The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-01-16

Presidents ysto Of TIE Bill Il Rsgalat
EEEeTIFH sUTfsAGE IN rHR. DISTRICT Or eoIGNeIA.
EBs Tet5graPa Il Tie NJ D. Crescent
10 the Senate If the United States
have received ana considered bill entitled ~
act regulate tire elective franchise ID the District 6
Columbia, Eassed h5 the Senate OF fhe 6tl q De
center, aud the HoaSs 0f Representatives aa TIL
succeeding day IL was presented fag ny aPpsdga Of
the Goth u}ttmo. fix days litter the adionrnneato
Congress- and is noW returned WITH MY objections K
the Senate, in which house it originated Measures
having been introduced, at the commencement OF tht
first session of the present congress- for the extension
of the elective franchise to persons OF color, II tbs
District of Columbia stes were taken by the corporate
authorities of Washington and Georgetown to ascer
tain and make known the opinion OF the people Of tbs
two cities upon subject so Immediately affecting then
welfare as community The question Was suehlft6ec
to the people special eee tons held in the month o.
December, 1865, when the qualified voters OF wash
ington and Georgetown, with great unanlmty OF sen
timent, expressed themselves opposed to the conteh
plated legislation. In Washington IN a vote OF COOS
the largest, with but two exceptions, ever poiled Ii
that city, only thirtyve ballots were cast for negro
suffrage while in Georgetown in an aggregate OF SI5
votes number considerably in excess OF the average
vote at the four preceding annual elections, but one
was given in favor of the proposed extension OF the
elective franchise As these elections seem to have
been conducted with entire fairness the result must be
accepted truthful expression of the opinion OF the
people of the district upon the question which evoked
It, Possessing organised community the same
popular right the inhabitants Of State Territory
to make known their will upon matters which affect
their social and political condition. they could have
selected no more appropriate mode OF memoralising
Congress upon the subject Of this bill than through
the suilrages OF their qualified voters Entirely dis
regarding the wishes of the people of the District of
Columbia, Congress has deemed it right ind cxpedent
to pass the measure now submitted for my signature.
It therefore becomes the duty Of the Executive, stand
the Station of the and the will
the other fairly expressed, to determine whether he
should approve the bill, and thus placing upon the
statute books of the nation law against which the
people to whom it is to apply have solemnly and with
much unanimity protested, or whether he should re
turn it with his objections, in the hope that, upon
consideration, Congress, acting as the representative
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 interests ami con
dition The District of Columbia was ceded to the
United States by Maryland and Virginia in order that
it might become the permanent scat OF government OF
the United States Accepted by Congress, it at
became subject the exclusive legislation for which
provision is made in the Federal Constitution. 1t
should be borne in mind however, that in exercising
its functions the law making power of the District OF
Columbia the authority Of the national Legislature is
not without limit but that Congress is bound observe
the letter and spirit Of the constitution well in the
enactment of local laws for the seat OF government
il legislation common to the entire Union. Were it
to be admitted that the rg ht to exercise exclusive
legislation in all cases whatsoever conferred upon
Congress unlimited power within the District Of Co
unba, titles Of nobility gh be granted within its
boundaries laws might be made respecting estHb-
lishment Of religion, prohibiting the free exercise
thereof, abridging the freedom OF speech, Of
the press, the right of the people peacefully to
asSembeand to petition the government fora redress
of grievances Despotsn would thus reign at the !
seat of government of free republic and as Il place
of permanent residence 1t should be avoided by all
who prefer the blessings Of liberty to the enIolu
lnents of official position. 1t should also be remem
bered in egislating for the District Of Columbia under
the federal constitution that the relation Of Congress
to its inhabitants is analogous to that Of legislature
to the people Of State under their own local coIs
tuition. 1t does not therefore to be asking too
much that in matters pertaining to the district, Con
ress should have like respect for the will and inter
asts of its inhabitants as is entertained by State
Legislature for the wishes and prosperity OF those for
whom they legisate
The spirit Of our Constitution and the genius of our
government require that in regard to any law which
o affect and have permanent bearing upon people,
heir will should exert at least reasonable Influence
1pon those who are acting in the capacity Of their
legislators. Would for instance, the legislature of
he State Of New York, Or Of Pennsylvania or of
indiana, or of any State in the Union in opposition to
he expressed wilt OF large majority of the people
whom they were chosen to represent arbitrarily force
lpon them as voters all persons of the African or
legro race, and make them egi for office without
my other qualification than certain term Of residence?
Il neither OF the States named would the c0l0red
)opulaon, when acting together be able to produce
my great social and political result. In New York
before he Can vote the man Of color fulfill CON
litions that not required of white citizens In
Pennsylvania the elective franchise is restricted to the
White treemen, while in Indiana negroes and mulut- :
oes are expressly excluded from the right of suffrage
hardly seems consistent with the principles Of right
nd justice that representatives, of States where suf-
Is other denied the Fnl0rrI
i'm on qualifications requiring intelligence or prop !
rtv should compel the people Of the District Of Co.
ambia to try an experiment which their own c0nstit
ents have thus far shown an unwngness to test for
hemScvcsi nor does it adcord with republican !
IDEAS that the principle OF segOVernment should lose
S force when applied to the residents Of the District
1erey because their legislators like those of
he States, responsible through the ballot to the peO-
lie for whom they the law-making power. The T
rea object OF placing the scat OF government under
le exclusive legislation OF Congress, was 10 secure r.
lie entire independece of the general government !,
ON undue State influence and to enable discharge
lthou danger OF interruption or Infringement of its -
lthortE the high functions for which it was created r.
the people. For this important purpose it was !,
ded to the United States by MARYLAND and Tirrina :;
I'd 1t certainly nevc. could have been contemplated J.!
one OF the objects to be attained by placing t I'M ~
r the exclusive jurisdiction Of Congress that it =,
oud afford to propagandsts political parties ~,
ace for an experimental test Of their principles and fl
Vernment not citizens Of any State and are not a.
eretore allowed voice in the electoral college, or NJ
presentation in the councils Of the nation they are r.
verthelesS American citizens entitled as such to NJ
cry right which pertains citizens Of Our common III
lntry. ~;
In all matters then affecting their domestic affairs the
rlt OF our democratic fora Of government demands Of
1t their wishes should be consulted and respected ~
they ought to feel that although not permitted fr
ctlcay to participate in national concerns they are ~
vertheess under paternal government regarCful of
III rights, mindful Of their wants. and solictous for
'r prosperity. 1t was evidently contemplated that l
local questions would be left to their decision at 49,
st to extent tina would not be incompatible with ~
object for which Congress granted the exclu- h
e legislation over the seat Of government When ~;
Constitution was yet under considerations it was -;
umcd by Mr.. Madison that its inhabitants would be w.
'Wed municipal legislature for local purposes for
Ved FROM their own suffrage. When for the first chi
e Congress in the year 1900 assembled at WASH od
ton President Adams in bis speech at the opening mi
minded the two houses that it was for them to con M
ar whether the local powers the District of t;v
unbia vested by the Constitution in the Congress r
tile United States should be Immediately exercised Gl
he asked them to consider it rs the capital Of con
at nation advancing with unexampled rapidty III pee
arts, i'll commerce. in wealth and in populsti0n bee
possessing within itself those resources which, if me
thrown away or lamentably misdirectad, would ple