Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-08-18

The Reao't CT the Committee on the Pfesalcn,,s
last Veto Message was yesterday presented 10 the
House OF Representatives by Mr. Adams, its Chair
man, and will be found in the preceding columns
IL was read in his place by the venerable author Of
-, and its reading was listened to with the profound.
eat attention by his auditory. As our readers have
now before them, and will all read il through with
eager attention, We need not say TO them that /, is
paper which will not only challenge universal a,
tenton, but will become the text book for the
whole army Of wings all over the Union, from
which they can draw wholesome draushis Of in-
sIrueiion to the young, and confirmation 10 the Old
in the principles which lie ut the foundation of this
Government, and upon the continued maintenance
OF which, IN all their ancient powef its existence
depends.
THE VETO.
MIR ADAMS rose and said that he was instruct
ed 10y the Select Committee 10 whom Lad been re-
tered tho Message Of the President Of the United
States returning to the House the act which origin
a,ed IN u, entitled can Act TO provide revenue
from imports, and TO change aud modify existing
laws imposing duties on imports and for other pur-
poses," with his objections, to pre,en, a report.
MIR BOrrS called Tor the reading Of the report.
and suggested that, If agreeable, the gentleman
from Massachusetts,, (Mr ADAMs) should read il
himself
Dir GlLMER lose and said, ,ha, as q member Ct
the minority Of the committee, he desired 10
present protest and counter report in behalf OF
himself.
Mr. c lNGERSoLL, also member OF the
committee, desired 10 present a similar report
MIR BARNARD hoped that orc question would
be disposed rat time. II would be time for the
minority Of the committee TO present their reports
when disposition had been made OF that OF the
gentleman from Macs.
NJ pOI,pS ko-o L
was perfectly agreeable 10 he gentleman from Mas
sachusetls to read his own report.
The SPEAKER said il the gentleman desired Ia
do SO, the Chair supposed there would 10 no 90
lection.
MIR ADAMS had no wish, he said. upon IN,
subject. But If the House desired him 10 read thc
report, he would do so.
MIR GlLMER gave notice that he should ask the
same indulgence in behalf Of himselG there wer,
erasuIes and intcrlineatons in the manuscrp, which
rendered II difficult 10 read.
Some conversation followed as 10 whether ,
member, II he read report, did SO as n matter a
favor or oirighi; but the point remains sub iudice
il was
Mr. ADAMS then rose. and, 10 a firm and dis
linct tone of voice. audible in every part OF IN
Hall, read his report, ns follows:
The Select Committee, TO whom was rererr,
the Message OF the President of the United State
returning 10 this House the act, which ORIGINATE
IN II, "to provide revenue from imports, and 4
changc and modify existing laws imposing dutio
on imports, and for other purposes" with his oh
ections TO II, with instructions 20 report thereon u
tho House, have attended 10 that service and re
specially report:
The message is the last of a series Of EXECUTIVE
measures the result of which has been 10 defes
and nuly the whole action of the Legislative an
| thorty of this Union, upon the mos, important in
terests Of the nation.
At the accession ofthe late Presiden. Harrison. h
election Of the People, 10 the Executive chair, Oh
finances the revenue, and the credit OF the countf
were foInd in q condition 80 greatly disordere
and so anguishing, that the FIRST act OF his admin
is,ration was TO call special session of Congres
\ TO provide remedy for this dislempered state ,
I, The gTeu body polite. IL was even then disea.
] Of no sudden occurrence, and Of no ordinary mi
| hSnity. -Four years before, the immediate preds
cessor Of General Harrison had been cons,rained
resort 10 the same expedient, n special session
Congress, the result Of which had only proved ii
first OF a succession of pal.ia,ives, purchasing mo
mentary nc sf at the expense of deeper seated dis
ease and aggravated symptoms, growing daily NOR
intense through the whole four years Of that Ad
ministration. 1t had expended, from wear 10 veo,
from eight TO ten millions Of dollars beyond its in
come, absorbing in that period nearly ten million
pledged for depos,e with the States eight miller
Of stock in the Bank Of the United States froi
| five 10 six millions Of trust funds, and as niue
Treasury notes; and was sinking under the weigl
| Of its own improEidenee and incompetency.
