Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-06-24
The Pres,dent,s@Yeto of the Arkansas
Bill.


WASHINGTON, June 2o.-1n his veto mes
sage of the Arkansas Admission bill, the Pres.
iient says:
The approval of this bill would bean ad-
mission that the act for the more efficient gov
ernment of the rebel States, and acts supple
meutaty thereto, were proper and constitu-
tional: whereas, the Presidents opnionis un
changed in this respect, but rather strength
ened by results attending their execution. If
arkansas is not State. this bill does not ad'
nit her il she is a State, no legislation is
necessary to ler representation in Congress.
Each House. under the Constitution, judges
the election returns and qualifications OF It's
members, and nothing is necessary to restore
Arkansas but q decision BY each House OF the
eligibility Of those presenting credentials.
This iy-a plan and simple plan Of the Cousti.
tuition, hnd it been adopted in 1865 instead Of
legislation OF doubtful co3Stitutionaiity. and
therefore unwisc and dangerous. restoration
would long since have Deea accomplished.
The President again recommends the adop-
ton of the Constitutional plan. The terms
proposed are scarcely applicable to q Terrific
r., and certainly not to State which has
had an accepted place in the Union for over
quarter OF century. The President is un-
able to Gad authority for the conditions of the
b il in the Federal Constitution. Tue elective
franchise is reserved by the Constitution to
the States themselves. The bill fails to pro-
vide how Arkansas shall siguiy its accep.
taace Of The fundamental conditions. nor does
i, prescribe penalties for their notification.
It is seriously questioned whether the Con.
s.itution has been ratified according to law,
and it assumed! to be in force before its adop-
tioa. The Arkansas Constitution restricted
franchise on lis ratification by tests unknown
il The Reconstruction Acts. Among them is
the acceptance OF political and civil rights Of
all men. 1t is we'll known that large por-
ton, if no; a large majority ofthe elect t,rS,
do not accept this test, and if applicd to vo-
ucrs North there is reason to believe many of
them wouid remain sway from the polls rath.
cr than to comply with its degrading condi
tions.
The President concludes:
Saonli Tie people Of Arkansas, therefore,
desiring 10 regulate the elective franchise SO
80 Ia make it conform to the Constitution Of
large proportion Of the States OF the North
and West, modify the provisions referred to
in The fundamental condition, what is to be
the consequence? Is it Intended that deni
81 of representation shall follow ?-and if SO,
may we not dread, at some future day, re-
Gun renee or the troubles which have SO long
as:tated the country? Would it not be the
part Of wisdom to take for our guide the
Federal Constitution rather than resort to
measures which, looking only to the present,
may in iew years renew, in an aggravated
form, the strife and bitterness C US; by leg
slation which has proved to be lit ned and
unfortunate.
The bill was. passed to day in tie House,
over the Presidents veto, ny o vote Of ITO
to q.
The Senate Lad not taken action on the
veto at last accounts.