The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-09-28
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR OF
LOUISIANA
VETO oFTHE NEGRO EQUALTTYBrLL.
Threats of the Negroes to Impeach Him.

bill. A perfect storm was raised by the
negro members when the veto message was
received in the Legislature. They de-
nounced what they termed his ingratitude
and treachery to them and the Radical
party.
The session of the House after the recep-
ton Of the veto was chiefly occupied BY
the negro members with denouncing and
threatening Governor Yarmouth with i'm
parchment. They repudiated him as no
longer member of the Radical party.
The white members of the Legislature
are confident Of sustaining the veto.
The following is the
VETO MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR.
To til, Honorable Speaker and Members Of
the House of Representatives
I return to the House an act to protect
all persons in their public and civil rights "
without my signature for the following rea-
sons-to wit,
The rights and privileges enunciated
in the first section of this bill and sought to
be enforced thereby are fully and explicitly
recognized and established in the Constitu-
ton of the State. Even foreigner not q
citizen has the same rights to travel and be
entertained as O citizen, and there is no.
thing in our jurisprudence which makes
any distinction on account Of race or color,
except 30 far as relates to slavery. The
organic law of the land gives to all persons
perfect equality of civil and political
rights, including the privilege Of enforcing
| these rights in the courts and employing all
the legal remedies which have heretofore
been found requisite to secure these rights
to all persons.
The means, however, proposed in the
| fourth section of the bill for enforcing these
rights are, in my Judgment, not merely
novel and unprecedented, but impractica-
BILE and pernicious. 1t seeks to make that
a crime which has never to my knowledge
been so considered in those communities
where the highest regard is paid to the per-
sonal rights of men. There is and always
ought to be broad line of demarcation
fixed between crime and the breach OF
obligations growing out of civil contracts !;
and we demoralize the public conscience,
and confuse its conceptions Of right and
wrong, when we seek to obliterate 80 evil
dent a distinction. Our statute books are
filed already with criminal laws that
are never enforced, and never will be
until public opinion rises to their respec-
tive level. The history of the world is
full of examples of this sort, where acts in
themselves not criminal have been vainly
declared, and in this way leYity of feel
ing in regard to real crimes produced.
We relapse into the legislation of @ less en-
lightened period when we try to convert an
act which is properly question OF civil
damages into on offence against the peace
and dignity of the State, and it ought to
be carefully borne in mind that we cannot
hope by Legislation to control quess:aps of
personal association, much less can we hope
to force on those who differ from us Our
views of what is humane, or courteous, OF
Christian like. Mutual forbearance, kind
ness, and the noble belief in the brother
hood of man must spring from higher
source han the fear of punishment. They
can never be forced to grow by pains and
penalties.
! Again, so far as railroads and steam
| boats are concerned, it must be borne IN
mind that the regulations of commerce be-
| tween the several States were wisely con-
| fded under the Constitution of the United
States to the national Congress. The OBJ
ject of this grant of power was clearly to
prevent the confusion which would arise
! from conflicting legislation on such subjects
| By the different contiguous States, and the
wisdom of the provision appears more clear
| " every day as the means of trapsporta-
ton are increased and improved. By the
second and third sections of this act no dis
tinction is clearly made between railroads
and steamboats, who's routes are wholly
| within this State and chose whose routes are
| beyond. Of course, criminal jurisdiction
cannot 20 beyond our State borders. In
this respect the act seems lmpolltlc, and
liable to produce unnecessary confusion
and litigation.
| For ex perimental legislation of this kind
for which no successful precedent can be
produced, more unfavorable occasion than
the present could hardly be imagined. In
the midst of most exciting political cam
paign, at time when the passions, ami
mosities, and resentments consequent upon
great war, and attendant upon all grea,
| and sudden changes Of affairs, are reused
to the highest pitch Of intensity, and WheI
the prejudices regarding race are intiamec
to the utmost, it is here proposed to enforce
the penal remedies of whatis practically class
| legislation and to maintain and confirm class
distinctions. The effect, in my judgment
of such an act would be to defeat rather thar
to promote the ends apparently had in view
by the author Of the bill. The barriers o.
race, instead of being thereby removed
would be increased in height and tirmnes'
and strength. So long as these barrier
are maintained so long will be deferred ths
era of peace, order, and prosperity OF the
State, to which mutual harmony and good
will are essential, and so long will the
rights of the lately enfranchised hrger II
condition of doubt and insecurity.
The prejudices upon which these bar
riers are founded have no foundation II
reason or nature, and will surely give way
to the softening influences Of time unles:
they are constantly fretted into activity.
In the meantime any person, colored al
well as white, is equslly secured by thu
Constitution in the enjoyment Of his polltl
cal and civil rights, and in his remedy to-
their infringement-the courts. TO al
alike the same rule obtains in national anc
State courts. The judges of the State court!
and the officers are all enabled to depend
upon all citizens alike, and colored anc
white alike constitute juries.
Those of the lately enfranchised who are
wise and rejecting will not ask for more
They will rather deprecate q kind of legis,
lation which, instead of advancing theil
present condition, only renders the enemies
of their race more bitter and determined
in their hostility and furnishes them wea.
pons with which to asgail the rights which
the colored men have already acquired.
in returning this bill without my sigma
ture. it is hardly necessary for me to say
| +h,t T eu nranaped an far aS lies in 10