Impartial suffrage, as provided in the District of Columbia Suffrage
Bill, being a subject upon which the people had not yet spoken, the
Senate determined that it would be better not to risk the uncertainty
of passing the measure over the inevitable veto until the people
should have an opportunity of speaking at the ballot-box.

The President applied his veto to the Civil Rights Bill and the second
Freedmen's Bureau Bill, but a majority of more than the requisite
two-thirds placed these measures among the laws of the land. In the
House of Representatives, Mr. Raymond was the only Republican member
who voted to sustain the veto of the Civil Rights Bill. The temptation
to be friends of the President, in order to aid him in the
distribution of patronage, was very great with members of Congress,
and the wonder is that so many were able to reject it all, and adhere
to principles against which the Executive brought to bear all his
power of opposition.

On the adjournment of Congress in July, at the close of the first
session, the contest was still continued, though in another arena.
Members of Congress went to their several districts, submitted their
doings to their constituents, and took counsel of the people. The
President also traversed the States from the Atlantic to the
Mississippi. He made numerous speeches, and endeavored to popularize
his policy.

The people gave their verdict at the ballot-box in favor of Congress.
The reelection of Congress was the rejection of the President. The
ruin of the President's fortunes was shared by his followers. No
gentleman ever entered the House of Representatives with more _eclat_
than that with which Mr. Raymond took his seat as a member of the
Thirty-ninth Congress, but his constituents did not see proper to
elect him for a second term. Delano and Stillwell, of the West, were
left at home. Cowan, in the Senate, elected six years before as a
Republican, was superseded, and Doolittle was instructed by his
Legislature to resign.

The message of the President at the opening of the second session
displayed no disposition to yield to the people or to Congress. He
declared to a State delegation that waited on him that he was too old
to learn.

One of the first acts of Congress after reaessembling was to accept the
sanction of the people for impartial suffrage, and pass the District
Suffrage Bill over the President's veto. The President deemed it due
to his consistency to return