South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1867-03-29
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

President Johnson's Message J,toiry the
Supplementary Reconstruction BIZ.
The President on Saturday afternoon of
last week, returned to the House of Repre-.
sentativcs the supplementary reconstruction
bill, accompanied by the following message
giving his reasons for not signing it,
To Me House Of Representatives.
i have considered the bill entitled "Ap
act supplementary TO an act entitled CAN
act To provide for the more efficient govern
ment of the rebel States, passed March
ID, 1867, aud to facilitate restoration" and
now return it to the House of Representa-
tive, with my objections.
This bill provides for elections in the ten
States brought under the operation Of the
original act, to which it is supplementary.
It's details arc principally directed TO the
elections for the formation of the State Con.
stitutions butby the sixth section ofthe bill
call elections in these States, occurring
while the original act remains in force, are
brought within its purview.
Referring to the details it will be found
that, first of all, there is TO be registration
of the voters. No one whose name has not
been admitted OF the list is to be allowed
to vote at any of these elections. To ascer
tain who is entitled to registration. refer.
ence is made necessary, by the express Ian.
guage of the supplement, to the original act
and to the pending bill The fifth section
of the original act provides, as to voters.
that they shall be ''malc citizens Of the
State, twcnty-onc years old and upward, of
whatever race, color, or previous condition,
who have been resident of said State for
one year" This is the general qualilica.
ton, followed, however, by many exccp.
lions. No one can be registered, ACCORDING
to the original act, "who may be disfran.
chlscd for participation in the rebellion"
Il provision which left undetermined the
question as to what amounted to disfran-
chiscInent, and whether, without judicial
sentence, the act itself produced that effect.
This supplemental bill supcradds an oath,
to be taken by every person before his name
can be admitted upon the registration, that
he has "not been DISTINGUISHED for partici.
patton in any rebellion or civil war aeains.
the United States"
1t thus imposes upon every person the
necessity and responsibility of deciding for
himself, under the peril of punishment by
a military commission, if he makes mis-.
take, what works disfranchisemcnt by par.
tlcipatlon in rebellion, and what amounts to
such participation. Almost every man
the negro as well as the white-above u
years OF age, who was resident in these ten
States during the rebellion, voluntarily or
involuntarily, at some time and in some
way, did participate in resistance to the
lawful authority of the General Govern.
lnent The question with the citizen TO
whom ttlis oath must be proposed must be
fearful one; for while the bill does not
declare that perjury may be assigned for
such false swearing, nor fix any penalty for
the tifense, we must not forget that martial
law prevails; that every person is answcra-
bic 70 II military commission, without pre-.
Vious prcsentment by a grand jury for any
charge that may be made against him; and
that the supreme authority Of the military
commander determines the question as to
what Is an offcnsc, and what is to be the
measure Of punishment.
The fourth section of the bill provi,lcs
that the commanding general of each dis.
trlct shall appoint as many boards of regis.
tration as may be necessary, consisting of
three loyal officers or persons" The only
qualification stated for these officers is. that
they must be "loya" They may be Der.
sons IN the military service or civilians, res
ldcnts of the State or strangers Yet these
persons arc to exercise most important du
ties, and arc vested with unlimited discre.
ton. They are to decide what names shall
be placed upon the register, and from their
decision there is be no appeal They are
TO supcrintend the elections, and to decide
all questions which may arise They are
70 have the custody of the ballots, and TO
make return # the persons elected What
ever frauds or errors they may commit must
pass without redress. All that is left for
thc commanding general is u receive the
returns OF the elections, open the same, and
ascertain who are chosen ''accordino to the
returns q the officers who conducted said
elections BY such means, and with this
sort Of agency, are the conventions Of dele
gate, TO be constituted
As the delegates are to speak for the leo.
pie, common justice would seem 10 reouire
that they should have authority from the
people themselves No convention en- con.
stiiuted will in any sense, represent the wish.
cs Of the inhabitants Of these States for
under the all-cmbracine conceptions Of these
laws, 10y a construction which the unccr.
talnty Of the clause as to Acknowledgement
leaves open to the board Of officers, the
great body Of the people may be excluded
from the polls and from all opportunity Of
expressing their own wishes, or voting for
delegates who will faithfully reflect their
sentiments.
do not deem it necessary further to in.