Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-07-28
Veto Of the Electoral College
 Resolution.


 The following is the concluding por- ton of the Presidents message, vetoing the electoral college resolution, sent i'll on the 2ofh inst. It has, however, passed the Senate by 45 to 8, and the House by l34 to S6:
 The true meaning of the resolution is that no State, a portion of whose in- habitants were engaged in the rebellion shall be permitted to participate in the Presidential election, except on the terms and conditions prescribed in the resolution. Assuming this to be the true construction of the resolution, this inquiry becomes pertinent: May those Northern States, a portion of whose inhabitants were actually in re- bellion, be prevented, at the discretion of Congress, from having their electo- ral votes counted? It is well known that portion of the inhabitants of the States of New York and Virginia were alike engaged in rebellion, and it is equally we'll known that Virginia, as well as New York, was at all times during the war, recognized ny the Fed eral Government as a State in the un- ! ion, so clearly so that upon the termln- ation of hostilities it was not even deemed necessary for her restoration that Provisional Governor should be appointed; yet, according to this Jolnt resolution, the people of Virginia, un- less they comply with the. terms 1t pre- scribcs, are denied the right of voting l for President and Vice President while the people ofNew fork portion ! of the inhabitants ofwhich State were also in rebellion, are permitted to have their electoral vote counted without un- dergoing the process of freconstruction prescribed for Virginia. New York is no more State than Virginia, and lone is as much entitled to be represent ed in the electoral college as the other. If Congress has the right to deprive Virginia 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 be controlled and determined by Con gress, and the people be deprived of their rights under Constitution to choose President and Vice President of the United States, as if Congress were to provide by law that the votes of none of the States should be receiv- 1 ed and counted if cast for candidate who differed in political sentiment with a majority of the two houses Such legislation would at once be con demned by the country as unconstitu- tional, revolutionary and an usurpation | of power, as no power exists ill the Constitution authorizing such a joint 1 resolution as the proposed law, the on- ] ly reference being that one would be palpably unconstitutional and revolu- tionary than the other. One would rest upon the radical error that Con- 1 gress has the right to prescribe terms and conditions as to the rights of the people of the States to cast their votes l for President and Vice President, and 1 for the reasons thus indicated, am constrained to return the joint resolu- ton to the Senate for such further ac- ton thereon as Congress may deem I necessary.
 | TSiencd1 ANDREW JOHNSON The following is the resolution ve- toed and passed by the partizan vote 1 given above: 1 RESOLVED, ETC., That none of the 1 States whose inhabitants were lately l in rebellion shall be entitled to be rep 1 resented in the electoral college for the choice of President and Vice Pres ident of the United States, nor shall any electoral votes be receiv- ed or counted from any of such States unless at the time prescribed by law 1 for the choice of electors, the people of such States, pursuant to the acts oi Congress in that behalf, shall have, since the 4th day of March, 1867, adopt l ed constitution of Stato governm ol'
 under which State government shall have been organized and shall be in | operation, and unless such elections 1 shall have been held under the author | ity of such constitution and govern I ment, and such State shall also become entitled to representation in Congress pursuant to the act of Congress II
 that behalf.
 It win be seen from the reading 0 I the resolution that such States as hay,
 adopted constitution, have an organ
 ized State government in operation
 and are represented in Congress, vii
 be entitled to cast their votes in tn
 electoral college. This will includ
 seven of the Southern States, onl.
 leaving out Mississippi, Virginia ant
 Texas. Mississippi has already passe'
 against the constitution, and as no pro
 vision was made for the reassemblin!
 of the convention in case of its defeat
 it is very likely that nothing will b
 done with her until after the election
 The constitutions to be submitted b.
 the, State conventions of Virginia an'
 Texas have not yet been voted upon
 but if ratified, well and good; if moi
 their votes must not go against Grant
 Their purposes in this resolution ar
 yisible.enough. If "a State ratifies suc
 constitution as is submitted, (whicl
 is always written before its convention
 assembles) and returns nothing bu carpet-bag scalawags of nigger-rcgi
 ment fame, without home, ant
 "whose occupations are gonc," thel
 they can count on the votes of tha
 State for Grant. But where there ar
 enough of true men to put their fee upon these ,odious instruments, the
 are too fearful of the result, even whel
 they have all the advantages of dis
 franchisemcnt and unfair registration
 to allow vote. The people of thi
 country are not so blind but what the,
 can see the ends aimed at by thes
 wicked and government-destroyinl
 politicians, and they will wait no lon ger than next November to give then 1 4I A aa..; l.lo rab,Ea fhau daaerVe.a ..