The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-01-09

~ LtS SSFtu(S " Tue CALttSu OLuLeS:
have received and considered bill
franchise in the District of Columbia, -
passed by the Senate on the 18th day OF
December, and by the House of Repre-
sentativeS on the succeeding day. 1t
was presented for my approval on the
10Th ultlmO-SiX days after the adjourn
ment of Congress-and is now returned
with my objections to the Senate, in
which house it originated.
Measures having been introduced, at
the commencement of the first session
of the present Congress, for the extern
sion of the elective franchise to per-
sons of color in the District of Colum-
| bia, steps were taken by the incorpo-
rate authorities of Washington and
Georgetown to ascertain and make
known the opinion of the people
of the two cities upon "a subject
| so Immediately affecting their welfare
as community. The question was
submitted to the people at special cleo
tions, held in the month of December,
1865, when the qualified voters of
Washington and Georgetown, with
great unanimity of sentiment, express
ed themselves opposed to the contem-
plated legislation. In Washington, in
vote of 6,556-the largest. with but
two exceptions, ever polled in that
city-only thirty-five ballots were cast
IOi hSSIO SuhLdSts "ulLe III GeOTHe-
town, in an aggregate of Sl3 votes-a
number considerably in excess of the
average vote at the four preceding cleo
ttons-but one was given in favor of the
proposed extension of the elective fran
chiSe. AS these elections seem to have
been conducted with entire fairness,
the result must be accepted as truth
full expression of the opinion OF the
people of the District upon the question
which evoked it. Possessing, as an or
ganized community, the same popular
right as the inhabitants of a State or
Territory, to 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 sub
ject of this bill than through the suff-
RACES of their qualified voters.
Entirely disregarding the wishes of
the people of the District of Columbia,
Congress has deemed it right and ex-
pedlent to pass the measure now sub
mitted for my signature 1t. therefore,
becomes tho duty of the Executive,
standing between the legislation of the
one aud the will of the other, fairly eN-
pressed, to determine whether he should
approve the bill, and thus aid in pla-
cling upon the statute books of the ma
ton, law against which the people to
whom 1t is to apply have solemnly and
with such unanimity protested, or
whether he should return it with his
objections, in the hope that, upon re-
consideration, Congress- acting as the
representatives 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 in
terests and condition,
The District of Columbia was ceded
to the United States by Maryland and
Virginia, in order that it might become
the permanent seat of government of
the United States. Accepted by Con-
gress, it at once became subject 10 the
exclusive legislation" for which pro-
vision Is made in the Federal Constitu-
ton. 1t should be borne in mind, how
ever, that in exercising its functions as
the law making power of the District of
Columbia, the authority of the National
Legislature is not without limit, but
that Congress is bound to observe the
letter and spirit of the Constitution, as
well in the enactment of local laws for
the seat ofgovernment. as in legislation
common to the entire Union. Were it
to be admitted bhat the right "to exer-
else exclusive legislation in all cases
whatsoever" conferred upon Congress
unlimited power within the District of
Columbia, titles of nobility might be
granted within its boundaries; laws
might be made prospecting an estab-
lishment OF religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assem-
BILE and TO petition the Government for
a redress of grievances" Despotism
would thus reign at the seat of govern
ment of a free Republic, and, as a place
of permanent residence, it would be
avoided by all who prefer the blessings
of liberty to the mere emoluments OF
official position.
1t should also be remembered that in
legislating for the District of Columbia,
under the Federal Constitution, the re-
lation of Congress to its inhabitants is
analogous to that of n Legislature to
the people of a State, under their own
local Constitution. 1t does not, there
fore seem to be asking too much that,
in matters pertaining to the District,
Congress should have a like respect for
the will and interests of the inhabi-
tants as is entertained by n State Leg
islature for the wishes and prosperity
of those for whom they legislate. The
spirit of our Constitution and the
genius of our Government require that,
in regard to any law which Is to affect
and have u permanent bearing upon a
people, their will should exert at least
a reasonable influence upon those who
are acting in the capacity of their legis-
lators. Would, for instance, the Leg
islature of the State of New York, or of
Pennsylvania, or of Indiana, or of any
State in the Union, in opposition to the
expressed will of a large majority of
the people whom they have chosen to
represent, arbitrarily force upon them,
as voters, all persons of the African
or negro race, and make them eligible
for office, without any other qualitica-
tion than a certain term of residence
within the State? In neither of the
States named would the colored popu-
lation, when acting together, be able to
produce any great social or political re-
suits. Yet, in New York, before he can
vote, the man of color must fulfil con-
ditions that are not required of the
white citizen in Pennsylvania, the
elective franchise is restricted to the
white freemen;while in Indians, negroes
and mulattoes are expressly excluded
from the right of suffrage Il hardly
seems consistent with the principles of
right and Justice that representatives of
States where suffrage is either denied
the colored man, or granted to him on
qualifications requiring intelligence or
property, should compel the people of
the District of Columbia to try an ex-
pertinent which their own constituents
have thus far shown an unwillingneSS
to test for themselves. Nor does II ac-
cord with our republican ideas that the
principle of self-government should
ioseits force when applied to the resi-
dents of the District, merely because
their Legislators are not, like those of
the States, responsible, through the
ballot, to the people for whom they are
the law-making power.
The great object of placing the seat of
government under the exclusive legis-
lation of Congress, was to secure the
entire independence of the General Gov
ernment from undue State influence,