AMERICA.

Grey River Argus, Issue 75, 5 July 1866, Page 3

AMERICA.

President Johnson had sent a message to the Senate vetoing the Civil Eights 'Bill. He arsrues.tliat it is unconstitutional, unnecessary, ' and ' anomalous in its : character j and would .override .the, rights of the State as reserved in their legislatures and judicial tribunals.; He adds :— > "The grave question presents itself whether, where eleven States are not '. represented in Congress, it -Is a sound ip6licy to make the whole colored pbjmlaI tion, and other excepted classes^ citizens of the United States.. Can it reasonably be supposed that four millions of negroes who have just emerged" from, slavery possess the necessary puaMcations entitling them to all the privileges of citizenship^ while intelligeni; foreigners undergo five :year3 probation before becoming citizens? The details of the -bill are fraught with evil. The distinction of race and color is made to operate in favor of; the. colored against the white race.. The General Government " by this Bill absorbs" and assumes powers .which, if j acquiesced in, would destroy the Federative system of limited powers, and break, down the bar-' .tiers preserving the rights of the States ; it is another stroke towards centralisation and Sthe concentration of the legislative •power in the national -Government. The tendency of the Bill is to resusucitate the spirit of rebellion, and arrest the progress of those influences which are drawingmore closely round the States the bonds of union and ; p eace. I fully recognise the 'obligation to ' defend and - protect the negroes, wherever and whenever necessary, to the fullextent of .the Constitution, and will co-operate with ' Congress' in any measxires necessary for the preservation of 'the civil rights of freedom, as well as: of all persons in the United States, by judicial process and under equal and impartial laws, conformably with the Constitution; ■'•■' - : Advices from New York to the evening of April 7, bring the following important items of intelligence •—^ : "The Senate had passed the Civil Eights Bill: over the President's veto, by a vote of 33 to 15, and the House of EepS resentatives by 122 to 41 votes. . The Bill is now law. An animated and. excited debate occurred previous to the passing of the Bill. Mr Saulisbury declared that its enforcement would lead to. war, blobdshead, and disunion. ; A mass meeting has been held at Washington emphatically endoremg President Johnson's policy. " Senator Lane had introduced resolutions in the Senate for the admission of Southern members xipon certain tions. He spoke: in favor of the Presidents policy, and declared that;;theEepublican party was crumbling to pieces^ Every day's postponement, of i the admis r sion of Southern members insured, the destruction of the Eepublican party. ■':• " President Johnson has sent a message to Congress, recommending the modification of the Test Oath of 1862, and also an appropriation for the owners of the British ship Magicienne, which was Vptured as a. blockade, runner.— -The on Foreign Affairs have instructed the chainrian to report the resolution to send a fleet to the fishing grounds.. Mr Seward is said toapprbve . they resolution, which is regarded as ;a ; precautionary measture. ; ■ " President Johnson has released Cap-^ tain Semmes under his original paroles" --v : The Governmentls said to have: issued orders to prepare a flying squadron, for duty on the British North American •rcoast. The various reasons assigned for this are, the assembling of .the British West /India fleet' at Halifax, the Fenian movements, arid the- effect upon the American fisheries of the termination of the reciprocity treaty. The subject of ex-President Davrs's confinement has been again mooted. The; Hoiise of Eepresentatives has instructed j the judiciary committee to .inqiiire" if .there is probable cause ..to believe that ifeßayis^ and others were implicated in ■ the assassmatiej^p^President Lincoln, or are guilty of treason^'"anTtyaJf;- .so, what measures are necessary to bring^iineijSiba* a speedy trial. Rumors were current that; Mr Davis will be released on parole. Fears are entertained that he will not survive tlirough. the summer unless released from confinement.