Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-09
pEsArE ON THE VETO.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

wEpxEspAr. June 30, lsis.
The Message Of the President, assigning his rea'
sons foe Withholding his signature from the bill to
extend the Revenue laws. having been read,
Mr JOHNSON, Of Maryland. without dis
cussiag the merits OF the message, rose to give no
tiee Of his intention to submi, proposition for tn,
assumption Of certain class OF State deLts-pledg
ing the pubic domain security for the payment
He moved that the consideration OF the message bs
postponed until Tomorrow. and be printed.
Mr. HOLMES, of s. Carolina, rose under strong
apparent. agitation, and spoke in tones Of great ear
nesness, but, owing TO his position, much OF what
he said was lost to the Reporter. After bursting
into warm congratulations on the message, he went
on 10 observe that there some junctures in the
history Of nation where, amidst the Conflict oil
conendne parties and the struggle Of opposing in
forests, the energy Of one might sometimes re-.
deem and save his country. He had been silently
watching the progress OF events, and witnessing
with pain the downward progress Of our public al
fars; and never IN his life had he felt moment OF
such spontaneous heartfelt thanksgiving TO Heaven
ms he did at this moment. This veto had come IN
like an interpreting being from above 70 cneck inc
madness OF tho Houses career, when IL mao uncet-
taken TO violate the great and sacred compact oe'
tween the successful industry OF the North and the
sinking end almost expiring industry OF tho South
During nine long years the benefits Of that compact
hsd resulted exclusively to tue advantage OF one OF
the contracting parties only: and now, Just when
the cup passing the refreshment Of the parch-
ed and expectant lips of the other party, IL was TO
be rudely dashed away. and the contamination oil
the act was 10 be refused, which had rescued the
country from impending civil war.
Il was n; such q moment that the record OF histo
ny would exhibit the President as having the energy
and boldness TO throw himself between an act OF
rash and ruthless legislation and the institutions Of
his country. This act alone was sufficient 10 de
liver down his TO the admiration OF succeeding
ages. Let his subsequent conduct be what might,
this deed was in itself enough TO show that there
was spirit, that there was energy, that there was
intellect in The Chief Magistrate, which entitled him
10 the respect OF oil men. IL was one OF the most
daring measures the world hsd ever witnessed, and
rs noble as il was daring. IL said TO great aud
formidable party, in all the strength of an irrespon'
siblc and reckless majority, construct your revenue
bill for revenue alone, or you shall abide the issue
with your country. In crisis like this. with an
exhausted Treasury, trade PROSTATE, ocr foreign
affairs unsettled, with all the responsibilities around
him which could accumulate on the-head Of a great
People, the President had boldly thrown himself
into position where he must stand or fall with the
consequence of one bold deed. Should the mad
ness OF party carry such bill again. II would be
vetoed again. This placed John yler IN the head
and forefront of the battle for the institutions OF his
country, and there the People would sustain him
They we'll knew that the contest in which he was
conendins was a contest between reckless esisla-
ton snd sacred free institutions; and they would
act they had always acted towards those who de-
Tended them. MIR Ii. trusted the consideration OF
the message would not be postponed; he trusted
the bill would be rescued from the hands of men
who willing to peril every thing for the sake
OF a division oi the spoils.
Mr. GRANGER wished TO say a few words on
this occasion; not, however, TO coneratu late tho
ton the grounds taken by the President in the
document which had just been received. The gen
tleman from South Carolina had said that IL was
time the msiority in this House should tread back
their steps; but Mr. q. had risen TO say that this
the dy and this the hour in which the aioriIy was
called stand to their ground, unless they wished
TO stand by end see the interest OF the States
cri6ced in cold blood.
