Veto Override

Senate Override

In the Senate of the United States, April 6, 1866.

The President of the United States having returned to the Senate, in which it originated, the bill entitled "An act to protect all persons in the United States in their civil rights, and furnish the means of their vindication," with his objections thereto, the Senate proceeded, in pursuance of the Constitution, to reconsider the same; and, Resolved, That the said bill do pass, two-thirds of the Senate agreeing to pass the same.

Attest:

J. W. FORNEY,
Secretary of the Senate.

House of Representatives Override

In the House of Representatives U. S. April 9th, 1866.

The House of Representatives having proceeded, in pursuance of the Constitution, to reconsider the bill entitled "An act to protect all persons in the United States in their civil rights, and furnish the means of their vindication," returned to the Senate by the President of the United States, with his objections, and sent by the Senate to the House of Representatives, with the message of the President returning the bill: Resolved, That the bill do pass, two-thirds of the House of Representatives agreeing to pass the same.

Attest:

EDWARD MCPHERSON, Clerk,

by CLINTON LLOYD, Chief Clerk.

Presidential Veto

Footnotes

  1. On April 9, 1866, the House of Representatives voted to override President Johnson’s veto. A vast majority of the House voted in favor of the override, with 122 votes for, 41 against, and 21 abstentions. It was a nearly unanimous vote for the well-represented Republican party, who had 132 seats compared the Democrats’ 41.

    — Zachary, Owl Eyes Editor

  2. On April 6, 1866, the Senate successfully voted to override President Johnson’s veto. It was a strong majority vote, with 33 for and 15 against the override. With 37 Republicans in the Senate, compared to the Democrats’ 9, the Republican party had an upper hand in the vote.

    — Zachary, Owl Eyes Editor

  3. The Senate quickly overrode President Johnson’s veto—just ten days after he made his decision. This quick turnaround on the part of the Senate, and the House of Representatives just three days later, indicates that Republican lawmakers knew that Johnson would object to the legislation. Earlier in 1866, Johnson had vetoed the second Freedmen’s Bureau Bill, which contained many provisions that eventually made their way into the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

    — Wesley, Owl Eyes Editor

  4. In the United States Senate, the Secretary of the Senate is an elected officer who manages the day-to-day operations of the governing body, such as opening and closing daily sessions as well as examining and signing acts that the Senate passes.

    — Wesley, Owl Eyes Editor

  5. John Weiss Forney (1817–1881) served as Secretary of the Senate from 1861 to 1868, during the presidencies of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. After Lincoln’s assassination, Forney supported Johnson for a time, but quickly joined fellow Republicans in Congress in opposing the Johnson’s regressive Reconstruction policies.

    — Wesley, Owl Eyes Editor

  6. The verb “to attest” means to affirm the truth, or certify the veracity of a claim. Similarly, the noun form means evidence, testimony, or witness. In the context of the veto override, “Attest” means that J. W. Forney has certified the Senate Override by formally signing the document and bearing witness to the vote in the Senate.

    — Wesley, Owl Eyes Editor