The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-30

VETO NO. w.


Honor to President Tyler! Under the potent in
Auence of his veto, another " bill Of denominations
has been strangled and the country saved from the
injustice of protective tariff, coupled with the
worse, and at this time more injurious measure Of
distribution. We take great pleasure in copying his
message to-day, returning the bill to provide re-
venue from imports, sc. with his objections and in
expressing for it unqualified appreciation. When
remembered that this tariff bill included clause
providing that the distribution of the sales OF the
public lands among the States should 60 on, nOtwth-
standing the duties increased far above ~ per
cent that President Tyler had already announced
his determination not to sanction such violation Of
the compromise" and of public faith /; that it
inserted with the knowledge that he would veto
it, and for the very purpose of forcing the aterna-
tive upon him, either to veto it, violate his OK
pressed declarations and incur the contempt of all
honest and consistent men-when all this is remem-
bered it would not be strange had he indulged in
some asperity of feeling. Yet we nothing in the
message, evincing the least acrimony. 1t is calm,
clear convincingplain in its statements, logical IN
its reasonings, chaste, elegant and forcible in its
STYLE without bitterness without passonaltogether
such document as ought to emanate from the chief
executive Office of great republic. As citizen Of
the Union feel proud of it; and although we had
no hand in eevang its author to his present station
he shall have our humble support in all such mea-
sures for the safety and COOL of our common coun-
try.
That this veto will cause fresh ebuliition of Wing
anger, is inevitable. Already we hear the thunder
rumbling; but whether it will be accompanied, just
IN this region with the urd Hastings of Wing wrath
and disappointment or pass of m more distant re-
vcrbcr ations, we cannot yet tell. 1t Is amusing,
however, to some OF those among us, whU, ten
years SINCE were ready to shoulder their muskets
and fight the General Government unless it would
repeal the odious tariff of 1928, now abusing the
President for preventing the enactment OF law far
mi q
worse in its provisions. The tariff part IS almost
as bad as that of 49, and distribution is added to it,
which we regard at least under present circum-
stances, a most gross outrage, not only upon the
interests of the people, but upon sound political prin
ciple and common sense. To take two or three mill
lions of the revenue of the nation, to give annually to
the States, when the Government is in debt, suffer-
ing under impaired credit, and probably unable, UNI
der any rate of duties which may be DEVISED to raise
means to supply its immediate wants, seems SO SUI
premeIy absurd, that we are astonished that any
statesman should venture to insist upon It, Yet this
is measure of Whiggery, and one for defeating
which, Mr.. Tyler is denounced by the party, and
would be impeached if Bolts and his clique could eff
feet it. But let him not be discouraged In doing
what is right according to his old Republican prin-
ciples although his recent friends may desert and
vify him, he will be sustained and supported by the
great Democratic party of the Union; and what, to
an upright man, is more than all, he will have the
appreciation of his own conscience
If one in these days ought to be surprised at any
thing it would create little establishment to see
the Wings deserving President Tyler, upon the plea
that he has abandoned his principles Why, with
the great of the Wing party he never held any
principle in common; and because its southern wing
has chosen to abandon its former position and fall into
the ranks of old fashioned Federalism, 1t does not
follow that he is traitor and scOundrel because he
prefers to adhere to his long established and weset
tied convictions. He was always opposed to Ma
tona Bank, protective tariff, and internal improve
ments by the General Government-to the whole
batch of measures devised by Mr.. Clay to produce
consolidation and break down the limitations of the
Constitution, which have been dignifed with the
name of the ssAmerican System" This the Wings
knew when they placed him on the ticket for Vice
President with General Harrison. But they doubt
less believed that, if they could elect him to Office,
they could make him piece of wax in their hands,
and mould him to suit their future purposes. They
have learned useful lesson, which hope they will
profit by-never again to select candidate of oppo
site principles to themselves lest ne might be- as in the
present case, too honest to be tractabe, and their
victory-should they gain one-result only in their
own discontinue
MIR. Tyler, if we remember rightly, left the main
body Of the Republican party, in consequence OF
General JacksOns proclamation, and the :" Force
BILL" which his friends in Congress passed TO compel
the execution of the tariff laws. He differed with
the majority one point-the right of Congress to
enforce such law as the tariff of 1928 An aliena-
ton of feeling, rather than of principle grew up;
and when, in 1889, it was determined to combine all
the elements of opposition to Mr. Van Buren,, for the
purpose of dsplacing him, MIR. Tyler was found
among those opponents, and was taken up to carry,
as he no doubt did, the Southern portion Of the party
He could not have reflected upon the alliance he was
forming or he would have engaged in it. This
is proven by tenacity with which he adheres to his
principles, and the independent honesty with which
he avows them.
Swayed by personal feelings, influenced by the as
socations of several years. and actuaed no doubt by
a sincere desire to harmonic with and maintain the
ascendency of those who had elected him, Mr.. Tyler
evidently reluctant when he took the Presidency
upon the decease of Gen HARRISON to DO any thing
which might give offence to that party. Hence, al
though it is apparent from his first message that he
dsapproved of the extra session called by his immed
ate predecessor yet he did rescind the CALL but let
the session be hed-a step most unfortunate both Tor
the w higs and the country. The desire evil
IDENTIFY induced him yield his assent several acts
of the majority, until the Bank bill was passed This
taxing his good nature too strongly. Wiling to
yield any thing reason, and more than we think he
ought to have done,) for the success of the Wing
cause yet he could not be brought to violate all his
claims to political consistency by sanconing Bank
even to please his friends But they impatient OF
restraint. Although in the Presidential election they
had kept out of view every thing like declaration OF
principles of policy for, in truth, they had
Done) and had repeatedly denied, all over the coun-
try, that the question "Bank or no Bank 2" they
commenced denouncing the President tar dar-
ing to be honest and consistent in refusing to yield
his assent to it. Another Bank bill passed-another
veto followed Forthwith the President stigmatized
as traitor-his late friends became his bltterest enc
mes-not because he had failed to meet his pledges,
or acted contrary to the views he had always ex-
pressed but because he had disappointed their erpec
tdtions They had expected to find him altogether
such an one as thenselves-ready to resort to any
means to gain power and equally unscruPulous in the
use they made of it. and they could i'll brook the dis
appointment of their unreasonable and foolish hopes
The breach thus made, has been wldened by subse,
ouent occurrences The veto of the :" little tariff"
was another bitter pill and that of the "bg tariff,
which we present to-day makes it impossible that he