Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-08-19
VETO MEsSAGE!
To Tic House Representatives

inc Necessity Oi the House OF RCDrCSeu
ta'iVes, with my objections, bill entitled "An act TO
provide revenue from imports, and TO change and
modify existing laws imposing duties on imports aud
Tor other purposes" Nothing can he more painful TO
any Individual called upon to perform the chief Exec
utve duties under our limited Constitution than to be
constrained to withhold his assent from IN important
measure adopted by the Legislature; yet he would
neither fulfil the high purposes of his station nor CON
suit the true interests, or the solemn i'll of the Peo-
pie, the common constituents of both branches of the
Government by yielding his well considered most
deeply fixed, aud repeatedly declared opinions on
matters OF great public concernment to those of co.
ordinate Department, without requesting that Depart
ment seriously to re-examno the subject Of their diff
ference.
The exercise Of some independence of Judgment in
regard To all acts OF legislation, is plainly implied in
duty-it beGones peculiarly solemn and imperative
one, when the subjects passed upon by Congress
happen TO involve as in the resentnstancc the most
momenons issues, to affect variously the various parts
OF great country and to have given rise in all quar-
tiers TO such conflict ef opinion, render it i'm.
possible 10 conjecture, with any certainty on which
SHE the majority really IL. Surely, if the pause for
reflection, Intended by the wise authors of the const-
tution by referring the subject back to Congress for
re consideration be ever cXpodent and necessary it
ispreclsely such case as the present
On the subject of distributing the proceeds of the
SHES Of the public lands in the existing state of the
finances, 1t has been my duty to make known my
settled CONVICTIONS OF various occasions during the
present session Of Congress. At the opening of the
extra session, upward of twelve months aao Sharing
fully IN the general hope of returning prosperity and
t.e!t, rCcOmncnded such distributions but that
REQ 'nnsndatlon was even heneXpressly coupled with
The 'dltlon that the duties imports should not
exceed J!e rate OF ~ per cent provided by the
pro mise act Of 1873.
These hopes we're not little cncouraced and these
views strengthened by the roporo Of Mr.. Ewing, then
Secretary oi the Treasury which was shortly there
alter LAID before Congress, in which he recommended
the imposition Of duties at the rate of 20 per cent Gd
ali free articles with
and stated, IF this measure be adopted there will be-
received III the Treasury from customs in the last
quarter of the present year, 5ll s. 800 000 in all
of the year lSl2, about S22 5UO 900; and in the vear
1913, after the ual reduction under the act OF March
g 1885, about So 500 000;n and adds 1T is believed
that after the heavy expenditures required by the pub
lie service in he present year shall have been provi
def for, the revenue which will accrue from tina, or
nearly proxnl!e rate OF duty, will be sufficient TO
deiruy the expenses of the Governments and leave n
surplus 10 be annually applied to the gradual pay
men Of The national debt, leaving the proceeds of
The Pu5hc lands TO be disposed Of Congress shall
see fit
was mos, happy that Congress at the time, SEEM
cd entirely to concur III the recommendations of the
Executive, and anticipating the correctness of the
Secrearys CONCLUSIONS and in view ofan actual sur
plus, passed the distribution act OF the 18th September
last, wisely limiting lis operation by two conditions
having reference both OF thcn to possible state of
the reasury, and 10 the paramount necessities of the
public service.
Ii ordained that, "ifa any time during the exist
cnce OF that act there should be an imposition of du-
ties OH the inIposls inconsistent with the provision
OF the act ofthe Sd March, 1888 and beyond the rate
OF duties fixed by thai act TO wit 20 per cent on the
value of such imports or any of them then The d. ,r
button should be suspended and should continue 50
suspended, until that cause be removed" By a pre-
yiois clause it had in like spirit of wise and eau
tons patriotism yded for another case In which
all are even agreed that the proceeds of the sales
of the public lands should be used for the defence of
the country 1t was enacted that the act should CON
time and be in force until otherwise provided bv law
unless the United States should become involved in
war with any foreign power, in which event. from
the commencement of hostlles, the act should be
suspended until the cessation OF hostilies
Not long after the opening of the present session
OF Congress the unprecedented and extraordinary
daicuItIes that have recently embarrassed the fiDan
ces of tile country began TO assume serious asDcct
Ii soon became quite evident that the homes under
which the act of An September was pated and which
II one il,s fed il in the ewes either of CONGRESS VIVA
mposed or of the Executive who approved the first
OF the Two conditions inst rec,ed were not destined
TO be fulfilled. Under the pressure, therefore Of he
umbarrassments which had thus Unexpectedly arts.
en- il apnear, to me that the course TO he nnrsnrd
Ind been clearly marked ont for the Coverumen, b,
Thai oct i,solf
iThe r,ndiiion contcmnlote5 in it. as roon;rinp a
srsn.ns;on of ts onprotinn had occurred II ocn,,a