Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-09-13
Nj ESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
RETURNING, WITH HIS OBJECTIONS, THE pILL
" To prOride for The better collection, safe keeping
aud disbursement II the public repsaue, by means
Of Cooperation, 10 be styled the Fiscal Corpora
iion Of the United S!aies. "
10 The House Of Representatives. Of the u. States:
1t is with extreme regret that feel myself CON
strained by tho duty faithfully TO the Office
OF President OF the United States, and to the bes:
of my ability "Io pTeScrVe protect, and defend the
Constitution Of the United States" return to the
House, in which It originated, the bill $50 provide
for the better collection, safe keeping, and dsburse
mcnt OF the public revenue, by means OF corpo-
ration TO he styled the Fiscal Corporation of the
United States" with my written objections.
In my message sent to the Senate on the 10th day
Of August last, returning the bill ''to incorporate
the subscribers to the Fiscal Bank of the United
Stalcsn / distinctly declared that my own opinon
had been uniformly proclaimed 10 be against the
exercise "of the power Of Congress TO create
National Bank to operate per Sc over the Union :"
aud, entertaining that opinion, my main objection
u that bill was used upon the highest moral and
religious obligations Of conscience and the COnstiiu-
ton ! readily admit, that whilst the qualified
VETO with which the Chief Magistrate IS invested
should be regarded, and was intended by the wise
men who made 1t part Of the Constitution, rs a
grcat conservative principle Of system, without
The exercise Of which, important occasions,
mere representative majority might urge the 90
yernment m It's legislation beyond the limits fixed
by its framors or might exert its Just powers too
hastily opPressyey yet il Is a power which
ought TO be most cautiously eNerIed, and pcrhu Us
never, except IN case cminenty involving the
public interest, or one ~ which the oath Of the Pre-
sldent acting under his convictions both men,a and
moral, ImpcrIOus.Y requires its exercise. In such
he has no alternative. lie must either exert the
negative power entrusted to hlm by the Constitu.
ton chiefly for It's own preservation, protection, and
defence, or commit ar act Of gross moral turpItude.
Mere regard TO the will Of maorty must not In
a constitutional republic like ours control this sa.
cred and solemn duIy Of a officer. The
Constitution Itself regard and cherish as the EN-.
bodied and written will Of the whole People Of the
United States. IL is their fixed and Fundamental
law, which they unanimously prescribe to the pub
llc iunctIonaues-thCIr mere trustees and servants
This, their will and the law which they have Civ
en- us as the rule Of our action, has no guard, no
guaranty OF preservation, protection, and defence
bat the Oaths which II prescrDes To the public off
GERS, the sanciily with which they shall feglousy
observe those Olths, and the patriotism with which
the people shall shield IL by their own sovereign
will which has made the Constitution suprCme.-
J. must be eXertCd against lhc will Of q mere repre-
sentative majority or not at all. IL IS alone 10 pur-
Suincc Oi that will that any measure reach the
President; and to say that because a maIorty In
Congress have passed n bill the President should
therefore sanction %, is 70 nbfOgate the power alto
gother, and 10 render It's insertion IN the Cons u.
ton a work Of absolute superCrOgaton The duty
selves from lIn this case ] admit unlnlenuOnaJ
change or IDlractlOn by majority ~ Congress-
And In that light alone do ! regard the cOnsttu-
tonlI duty which now most reluctantly discharge.
is this bill, now presented for my approval %
disupprovl, such bill as have already declared
could not receive my sanction7 Is II such bill as
calls for the exercise Of the negative power under
the Constitution Does t violate the Constitution
Iy creating National Bank 10 operate per g. Oyei
Gee Union3 rs title, in the first place. describes %.
general character. 10 is can act TO provide Tor tho
l..ttrr collection, saio-koeping, and disbursement
a. the public fcvcoIo, by means Of a corporation To
ic styled the Fiscal Corporation Of The United
States" In syc, then, it's plainly nationg. ~ rs
character. Us powsn, functions, md duties orc
iipsc which psriain 70 the Collecting, keeping, and
81 sbtvging The public revenue. The means by
which these nrc 10 bc oNcreI is corporation 10 be
styled the Fiseai Corporation Of the Uaii,d Stats.
lois corporation created by TIC Congress Of the
l.utrJ States, Units character Of "a National Istg.
Ifrurr for the whole Union 70 perform he fiscal
TIfp1scs, meet The fiscal wants aud Cy grucC' SUP.
ply the fiscal uses and exert the fiscal agencies o.
the Treasury Of the United States Such Is Iis owl
description Of itself. DO Us provisions c0ntradc
Ii8 ut0 They do not II is true that, Ivy its hts
section, o. provides that u shalt be established in th
Distinct n' Columbia but the amount ~ us capita
the manner ~ which US stock Is 10 be Subscribe,
iHr and hed-thc persons and bodies, corporate on,
po'itc, by whom bus stock may be hcld-the up
pointmcut Of ils directors, bni their powers ant
duties Its fundamental articles, especially that Il
es.ubli,h agencies IN any part Of the Union-th
co portte pJwofs and business Of such agencies
thr prohibition ~ Congress 10 establish any oihC
srtpopuon With similar powers ior twenty ytar
riui express reservation ~ the same clause to ma