Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-06-25

The Last Veto.
The President, in his veto message on
the Arkansas hill, urges the same view
that is taken by all the opponents Of re.
construction upon u loyal basis, and as.
sumes that the government has no right
10 compel sovereign States to destroy
slavery a. measure of sclf-protection
and to preserve the nations life The
spirit is plainly manifested that, if he
had it in his power, all the fruits Of the
war should be sacrificed to the absurd
doctrine Of State Rights, The position
taken is obsolete that nation has no
right TO defend and protect itself. and
those in instruction have right e. push
onward in the path OF treason and yet,
Mr.. johnson thus argues in his veto mes
sage. His last veto is huta repetition Of
his other vetocS and has no point, only
as showing his persistence in attempts to
reitcratc already refutcd falhcies An
his arguments are based upon the doctrine
that the rebellion in no way compromised
the position nor impaired the rights Of the
States lately in rebellion, and that their
status was in no respect changed lv trra-
son, ana that they have ever had the right
10 representation in Congress. without
any conditions, even with the blood Of
hundreds Of thousands Of Union men up.
on their garments; and hi, is the theory
maintained by the most unrcpcntant
traitor, either North or South
The President sent the following mes
sage to Congress on Saturday:
To he Honse of Representatives. Il re-
turn without my signature bill entitled
AN act to admit the State Of Arkansas
to representation in Congress" The APP
prevail of this bin would be an admission
on the part of the Executive that the
Act for the more efficient government of
the rebel States passed March ,, 1867,
and the acts supplemental thereto were
proper and constitutional. Ny opinion,
however, in reference TO those measures,
has undergone no change; but, on the
contrary, has been strengthened by the
results which have attended their exccu.
ton. Even were this not the case, | could
not consent To bill which is based upon
the assumption, either that 10y an act of
rebellion by portion of its people the
State of Arkansas seeded from the Mon,
or that Congress may tits pleasure oxpcl
or exclude State from the Union or in
terrupt its relations with the government
by arbitrarily depriying it Of representa-
ton in the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatiyes. If Arkansas is State not in
the Union, this bill does not admit it as a
State into the Union. II, ON the other
hand, Arkansas is a State in the Union,
no legislation is necessary to declare il
entitled to representation in Congress as
one of the States of the MON The
Constitution already declares that each
State shall have at least one representa-
tive" that the Senate shall be com
posed of two Senators from each State" {,
that mo State. without its consent. shall
be deprived of its equal suffrage III the
Senate" That instrument also makes
each House the Judge of the election re-
turns and qualifications of it, own mem
bers, and, therefore, all that i, now nee
essary to restore Arkansas in all its
constitutional relations to the govern
mcnt is decision by each House up
on eligibility Of those who, upon pre-
senting their credentials, claim seats
i'll the respective houses Of Congress,
This is the plain and simple plan Of
the constitution, and believing that. had
it been pursued WHEN Congress AZ
sembled in the month 81 December. 1865.
the restoration Of the Stat,c would ln-
since have been completed, | once again
earnestly recommend that it be- adopted
by each House in preference to lcgi, alton
which | respectfully submit is not only of
a doubtful constitutIonality. and there
fore unwise and dangerous ;ls precedent,
but is unnecessary, not 50 effective in it,
operation as the mode prescribed by the
constitution, involve, additional delay,
and from its term, must be taken rather