In all the transactions of this session, Mr. G.
could appeal to his recorded votes as well as 10 the
whole tenor of his personal intercourse with gen.
uemen OF the other side of the House, TO bear witt
whether at his hands the existing Adminislra.
ton had ever experienced unkindnessl Let gentle
men go 10 his votes, and there see whether he had
net given TO II, at all times far as his voice would
90, the necessary supplies, the snews OF strength
TO carry on the Government But the question was
now Ear different. Meet il as they might il came
m substance 10 nothing more nor less than this,
whether Congress should or should not declare that
from this moment onward the States of the Union
such, should have portion or interest IN the
public domain. There was not a man here bold
enough so far TO risk his reputation 10 declare
that rate OF duties Of 20 per cent, required in
the consummaiion Of the compromise act, would be
sufficient 10 defay the expenses ofihis Government.
And unless this could be shown Congress were
called upon TO proclaim that the States should have
no part or lot in the proceeds OF the public lands.
Mr. G. wanted 10 submit few things on this
proposition not only connected with the interests
and credit of the States, but as bearing manu-
features also. He would say TO those gentlemen
~ the country who had pledged their millions to the
success Of the manufacturing industry Of the land,
tsi han - usN nUeedinpy 5eLsaS
ed bankrupt by he abolition Of the land disiribu.
ton bill as by the absence Of tariff. He would,
therefore, say to them, let this state Of things wear
en- and let the next three years OF grinding power
~ show who could bear it longest and where the
real wealth OF the country to be found.
But where was the question: While the message
was reading from the Clerks desk MIR G. had had
bis eye upon paper from New York, which pur>
ported to give the opinions Of the President on this
very question Of distribution in 1889. He here
read az follows:
"The public lands are no. mentioned in the com.
promise bill, nor could they have been thought Of
by Congress. The fact is. that the land bill was |
Of the moment Of the passage OF the compromise
bill IN The Presidents pocket. So far as Congress
vas concerned the proceeds Of the sales had been \
disposed OF by what only wanted the signature Of !
the President 10 become a law. How then can the |
compromise act be made in an way dependent on
any disposition 10 be made Of the public lands :"
MIR c. said that he had listened to the Presidents
docnhe, since promu gated, that distribution was 10
lie resofied 10 only when there a surplus 10 the
Treasury, with perfect amazement. He was pledg.
al favor Of distribution only on condition that the
Government could be carried on with duty Of 20
per cen. That was now the creed. He would
Therefore soy 10 all the States who had heen calcu.
lacg receiving their quota Of the land fund that
unless Congress shall now hold on upon heir ground
with irnmovable hTmuess the States may lust as well
Withdraw all hope OF getting a dollar from the pub
l.c domain. For should Congress now waive the
question, let IL he remembered would not be left
where u hsd been before. To recede now WAS TO
declare that The proceeds Of the public lands shall
heheeiofih go into the Treasury for revenue, and
that the denc, be that greater less shall he made
up by duties on imports. Had q manuf ,cturer.
fthsctsd on the consequences Of ihs1 who would
DC willing TO risk his capital IN manufacturing tsa-
blshments Il this land revenue, in some years Weld
ing two millions, in Others three or FIVE and Iossi.
bly, running up TO the inflated amount OF tygentvs
Two or iwenty-s'x mil Gus, Os it had Done was
10 be poured into the Treasury, ard tic duties on
imports 10 huetuate and swing back ward nnd for.
ward Ike pendulum, according to oil The clrcum
sAnces ol'tmigrotion and speculation that migbt
affect Our lard siles2 How many branches Of mn.
nulacturng industry could live and flourish under
ouch state Of things7 Most Of them must wilmer
aud perish.
When the message insidiousy declared tina, tho
President WIS wiling duties should 70 over twenty
per cent. whenever the eXigenccs Of the Tfea,urv
and on economical administration Of the Govern.
ment should require, MIR q. warned menulee,u,er.
thlt such declaration was Taught with death to
every manufacturing interest IN the country. Add
the, iofsooin, was 70 give stability 10 uanuf,ctu
Ierl what stability could he enjoyed. when A, sur,
uueriy unknown was to lie throw INTO the Trc,
suyi aud the rate Ot duy regulated W the urcer-
tam balance OF revenue remaining to be ralsed7 Let
thee or four successful years II had sales succeed
each other, and this same question Of reduction !