The sentence Oft suffering People had comnane
ed change in the Administration, and the cor
temporaneous elections throughout the Union ba
placed in both Houses Of Congress mojorties, III
| natural opponents of the principles which IL VIZ
the will Of the People shoulj be substituted in N
administration ofIheir Government instead of thos
which had brought the country TO a condition {
such wretchedness and Shame. There was petfe,
! harmony OF principle between the chosen PresiJer
Of the People and this majority thus constituted
both Houses of Congress; and the first act of hi
Administration was 10 call special session OF Con
gTess for their deiboralion and action upon the M
indisponsaby necessary for relief to the pub
lie disuss and TO retrieve the prosperity Io The gre
community of che nation.
On the 3lst day Of May, 1871, within thre
months after the Inauguration Of President Hair
son, the Congress assembled al his call. But N
\ rens of the Executive car were already in 9th,
hands BY an inscrutable decres Of Providence N
chief Of tie Peoples choice, in harmony with who's
principles the maiori,ies Of both Houses Ind bes
constituted, was laid low in death. The Presidcl
who had called the meeting Of Congress was n
| longer the President when tie Congress met,
successor TO the Office had assumed the title wit
totally different principles, though protesting m
same at tho time Of his election, which, far fror
harmonizing, like those Of his immediate prsdo,e,
scr, with the majority Of both Houses of Congress
were soon disclosed in dameirica Opposition
them.
The first development, e this new. and mo-
unfortunate, condition of the c. neral Goyetnmen
was manifest by the failure, once and AGAR, Of III
first great measure intended by Congress TO restog
the credit Of the country, 10y tie establishment Of
National Bank-a failure caused exclusively by IN
operation OF the veto power by the President |
the spirit Of the Constitution Of the United St,ts.
the Executive is not only separated from the lie
gislatlve power, but made dependent upon and re
spongbe 10 IL. Until voiy recent period OF on
history, all reference in either House Of Congres
10 the opinions or wishes Of the President, relatip
10 any subject IN deliberaion before them, was "a
garded rs an Outrage upon tho rights Of the deibe
ratiye boiy, among The fret of whsso duties i,
10 spurn the influence or the dispenser Of pi,rona
and power Until very recently, il was ,uffeicr
greatly 10 impair the influence Of any member ,
be suspected Of personal subscryiency 10 The Execu
tive; and any allusion 10 his wishes in debate Wa
deemed n departure not less from decencv thai
from order. An anxious desire TO accommodate m
action Of Congress 10 The opinions and wishes q
Mr. Tyler had led to notifications OF the frs, oil
for the establishment Of a National Bank. present
cd TO him for his approval widely differing from
the opinions entertained Of their exceed oney b,
the majority Of both Houses Cf Congress, but wbi.i
Jailed to obtain that approval for the sake OF whie
they had been reluctantly adopted. A second n,
tempt ensued, under a sense Of the indispensable,
necessity Of fiscal corporation TO the revenues an,
credit OF the nation, 10 prepare m act, 10 whi,l
an informal intercourse and communication be
tween a member q the House, charged With tn
duty Of preparing the bill and the President Of III
United States himself. might secure by compliance
with his opinions a pledge IN advance e n.
approval Of tho bill, when % should he prsscn'c,
% him. That pledge was Obtained. The biu wa
presented to him in tho very terms which he ha.
prescribed a. necessary 10 obtain his sanction, ono
!, me; the same fate with us predecessor: and /
y remarkable that tho reasons assgned f1f the 70
usel 70 approve the second ill arc in direct On,
immediate conflict with those which had been as
sigrct for Tie refusal 10 sign the FIRST.
fIe Eraf a. 1