Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-21
The presidents Veto.

President johnson yesterday sent IN
his veto of the electoral college reselu-
ton. 1t has passed the Senate neverihe-
less by As to 8, and the House by l34 to
Sc. But the reasons Of the President
and the truth of his conclusions will not
yield to the law of force, and will still
stand good, though millions vote them
down. The following is the concluding
part of the message
The true meaning of the resolution is,
that no State, a portion OF whose inhahl-
tants we're engaged in the rebellion, shall
be permitted to participate in the Presi-
Dental election, except on the terms and
conditions prescribed in the resolution.
Assuming this to be the true construc-
ton of the resolution, this inquiry be-
comes pertinent: May those Northern
States, a portion of whose inhabitants
were actually in rebellion, be prevented,
at the discretion of Congress, from hav-
ing their electoral votes counted 1t is
well known that portion of the inhabi-
tants of the States Of New York and Vir-
giuia we're alike engaged in the rebellion,
and it is equally we'll known that
Virginia, as we'll as New York, was
at all times during the war, recognized
by the Federal Government as State in
the Union, SO clearly so that upon the
termination of hostilties it was not even
deemed necessary for her restoration
that Provisional Goyernor should be
appointed yet, according to this joint
resolution, the people of Virginia, I'M
less they comply with the terms it pre-
soribes, ars denied the right of voting
for a President and Vice President,
while the people Of New York, a portion
of the inhabitants of which State were
also in rebellion, are permitted to have
their electoral vote counted without I'M
dergolng the process OF reeonstruc-
ton prescribed for Virginia New York
is no more State than Virginia, and
one ia as much entitled to be represented
in the electoral college as the other. If
Congress has the right to deprive Viz
ginia Of this right, it can exercise the
same authority with respect to New York
or any other State, and thus the result OF
the Presidential election may he con-
troIled and determined by Congress, and
the people be deprived of their rights
under a Constitution TO choose Presi.
dent and Vice President of the United
States, as if Congress were to provide
BIZ Law that the votes OF none OF the
States should be received and counted il
cast for a candidate who differed in polit
zeal sentiment with q majority of
the two Houses. Such legislation
would at once be condemned by
the country as unconstitutional, revo-
lutionary and an usurpation OF
power, as no power exists in the Constr
tuition authorizing such q joint resolution
as the proposed law, the only reference
being that one would be more palpably
unconstitutional and revolutionary than
the other. One would rest upon the rad
ioal error that Congress has the right to
prescribe terms and conditions as TO the
right Of the people Of the States to cast
their votes for President and Vice Presi-
dent, and for the reasons thus indicated,
| am constrained to return the joint res.
oution to the Senate for such further ac-
ton thereon as Congress may deem ne
cessary.
fSigned] ANDREW JOHNSON.
The following is the resolution thus
vetoed and passed by the partisan two
thirds majority;
Resolced, etc, That none Of the States
whose inhabitants we're lately in rebel
lion shall be entitled TO be represented in
the electoral college for the choice Of
President and Vice President Of the
United States, nor shall any electoral
votes be received or counted from any
Of such States, unless at the time pre-
scribed by law for the choice Of electors,
the people Of such States, pursuant 10
the acts Of Congress in that behalf, shall
have. since the 4ih day Of March, 1861,
adopted q constitution Of State govern
ment under which State government
shall have been organized and shall be
in operation, and unless such elections
shall have been held under the authority
Of such constitution and government,
and such State shall also become en-
titled TO representation in Congress,
pursuant 10 the set Of Congress in that
behalf
With reference 10 this resolution, the
Chicago Times comments as follows:
The States likely 10 be affected hy The
enforcement Of this Revolutionary edlci
are Virgins. Mississippi and Texas In
All others. the hlack-and-tan dc>sments
called constitutions have been ratified BY
that small minority Of the inhabitants
sho oOuposs the Haioriiy Of these