Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-08-11
VETO MESSAGE.
To THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
UNITED STATES.

| 1t IS with unfegned regre, that find myself I'm.
der the necessity of returning 10 the House OF Re.
ptesentatves, with my objections, bill entitled
IAN act 10 provide revenue from imports, and 10
change and modify existing laws imposing dutie,
on imports and for other purposes" NOTHING can
be more painful TO any individual called upon 10
Consttut or, III to lie Constrained TO Withhold his
assent from en- important measure adopted bv the
Legislature; yet he would neither fulfil the hish
purposes o! his station, consult the true inte
rests, or the solemn will OF the People the common
constituents of both branches CT the Government, bv
vie ding his well considered most deeply fixed. and
repeatedly declared opinions matters of gre.,
public Government 10 those Of q co ordinate De
partmeni, without requesting that Department Sc
ously % examine the subject of their q ference
The exercise o. some Independence Of Judgment in
regard to all acts OF legislation, plainly implied
in the responsibility OF approving them at oil
times duty-it becomes peculiarly solemn and
imperative one, when the subjects passed upon by
COngrt Happen TO involve as in the present in.
stance, the most momentous issues 10 affect VA
rously the vain parts Of n grea, country and Ia
have sNen rs. in all quarters TO such conflict OF Oh
Mon, TO render II impossible 10 conjecture with
any certain y, on which side the msiofiy really is
Surely, II the pause fer reflection, INTENDED by The
wise authors OF the Consttution by referring the
subject back to Congress for re-cor sheraton be
ever expedient and Necessary it is precisely such
case as the present.
On the subjec, OF distributing the proceed, az the
y o
| finances, II has been my duty 10 make known my
settled convictions on various occasions duing the
present session OF Congress. At the opening o. the
| Extra Session, upwards of twelve months SEQ
sharing fully IN the general hope Of returning pros
Z peuty and credit, recommended such a dstribu
\ ton but that Recommendation was even then CT
pressy coupled with the condition tina, the dute,
| on imports should not exceed the rate OF 20 per
/ cent. provided by The COMPROMISE Act Of 1888
These hopes were not Little en- .ouragcd and hess
l sfrrugfhrnrf, hv fha ~ a..
then Secretary OF the Treasury, which was shortly
thereafter laid before Congress- in which he recon-
mtndsd the in position Of duties at the Is.e OF %
per cent. al pa5rsm oil free articles with speci
lied exceptions, and stated, "if this measure c a
dorted, there will be reeieved IN tho Treasury from
customs, in the last quarter Of the present ysar
/ USiD IS 800 600; in all OF the year Is r. abou
S22 500 600; and in the year 1915, after the I'm,
reduction under the Act Of March > 1883 atou
$40 500 00O;" ard adds: "ft is believed that nfte
the heavy expenditures required 10y the public ser
vice IN the present year, shall have been provided
for, the revenue which will accrue from that or
nearly prox mate rate Of duty, will be sufficient &,
deifay the expenses Of the Government and ioavo
a surplus TO be annually applied TO the gradua
payment OF the national debt, leaving The proceed
OF the public lands TO be disposed Of as Consrcs
shall sec IT." was most happy that Congress a
the time, seemed entirely TO concur in the recon-
mcndations Of the Executive. and, anticipating th,
| correctness OF the Secfetaryis conclusions and ID
act OF the 9TH September last, wisely limiting ID
operation by two conditions, having rtftreicc
both Of them, TO a possible state OF tho Tioasury
different from that which had been anticipated b'
tho Secretary Of the Treasury, and to me yara
mount necessities Of the public service. Il ordaIne,
that, ri al any time during the existence OF tia
act, there should DO an imposition Of duties on IN
ports inconsistent with the provisions OF the act o
the 2nd March, 1888 and beyond the rate OF du,ic
fixed by that act, 20 wit 90 per cent on the value
such imports or any Of them, then the distribution
should be suspended and should continue - sus
pended, until that cause should be removed Il,
previous clause il had in q like spirit Of wise anC
cautious patriotism, provided for another case ir
| which all are even now agreed that the proceeds o.
the sslcs OF the public lands should be uscl fir q
defence q the county. IL en,ctod that the &C.
should conlInuc ard be IN force until oihorwss pro
vidod by law, unless the Unied STA IS should be
come involved in war with any foreign power, N
| which event, tom the commencement Of hos,iities
the act slould DO suspended until the cessation o
/ hoslitoS.
Not long aller the opening Of the prcsen, session
Of COngc,s the unprecedented nj oUraoldnuy
difficulties that have recently embarrassed the
finances q the . unlfy begin 10 assume a setio;
aspect. IL soon became quite evideni that the
hopes under with the act OF Oh Soptomtcr was
passed, and which alone justified L in the eyes 81 h,r
Of Congress who imposed or OF the Executive wh0
approved the FIRST Of the two conditions jus, reeied
were not destined to be fulfilled. Under the Pres,
sure, therefore, OF the endorsements which had
thus unexpectedly risen, il appeared 10 me that tho