The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-11
THE SECOND VETO.

/ prayed that there might be either concurrence
OF action between the coordinate branches of
the Government with reference 10 this highly
important question of the public finances and
currency, or postponement of the subject 10
more suspicious season. Congress, however,
discharged what they considered their duty, and
the President what he has considered his We
cannot doubt that both have acted according 10
the best lights before them, and from patriotic
desire to promote the good of the country
Nobody doubts that the finances and currency
OF the country greatly require improvement and
regulation How this requirement shall be met
has been, and unfortunately still is, the question
to be solved. The President is decided in his
convictions that Congress possesses no consti-
tutional right to create National Bank to ope-
rate per Sc over the Union. His views on this
point were distinctly stated in his first veto mes
sage and are repeated In this. So far as he is
concerned, therefore, National Bank is out of
the question. II will be vain ever again to APP
proach JoHN TYLER upon the point of constitu-
tionaity.
The bill to charter "FiscaI Corporation
does not, in the Presidents opinion, differ in
principle from the former one. The objections
therefore, which he entertained to the one, are
not at all removed by the other, but are increased
in number by points Of detail The objection
that the former permitted local discounts on pro-
missory notes, he does not regard as obviated
by changing the form, so to procure the same
discounts through bills Of exchange Local
discounts can be procured under both bills, and
both create a corporation to operate per Sc over
the Union. If he objects to one, therefore on
the ground that it is unauthorized by the Con-
sttution, the objection, in his judgment, applies
with equal cogency and justice to the other
Regarding this bill, as he did the other, as un-
warranted by the Constitution, he had no alter
native, as sworn officer, but TO interpose his
constitu tional negative, His remarks upon the
sanctity and responsibility Of the official oath,
are pertinent just and true. If the oath Of
public officer is not TO be regarded, of what use
is the oath2 Corrupt and dangerous indeed
must be that code of political morals, which re-
CARDS the public oath with levty and contempt
If there is to be no sense of moral responsible
ity in public men, what guaranty is there that
there will be stability safety and justice in the
administration of public trusts Z
The objections of detail stated by the Presi-
dent, and which it is unnecessary to repeat,
cannot fail to strike the best friends of the bill
with force. For our own part, dislike the
na.ne of the measure, ana tnar inc amount OF us
business, as well as profits is unlimited, is an
additional objection.
In stating that the defects to which the Pre-
lid ll,,l, L., 4 ~
law of the corporation, are irrerocdble" he
recognizes doctrine apparently adverse to that
of "RepeaL" which has been so warmly urged
in some quarters. This point will doubtless at
tract attention, though only mentioned, in the
message, incidentally.
There is one view of this matter touched up
on, with much feeling, by the President, to
which the attention of the American peo-
pie will be particularly called. When MIR.
| Tyler was summoned, in April last, to the Chief
Magistracy il was with emotions of mingled
| grief and surprise He found himself, without
a moments time for preparation, translated from
the simple occupation of a farmer in Virginia, to
the weighty and almost infinite cares of the Pre-
sidency of proud and mighty Empire. The
events of the period Immediately succeeding
his accession crowded thick and fast upon him.
| The whole country was excited by the Inaugu-
ration and the unexpected death of General
Harrison The confusion of the day necessar-
" invaded the Executive mansion. The city
was crowded with people--the Executive overrun
with visiters The Extra Session came, and
people and events crowded and hurried on
NJ I..r- 4
sibilites of this comprehensive Government,
an unheardof number of personal calls and inn
portunities with loud camors for reform on one
side, and pathetic appeals and circumstances on
the other, various important subjects before
Congress demanding his attention, all pressing
at once, were enough to overwhelm any com
mon man. Among other laws, defective and
impractcable $50 ADMITTEDLY Bank bill was pass
ed. All the acts of the Congress were review
ed by the President and approved by him, ex-
cept that The Bank bill was returned with
his objections stated in a clear and unequivocal
manner The discussion of the subject evinced
great differences of opinion, and it was admitted
that the people had not given any very clear ex-
preston of their will upon the subject. Seeing
'he suohg coh'ictohs vi the IIeslueDls IhiHu
against the constitutionality of National Bank
observing the unfavorableness Of the period to
any just and enduring reconcilement of opinion
on the subject, and being of the opinion that
Congress had passed laws Of a number and i'm
portance amply sufficient to justify the time
they had employed, and to commend them to
the applause of their constituents, anxiously
recommended an adjournment of this single