The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-07-04
13olitiral.
THE VETO.

THE VETO.
The following is the Message OF President
johnson yetomg the bill to admit the State OF
Arkansas to representation in Congress:
10 the House of Representatives; l-tt r.
return, without my signature, bill entitled
.An act 10 admit the State of arkansas to repre-
sentation in Congress-" To approve of this bill
would be an admission on the part of the Execu.
TIE that the act for the more efficient govern
xnent of the rebel States, passed March 2, 1867,
and the acts supplementary thereto, were proper
and constitutional Myopinion, however, in refer
sence to these measures has undergone no change,
but, ON the contrary, has been strengthened by
the results which have attended their execution
Even were this not the case, could not consent
to bill which is based on the assumption either
that by an act of rebellion of portion of its peo-
pie the State Of Arkansas seeded from the Union,
or that Congress may at its pleasure expel or ex-
eclude any state from the Union or interrupt its
relation with the Government, by arbitrarily de-
a,riying it of representation in the Senate and
House of Representatives. If Arkansas is not
state in the Union this bill does not admit it is
State. If, on the other hand, it is state in
the Union, no legislation is necessary to declare
1t entitled to representation in Congress as one
of the States of the Union. The Constitution
already declares each state shall have at least
one Representative that the Senate shall be
composed Of two Senators from each state that
no state, without its consent, shall be deprived
of ITS equal suffrage in that Senate, and also
unakes each House the Judge of the election, re.
turns and qualifications of its own members, and
therefore all that is now necessary to secure
Arkansas in all its constitutional relations to the
Government is decision by each House upon
the eligibility of those presenting their creden.
&so1c 30 1osx 90 aof
Congress. This is the plain and SIMPLE plan of
the Constitution, and believing that, had it been
pursued when Congress assembled in the month
of December. 1865. the restoration Of the States
would long since have been completed, once
earnestly recommended that it be adopted by each
House. In reference to the legislation, which,
respectfully submit, is not only of doubtful con-
stitutionality, and therefore unwise and danger
GUS as a precedent but unnecessary, and not so
effective in its operations as the mode prescribed
by the Constitution, it involves additional delay
and from its terms may be taken rather as appli.
cable to a territory about to be Admitted as one
of the United States than state which has
occupied place in the Union for upwards of o
quarter of century.
The bill declares that Arkansas is entitled and
admitted to Representation in Congress as one of
the States of the Union, on the following funda-
mental conditions: "That the Constitution of
Arkansas shall never be 80 amended or changed
as to deprive any citizen or class Of citizens Of
the United States of the right to vote, who are
entitled to vote by the Constitution herein recog.
z1ized, except for punishment for crimes that are
nsw felonies at common law, whereof they shall
have been CONVICTED, shall be applicable to all
people of said State; provided any alteration
of said Constitution, prospective in its effect,
may be made in regard to time and place of resi-
dence of voters"
have been unable to find in the Constitution
of the United States any warrant for the sxer.
else Of the authority thus claimed by Congress
In assuming the power to impose fundamental
conditions on state which has been duly admit
ted into the Union on equal footing with the
criminal states in all respects Congress asserts
"A right to enter state as it may territory, and
to regulate the highest prerogative of free peo-
.ple-the elective franchise. This question is re-
served by the Constitution to the states them
selves, and to give to Congress the power to reg
ulate this would be to reverse the fundamental
principle of the republic, and place in the hands
of the Federal Government feature of state
sovereignty which belongs to the states or the
people, the true source of all political power by
whom our Federal system was created, and to
whose will it is subordinate.
The bill fails to provide i'll what manner Ark
.ansas is to signify its acceptance OF the funda-
mental condition which Congress endeavors to
make unalterable and irrevocable; nor does it
prescribe the penalty to be imposed should the
people of the state amend change particular
portion OF the Constitution, which was one of
the purposes OF the bill to perpetuate, but as to
tahe consequences of such action it leaves them in
doubt and uncertainty. When the circumstances
under which this Constitution has been brought
TO the attention of Congress are considered it is
not unreasonable to suppose an effort to be made
so modify its provisions, especially those in re-
.spcct to which this measure prohibits any altera-
ton. 1t is seriously questioned whether the
,oonstition has been ratified by a majority of the
persons, who, under the act Of March 3d. 1865,
.aRd the acts supplementary thereto were emit
tled to registration and to vote on that issue.
Section 10 of the schedule provides that no
person disqualified from voting or registering
lnder this constitution shall vote for candidates
for any office or be allowed to vote for the ratif-
cation or lection OF the constitution. The polls
herein authorized are assumed to be in force be-.
Acre its adoption. In disregard Of the law of
:(Angress, the constitution undertakes to impose
upon electors other conditions. The fifth section
of the eighth article provides that all persons
before registering or voting must take or sub
;sccibe to an oath which, among other obligations,
contains this "That accept the civil and polit-
zeal equality Of all men, and agree not to attempt
80 deprive any person or persons, on account Of
race, color or previous condition, Of any political