Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-08-18


reconcile it to myself 10 recommend the
imposition Of additiohal taxes uPonthem,
without, at the same time, urging The en-
pIoyment Of all the legitimate mems Of
the government towards satisfying its
wants. These opinions were conlmnni.
Gated in advance Of amy definite action
Of CONGRESS- on the subject either oil the
tariff or land sales, under high sense Of
public duty, and an express Injunction
OF Che CONSTITUTIONS that II collision
extremely to be deprecated as such COLI
sion always arc, has seemingly arisen be-
tween the Executive and Legislative
branches Of the Government II has as
surediy not been owing to any capflcious /.
Interference, or 10 any want oI plain \
and frank decIF alton Of opinion on tie
part Of the former. Congress differed in
is views with tIcse OF the Exec utlye, as
/ it had undoubteoy tight to do, and
passed a bill vittaalIy for time repeal.
mo fb. nrnviSon q, the act of the 4th
September. 1871 TX biIi Was returned
to The House, in which ~ 9ihated'-wllh
MY objections to its becofnnss~- Z -lsM.
With view to prevent, If possible. an
open disagreement Of opiuIuA on point
50 important, took occasion to declare
that / regarded it as an Indispensable
| prerequisite to an increase Ot duties IL
bove 90 per cent . that the act OF the 18th
September should remain uurepealed ia
It's provisions. My reason for chat OPT
Mon were eIgloratey set forth in Tie
message which accompanied the return
of the bill-which no constitutional ma
jUrity appears to have been found for
passing into a law.
The bill which is now before me pro-
poses, in its eth section, tie total repeal
oE one Of the provisions i'll the act OF Sep
| temher, and while 1T increases the duties
above 20 per cent, directs an uncOndi-
tlOnal distribution of the land proceeds.
am therefore subjected a second time
in the period eta few days, to the neces-
slty Of either giving my approval to a
/ measure which, in my deliberate Judge.
ment, is in conflict with great public liz
| terests, or of reforming il to the Housein
which it originated, with my objections.
With all my anxiety for the passage of a
/ law which would rePleuish an exhausted
Treasury, ana furnish sound and heal
thy encouragement to mechanical indus
| try, | cannot consent to do so at the
sacrifice of the peace and harmony Of the
country, and the ,clearest convictions Of
public duty.
For seine OF the reasons which have
brought me to this conclusion, refer to
my previous Message to Congress, and
briefly subjoin the following =
/. The bill unites two subjects, which
SO far from having any affinity to one an
other, are H,holly incongluous in their
character. 1t is beth revenue and al
4 appropriation bill. 1t thus imposes on
the Executive, in The first place, the
neces ssity Of either approving that Which
he would reject, Or rejecting that which
he might otherwise approve. This is a
species ct constraint to which the Judge
ment OF the Executive ought not, in my
/ opinion, to be subjected. But that Is
not my only objection to the act in its
present form. The union of subjects
wholly dissimi2r in their character in the
same bill, if il grew into practice, would
net laiI to lead to consequences destruC-
tive Of all wise and conscientious lesisa-
ton. Various measures, each agreeable
only to snal! minority. might, by be-
ing thus united, and the more the great
er chance Of success, lead to the passing
j. Of lileS. Ct which 10 single provision
could, If standing alone, command ma
jOrity in its favor.
2. v bile the Treasury Is in state Of
extreme embarrassment, requiring every
dollar which it can make available, and
when the Government has not only TO
I lay additiUnai taxes, but to borrow mo-
ney to meet pressing demands, the bill
proposes to give away iaithful source Of
reHcnue--~hich is the same thing as rais-
ing money by loan and taxation--not 10
meet the wants Of the Government, but
Tor distribution, a proceeding which
must regard as highly impolitic, If not un-
constitutional.
A brief eYiew OF the present condition
OF the public finances, will serve to ilu-
strate the true condition OF the Treasury,
aud exhibit its actual necessities. On
the 5lh Of August, FRIDAY last.( there
was IN the Treasury,
IN round numbers, S2150, coo
Necessary to be retained to 4
meet trust funds $500 900
Interest on public
/ l