The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-08

yetoin.: the Bill Comforting Suffrage
on The Blacks of she District oI t"-
Ilmbia. Passed by the presehf
United States Congress.
10 he Ssnats of The rnited STATES !:


/ have received and considered the bill emit
tied - an act TO regulate the elective franchise
in the District Of Columbia" passed by the
Senate on the 18th Of December, and by the
House of Representatives on the succeeding
day. 1t was presented for my approval on the
10Th ultmo-slX days after the adjournment
of Congressman is now returned, with my
objections, 10 the Senate, Ill which House ii
originated.
Measures having been introduced at the
commencement OF the first session of the pre-
sent Congress for the extension of the elective
franchise TO persons OF color IN the Dlstrictoi
Columbia, steps were taken by the corporate
authorities of Washington and Georgetown
TO ascertain and make known the opinion OF
the people of the two cities upon subject so
immediately affecting their welfare as Il COM
muuity. The question was submitted 10 the
people al special election held i'll the month
of December, 1865 when the qualined voters
OF Washington and Georgetown, with great
unanimity of sentiment, expressed themselves
opposed 10 the contemplated legislation. In
Washington, in q vote of 6,j56-the largest
with but two exceptions ever polied in that
city-only thrtyfye ballots were cast Tor ne
gro suffrage, while in Georgetown, In an ag-
gregate OF SIS votes, a number considerably
in excess of the average vote 1T the TOUR
preceding annual elections, but one was given
in favor of the proposed eNtention OF the cleo
tive franchise As these elections seem TO have
been conducted with en- tire fairness, the result
| must be accepted rs the truthful expression OF
opiniou of the people of the District upon the
question which evoked il. Possessing, as an
organized community, the same popular right
AS the Inhabitants of q State or territory 10
make known their will upon matters which
affect their social and political condition, they
could have selected no more appropriate MODE
of memorialiZing Congress upon the SUBJECT OF
this bill than through the suffrages OF their
qualified voters. Entirely disregarding the
wishes of the people OF the District oil Colum-
bia Congress has deemed IL right ana eSpe-
dent TO pass the measure now submitted lot
. 0h.rn fnrn
of the Executive, standing between the legis-
lation of the one and the will OF the other
fairly expressed, 10 determine Whether ne
should approve the bill and thus aid In placing
upon the statute books of the nation law
against which the people TO whom 1t is TO APP
ply have solemnly and with such unanimlty
protested or whether he should return IL WIN
his objec tons in hope that upon reconsidera
ton Congress- acting rs the representatives OF
the inhabitants of the real Government, VIII
hermit them TO regulate purely local qnes-
ton as 10 them may seem best suiteu 10
their interests and conditions Inc Dis,
trict of Columbia was ceded 10 the ohlteu
states by MARYLAND and Virginia, in order
that il might become the permanent seat OF
Government of the United states. Accepted
by Congress, ii ~ once became SUBJECT 10 'ne
"exclusiye legislation = for when provision -
made i'm the Federal Constitution. 1t should
be borne in mind, however, that, In exercising
i,s functions as TO the law making power OF
the District Of Columbia, the authority OF the
National Legislature is not without unit put
that Congress is bound to observe the letter
and spirit Of the Constitution, as well IN Ihe
enactment OF local laws foi the seat OF 1o-
yernment rs in legislation common 10 the en-
tire Union Were il 10 he admitted mat tue
right TO exercise exclusive legislation In al
cases whatsoever conferred upon Congress IN
limited power within the District OF Soiuni-
bia, titles OF nobility might be granted wlthlh
It's boundaries, claws might be made respect
ing an establishment of religion, or prohiDit-
ing the free exercise thereof, or abridging the
freedom OF speech OF of the press, or the rignt
OF people peaccably 10 assemble and 10 peu-
lion the Government for redress OF grew
ances" Uespoiism would thus reign at tie
seat Of Government OF free republic, and, rs
n Mace of permanent residence, IL would be-
avoided by All who prefer the blessings OF
liberty 10 the mere amoluments of official po-
sition /, should also be- remembered that IN
lerislatin for the District OF Columbia under
The Federal Constitution, the relation Of Con-
gress 10 its inhabitants ~ analogous TO that oil
n Legislature 10 the people OF State under
their own local Constitution.
1t does not, therefore, seem TO be asking 700
much that the matters pertaining 10 the IFS
tricts Congress should have ike rtspfet TOT
the will and interests OF its inhabitants MS Is
entertained by n State Legislature for lhe
wishes and prosperity of those for whom they
Ieeislats The spirit OF our Constitution ana
the genius of our Government require TINT In
regard 70 any law which 10 70 aneet and nave
permanent bearing apon people, sneu vi"