power
and no recognized right-not even that of
giving testimony in courts of justice.
The late Congress, assembling after the Presi-
dents "policy" had not merely budded and
blossomed but borne fruit, found that fruit too
sweet to the taste of Rebels, too bitter to loyal
men so they would have none of it. They
devised and matred different policy
went to the country thereon, and were over
whelmingly sustained. ThereupOn, in defiance
of the Presidents utmost efforts, they have
persevcred in their policy, and the South is on
the eve of Reconstruction under it. Mr.. john
son persists in his opposition and denuncaton
it seems to us, unseasonably and unreason-
ably We trust this Veto is the last we shall
hear of it,