Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-06-20
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
VETO OF THE BILL FOR THE ADNIS
SION OF ARKANSAS.


The following Is the message of the President.
tfaaenitted 10 the House Of Representatives
this afternoosn, returning without his signature
the bill TO admit Arkaasas to representation In
Oengrese: ---ss----
To "a House "A Asps ssnta.spes II return
without my signature, q bill enutled .An act
70 admit the State of Arkansas to representa-.
Iion in Congress-
The approval cf this bill would be an ad.
mission, on the part of the Executive nat the
"Act for the more efficient eovermnent of the
rebel States,'' passed MarcA ed, 1861, and the
act supplementary thereto, were proper and
constitutional. My opinion, however, in REF
ence to those measures, has undergone %
chnrge, but, on the contrary, has been strength
eped by the'Eesults which have attended their
execution
Even were this not TIE case, could not con.
ssnt TO btli which is based upon the assu.np-
zion either that, by an act of rebellion of por-
ton Of itspeople, the State of Arkansas seeded
from the Union, or that Congress may, at its
pleasure expel or eXeMde State frcm the
Union, or interrupt its relations wr.h the
Government, by arbftrarlly deprivins il of
representation IN the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatiyes. If Arkausas is a State not in the
Union, this DILL does not admit II tate into
the Union.
II. On the other hand, Arkansas is State in
the Union, no legislation is necessary to de-
clare il entitled 40 representation an Congres
as one OF the States Of the Union" The Con-
stitution already declares thar ssesch State
shall have at lsCst one Representatives" that
from each State" and sthat no State. without
It's consent, shall be deprived of It's equal
M age in the Senate"
1nat instrument also makes each House athe
Judge Of the elections, returns. and qualifca-
lions Of its own members;'' and, therefore, ali
that Is now necessary 10 restore Arkansas in
all It's Constitutional relations to the Govern.
ment Is decision by each House upon the ELI
gloility of those who, presenting their creden.
uais, claim seats in the respective Houses of
Congress.
This is the plain and simple plan of the Con.
stirution, and believing that had it been pur.
sued when Congress assembled IN the mon b
OF December, 1-65, the restoration of the States
would long since have been completed, once
again earnestly recommend that it be adopted
by each House in preference to legislation
which, i respectfully submit, is not only of at
least dO0Stful c0nsitutionality and theI efore
unwlSe and dangerous as precedent bat
-sIhnecessary, not-so effective in its opera
ton, as the mode prescribeu by the Constitu.
uOn, iny yelves additional delay, and from ITS
terms may be taken rather as applicable to
Territory about 10 be admitted as one OF the
United States than to a State which has occu.
pied place in the Union tor upwards of a
quarter of a century.
titled and admitted 10 representation Ill Con.
gress as one of the States OF the Union upon
the following fundamental condition
That the constitution of Arkansas
shall never be so amended or changed as To
deprive any citizen or class Of Citizens of the
United STATES OF the right to vote, who are en- 4.
titled to vote by the constitution herein recog.
nized, except as punishment for such crimes
a are now felonies = CONNER law w hereof they
shall have been d6y convicted, under laws
equally applicable to all the Inhabitants of sald
Sate: Prorided, That any alteration Of said con.
stitution, prospective in its effect, may be made
in regard 10 the time and place Of residence OF
voters" .....--
Ihsye been unable TO find in tine Constitution
OF the United States any warrant for the exer.
cise of the authority thus claimed by Congress
In assuming the power TO impose a sfunda.
mental condition" upon State which has been
duly admitted into the Union ON an equal
footing with the original States IN all respects
whatever" " Congress asserts a right to enter
State as IT may Territory, and TO regulate
tne highest Prerosative Of free people-the
elective franchise.
>Tbi- question is reserved by the Constitu
ton to the States themselves, and to concede 10
Congress the power TO regulate this subject
would be 10 reverse the fundamental princi.
pies of the Republic. and TO place in the hands
o: the FEDERAL Government which is the creature
OF the States, the sovereignty which Justly be-
Longs to the States or the people, the true source
VI all political power, by whom our Federal
system was created, and TO whose will it is
suboI din&te.
The bill tails to provide in what manner the
State OF ArkaEsas Is TO signify It's acceptance
OF the '.fuadamental condition. which Con.
gress endsevors 10 make unalterable and IRE.
vocable Nor does II prescribe the penalty to
amend OF ct ange the particular portions Of the
Constitution which il is one Of the purposes of
the bill TO perpetuate, but leaves them in un ;
certainty and doubt as to the consequences Of
such action When the cIrcums tan ces. under
which this Constitution has been brought to
the attention OF Congress are con nsidered. II is
not unreasonable 10 suppose that efforts will be
made TO modify its provisions, and especially
those IN respect to which this measure uro
hibits any alter alton.
II is seriously questioned whether the Con-
stitutioh has been ratified by q majority of the
persons who, under the act Of March q 1857.
and the acts supplementary thereto, were en-.
Titled TO registration and to vote upon thar issu
Secuon ten OF the schedule provides that mo
person disqualifed from voting or register.
ing under this Constitution shall vote
Tor candidates for any once, nor shall
be permitted to vote for the ratification or
rejection OF the Constitution at the polls herein
authorized" Assumed to be IN force be fore its
adoption, in disregard of the law of Congress.
the Consultation undertakes to impose upon
the elector other and further conditions. The
fifth section Of the eighth arucle provides that
'all persons; before registering or voting"
must take and subscribe an oath, which, among
others, contains the following clause:
"That i accept the civil and political equal.
lily OF all men. and agree not to attempt TO de.
prive any person or persons, on account of
race, color, or previous condition, of any po.
enjoyed by any other class Of men,"
II is well known that q very large portion of
the electors in all the States II not large ma
lority Of all OF them, dc not believe in or ac-
cept the political equality Of Indians, Mongo.
lians, or negroes with the race to which thew
belong. If the voters in MANY Of the States OF
the North and West were required to take such
an oath as test Of their quail ication, there is
reason 10 believe that majority OF them would
remain from the polls rather than comply with
It's degrading conditions.
How far and to what extent this test oath pre-.
vented the registration Of those who were
qualified under the laws Of Congress, IL is not
possible 10 know; but that such was its effect
At boast difhcult TO overcome the smah and
doubtful majority in favor of this Consttu.
tion, there can be no reasonable doubt.
Should the people OF Arkansas therefore,
desiring 10 regulate the elective franchise so as
large proportion Of the States OF the North and
West modify the provisions referred to in the
" fundamental condition." what Is - be the
Is ii intended that n denial of
shall follow And, if so, NAV
we not dread, at some future day, a recurrence
of the troubles which have so long agitated the
countryl
Would il not be the part OF wisdom to take for
our guide the Federal Gems titution, rather than
resort TO measures which, looking only TO the
present, may in a few years renew, in an ag-
gravaied form, the strive and bitterness caused
by legislation which has proved to be 20 i'll.
umeo snd unfortunate ANDRRw JOHNSON.
washington, ID. z. June Goth. 1865.
by reference to tho proceedings in the
House IL Gin be seen that the hill was nassau
over the Presidents veto by q vote of yeas no