The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-07-29
Att, THE N EwS

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WASHINGTON, July 2O.-vetoing the
electoral college bill, the President main
taius that the Southern States were never
out of tho Union. and asserts that they
were practically and constitutionally re-
stored previous to March, 1867 Narrating
tbe provisions Of the constitution, the
President says the joint resolution, by inn
Td;faticn' at least, comedies that these
States were States by virtue of their organ
ization prior to the 4th of March, 1867, but
denies to them the right to. vote in the
election of President and Vice President of
the United States 1t follows either that
This assumption Of power is wholly unau-
+horized by the constitution, or that the
states so excluded from voting were out of
tbe Union by. reason of the rebellion, and
have never been legitimately Restored
Deinr fully satisfied that they were never
mt Of the Union, and that their relations
thereto have been legally and constitution
ally restored, l am forced to the conclusion
that the Joint resolution which deprives
them of their right to have their vote for
President and Vice President received and
counted, is in conflict with the constitu-
finn. and that Congress has no more power
To reject their votes that those of the States
which have been uniformly loyal to the
Federal Union 1t is worthy of remark
that if the States whose Inhabitants were
recently in rebellion, were legally and con-
stitutionally organized and restored to
their rights prior to the fourth of March,
1867, Gas am satisfied they were,) the only
legitimate authority under which the cleo
ton for President and Vice President can
be held therein must be derived from the
Governments instituted before that period.
It clearly follows that all the States Gov
ernments organized in those States under
the act of Congress, for that purpose and
under military control, arc illegitimatc,
and of no validity whatever; and. in that
view. the votes cast In those States for
President and Vice President, in pursuance
of acts passed since the 18th of March, 1867,
and in obedience to the so-oalled recon
struction acts of Congress. cannot be legal
Iv received and counted, while The only
votes in those States that can be legally
cast and counted will be those cast in pur-
suauce of the laws in force In tho several
States prior to the legislation by Congress
upon the subject of reconstruction.
The President proceeds to argue that
while the people of the Southern States
were not in rebellion some people of the
Northern States were in rebellion, and that
the act fer exclusion applies logically
equally to New York and Virginia.
The message concludes: If Congress
were to provide by law that the votes of
none of the States should be received and
counted if cast for q candidate who differ
ed in political sentiment with majority
of the two Houses, such legislation would
at once be condemned by the country as
an unconstitutional and revolutionary
usurpation Of power. 1t would however,
be exceedingly difficult to find in the con-
stitution any more authority for the pas
sage of the joint resolution under conside-
ration than for an enactment looking di-
rectly to the rejection of all votes, but not
in accordance with the political preference
of majority of Congress. No power exists
in the constitution authorizing the joint
resolution, or the supposed law, the only
Difference being that one would be moro
palpably unconstitutional and revolution
airy than the other. Both would rest upon
tho radical error that Congress has the
the rights of the people of the States to cast
their votes for President Vice President.
Secretary Seward addresses letter to
whom it may concern, stating that Con-
gress, in June, 1866, passed q resolution
proposing an amendment to the constitu-
zion of the United States, known as article
18th, which he quotes. Seward states that
the act of 1919 requires the Secretary of
State to publish amendments of the con-
stitution when adopted, but no act author
lied the Secretary to determine and decide
doubtful questions as TO authenticity of Or
ganization of State Legislatures, or the
power of any State Legislature to recall
previous ratification. Twenty-three States
have ratified the amendment, and also the
bodies avowing themselves as Legislatures
Of Arkansas. North Carolina, Florida, Lou
isiana, Soutb Carolina and Alabama. 1t
appears further that Ohio and New Jersey
have withdrawn their assent, but the eff
cacy Of these Withdrawals is doubtful
The whole number of States are 81. He
then proclaips the amendment adopted,
provided the original resolutions of Ohio
and New Jersey are valid, notwithstanding
the withdrawal.
WASHINGTON, July 2l.--The Senate re-
manned in session till midnight last night.
The military bill passed. 1t reduces the
army to 10000 men, three infantry and one
cavalry regiment to be coiored, musters out
nll except the West Point board, and gives
1000 Springfield rifles to each Congress
sional district On condition that the Secre-
tary of War is satisfied that the militia are
loyal.
The last provision excited q sharp de-
bate, Drake saying that he would, if he had
his way, arm every loyal man in the South
srn States with Springfield rife, and
cartridges ad ii6ituaa, and so far as he
was concerned he was perfectly willing for
it to be written on this bill that these arms
were intended for the protection of the 10y
al men ct the polls.
WASHINGTON, July 2l.-SENArE--A con.
current resolution that the fourteenth
amendment to the constitution has been
duly adopted, passed.
A resolution paying the Southern Sena-
tors from the beginning of the Fortieth
Congress, meeting opposition went over
under the rules.
The motion to adjourn till Friday, drew
from Mr.. Hendricks the remark that the
President would properly avail himself OF
the constitutional ten days to defeat the
military bill, which arms Southern militia
at the option Of the Secretary of War. a
debate of great bitterness ensued, in which
the alleged outrages on Southern loyalists
were again ventilated. Without definite,
action, the Senate took e. recess.
HoUsE-A resolution paying Southern
members from the day Of their election,
passed.
A bill changing ports of entry from Ply
mouth to Edenton, and from Beaufort to
Port Royal, passed.
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