The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-13
SELF-GOVERNMENT.

The Governor OF Virginia Vetoes the
Bill Dfsenfranchising tho Municipal
Voters OF Petersburg-Cons
Reasons for His Action-The Dangers
OF Precedent OF Party Legislative
RICHMOND, Va, March IL, 1874.
Governor Kemper to-day returned to the Senate,
with his objections. ''the bill to provide new
charter Tor the city petersburg" which gave the
control and appointment of all the city officials,
including those of the police the Fire Department
and all others, to q Board to be appointed
by the Circuit Judge OF the city. Its main
object was to take from the majority
OF voters, who are negroes and non-taxpayers the
government Of the city and place 1t in the hands
the whites, who are the property owners and bona
nde taxpayers
THE GOVERNORS REASONS FOR HIS ACTION
The Governor, after stating his constitutional
reasons for the veto, and alter referring to the
fundamental principles OF free government, in.
GLIDING the Virginia bill of rights, which declares
that ali republican governments derive their power
from the consent OF the governed, says:-
It Is submitted that II this bill became law Virginia
70 one Q, her mos. important muncipalises the great
ana st M pfsSs
+ especially that such LAT ,hSS
colored men COMPOSE majority Of its saff asists In
view OF the fundamental conditions on which Virginia
Swp r. and " nj Of equal
could not a 70 sasroas
will and confidence now daily developing between the
4soa and and wsd as s ns OF e
L WS Of ss to Are Seg m
torn BY n eSds OF an
rePe the approach Of the immigraton and capital to
federal interference in !. our domestic affairs
voters Petersburg composed OF men Who are gnor-
ant and unit 10 rule and that it IS duty to withdraw
and enrust its and intelligence let it be re-
The IN its own
nnwophs q Win dis
Sss vs v
with 6ass danger MS n the D1 the
sciSed BY such @easare' should come Into the the
Of the they might in the
virtue and ntslligence to reside only within their
Hw now S might
hut to % y te the ana Sa
couaes hs 10 I'VE Hcn
that it may subver the principles OF liberty WILL They
"nLoopY INSTRUCTIONS"
heinz taught 9r S Ss he
able adherence to fundamental principle. Applying the
the abiest political writer's of "Let
exhor and conjure you never to suffer INVASION Of
your political constitution however minute the instance
may appear to pass by without determined persever
What yesterday was fact, to-day is doctrine"
In all LEGISLATION is necessary to be mindful the fact
that the are now so unalteraby Incorporated
together the body polite that discrimination
be made directly remotely, against either without
imperng the rights and the of both, without
INFRINGING ORGANIC LAW.
In recent inaugural message the following words
addressed to the General Assembly, Is not
doubted people of Petersburg suffering from
misgovernment that incapable men are TO be found
among their city officials but It Is believed that other
and a. APPROPRIATE corrections :. can be devised
ges,ei that amendments of the charter Of that
its taxation, expenditures and debt within proper
limits and the question Is submitted as worthy OF con-
sheraton Whether not general law may be applied
to Gil cities and owns which would prescribe such rules
and tests integrity and efficiency the
parts of all their offcials' Il Is nevertheless,
submitted that the rejection of the pending bill
is necessary to the best interests Of Petersburg;
entail endless local animostes and troubles
that would rend the vits that city, 1t is inferred
that many OF the most important features o.! the bill
were but hastily considered by the General Assembly,
and that mature elaboration will lead TO its
rejection by the controlling members of all
regard, if my objections are to be considered
and reproached, II political friends shall become
Toes and as such besirt Official lie the ana
II the pathway OF duty shall be lighted with blaze of
burning eigies nevertheless shall tread II with
uDialtering step TO the end
An effort will be maze to pass the bill over the
Veto but II Is believed L. VIII fail.