Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-07-08
Veto of the Provisional I IL
riff Bill.

States this day received.
Objection was made by Mr.. Andrews
of Kentucky, but not being persisted
in
The message was read by the Clerk
as follows:
WASHINGTON, June 90, lS42.
To the House of Representatives.:
lrelurn the bill which originated
in the House Of Representatives, entitled
Gan act TO extend fora limited perioc
the present laws for laying and collect
ing duties on imports" with the follow
ing objections:
1t Suspends, in other words. abrogates
for the time, the provision Of the act OF
1888, commonly called the "cOmpromisa
act" The only ground on which this
departure from the solemn adjustment
Of great and agitating question seems
to have been regarded as expedent is
the alleged necessity OF establishing, by
legislative enaclmeuts, rules and regu
latlons for assessing the duties to be Ie
Wed on imports, after the Both June,
according 10 the home valuation; and
yet the bill expressly provides that "if
before the LIST Of August there be no
further legislation upoC the subject, the
laws for laying and collecting duties
shall be the same as though this act had
not been passed." n other words, that
the act OF 1888, imperfect as it 10 con
sidered, shall in tba; case continue TO be,
and 10 be executed, under such ruIes
and regulations as previous statutes had
prescribed, or had enabled the Execu'
tive Department TO prescribe for that
purpose, leaving the supposed chasm in
the revenue laws just as it was before.
| am certainly far from being dispo.
sed to deny that additional Legislation
upon the subject is very desirable; on
the contrary. the necessity as well as
difficulties Of establishing uniformity in
tho appraise ments TO be made in con-
formly with the true intention Of that
act was brought to the notice OF Con-
gress in my message 10 Congress al the
opening Of its present session. But,
however sensible | may be Of the EN-
barrassmen,s to which the Executive
in the absence Of all aid from the suBe- =
rior wisdom OF the Legislature, will be
liable, in the enforcement Of the existing
laws, | have not, with the sincerest wish
to acqulcsce in its expressed will, been
able to persuade myself that the exigen.
cy OF the occasion is so great as to U s.
tlfy me in signing the bill in question,
with my present views Of its character
and effects. The existing laws, as an
advised, are sufficient to authorize anC
enable the collecting officers, under the
directions Of the Secretary Of the Trea
to levy the duties imposed by the
act of 1888
That act was passed under peculiar
circumstances, to which it is not neces.
sary that ! should do more than barely
aIlude. Whatever may be, in theory.
its character, have always regarded i
as importing the highest moral obiga-
ton. 1t has now existed for nico years
unchanged in any essential particular
with as general acquiescence, it is be-
loved, Of The whole country, as tha
country has ever manifested for any o
her wisely established institutions |
has ensured to il the repose which al
ways flows from timely, wise, and mod
crate counsels--a repose tho more
striking because Of the long and angry
agDalloOs which preceded it. This sa
Iutary lew procIams, in express terms
the principle which, while it led to the
abandonment Of a scheme Of indirect
taxation founded on false basis, and
pushed 10 dangerous excess, jusiifes any
enlargement Of duties that may be call.
cd for by tho real exigencies OF tho pub.
lic service. 1t provides "Ihnt duties
shall be laid for the purpose Of raising
suth revenue as may be necessary 10 an
economical administration OF tho Gov
ernment" II is therefore in the power
OF Congress 10 lay puties rs high as its
discretion may dictate, for the ntcossa
ry uses Of the Government. without in.
fringjOg upon the objects Of the act of
1888 do not doubt that the exigen
Ces Of the Government do require an
increase Of the tariff Of durics above 90
per cent and as IIuIe doub' that Con
gress NAV, above as well as below that
rate, so discriminate as to give nclden
tal protection to manufacturing INDUS
trv--thus to make the burdens which
it is compelled to impose upon the Peo-
PIE, for the purposes Of Government.
productive Of o double benefit This
most ol the reasonable opponents of
protective duties seem willing TO con .
cede; and, If we may judge from the
manifestations of public opinion in all
quarters, this is all that the manuroc.
turing interests really require, am
hanby in the npTRuaginn that ihis d,,II d,