On the 10th of February (1866) it was sent to the President for his signature. In a Message, dated the 19th of February, the President put
The veto
upon it.
For this once the President's arguments convinced enough of the Senators to deprive the bill of the support of the necessary majority
The veto
effective.
On the evening of the 22d of February, three days after his successful veto, the President made a most important speech from the steps of the
The President's 22d
of February speech.
As a part of the same plan for securing the civil rights of the freedmen against the hostile legislation of the President's