The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-06-30
Veto of the Arkansas Bill.
III. Hale.

On the Goth. the President sent 10 Congress
his veto message Of the Bill to admit the State
OF Arkansas under the Reconstruction Acts
following il An abstract of the Presidents rea-
-ons for vetoing the Bill
The approval Of this bin would be en- a,lm;s-
e;on that the act more efficiently governing the
rebel States, and the acts supplementary there
to, were proper and constitutional, whereas the
President opinion is unchanged in this respect,
but rather strengthened By the results attending
their execution. IfArkanSas Is not State, this
bill don't admit her. If she is State, no legis-
lation is necessary to her representation il Con
gress. Each House, under the Constitution,
Judges Of the election returns and qualifications
Of IFS own members, aud nothing is necessary to
restore Arkansas but tie decision by each House,
Of the eligibility of those presenting credentials
This is the plain ard simple plan of the Consti-
tuition. Had it been adopted in 1865, instead of
legislation of doubtful constiutionality, and,
therefore unwlse and dangerous, restoration would
long since have been accomplished
The President again recommends the adoption
nj the Constitutional plan. ! he terms proposed
scarcely applicable to Territory; and GER
tainly not to a State, which has occupied place
in the Union over quarter of Il century
The President is unable to find authority for
the conditions of the bill in the Federal Consti-
tuition. The elective franchise is reserved by
the Constitution to the States themselves The
bill fails to provide how Arkansas shall signify
her acceptance of the fundamental conditions.
does it prescribe penalties for their nullifca-
ton. 1t is seriously questioned whether the
Constitution has been ratified according to the
law assumed to be 10 70: &c before its adoption.
The Constitution restricts the franchise on its
ratification, by tests unknown in the Reconstruct
tlon acts--anOng them the acceptance of the
political and civil rights of all men
1T Is we'll known that large portion, if not a
large ina ority, of the electors don't accept this
test, and, ii applied to voters North, there is
reason to believe that many of them would re-
main away from the polls, rather than comply
with its degrading conditions The President
concludes:
SHOULD the people of Arkansas therefore de-
string to regulate the elective franchise so as to
make it conform to the Constitutions Of a large
proportion Of he States of the North and " est,
modify the provisions referred to in the funda-
mental condition what is to be the consequence!
Is it intended that a den al of representation
ahai follow, and, if so, may we not dread at some
future day, recurrence of the troubles which
have So long agitated the country? Would IT
not be the part of wisdom to take for our guide
the Federal Constitution, rather than resort to
measures which look only to the present, and
which may. in few years renew. in an accra
waited form, the strife and bitterness caused hv
the Legislation which has proved to be ill.timcd
and unfortunate -
THE bill admitting the other States has be-
rome 4 law BY not being also PASSED over the
Presidents veto