Southern Argus., 1842-07-19
VETO MESSAGE.
,be Hou,e Of REPRESENTATIVES,:

ArttuTU AuG Dih WlANu OtlBudNou li
the House Of Representatives; entitled.
An act to extend Tor limited period
the presenllaws for laying and collect
ing duties on imposls," with the fol-
lowing objections: -
Il suspends-in other words, abro-
gates for the times the provision oGthe
act of 1885, commonly called the
Compromise Act. The only ground
ON which this departure from the SOL
emn adjustment ola great ard agilating
question seems TO have been regarded
as expedient, in the alledged necessity
O( establishing by legislative enactment
rules aud regulations for assessing the
duties to believed on imposts after the
30!h Of June, according TO the home
valuation, and yet the Bill expressly
provides that, "if before the first Of
August there be no further Legislation
upon the subjects, the laws for laying
and collecting duties shall be the same
as thuogh this act had not been pas
sed," In other words, that the act of
1883, imperfect as it is considered,
shall in that case continue TO be, and
20 be executed as law under such rules
and regulations as previous statutes
had prescribed or had enabled the Ex-
ecutive Department 10 prescribe for
hat purpOse-leaving the supposed
chasm IN the Revenue laws just as it
was before.
/ am certainly>lar from being dispos-
ed TO deny, that additional legisialious
upon the subject is very disirable-on
the contrary, the necessity as well as
difficulty of establishing @niormity in
the appraisements TO be made in CO n.
formity with true intention eE that act,
was brought TO the notice OF Congress
in my message to Congress at the open
ing Of its present session. But how
ever sensible | may be Of the embar-
rassments to which thei Executive in
the absence Of alIaid from the superior
wisdom Of the Legislature, will be Ii
able in the enforcement Of the existing
laws, [ have not, with the sincerest
wish to acquiesce in its expressed will,
been abe to persuade myself Ihat the
eXigency Of the occasion is so great
as tojustily me signing the Bill in
question with my present views of its
character and effects. The existing laws
as lam advised are suf1icientto author
ize and enable the collecting officers, ,un-
der the directions ofthe Secretary of,he
Treasury, to levy the duties imposed
by the act Of 1888.
That act was passed under peculiar
circumstances, TO which it is OF neces-
Sary that | should be more than barely
all .de-whatever may in theory be its
character, have always regarded j. as
importing the highest moral obligation.
II has now existed for nine years, un-
changed in any essential particular,
with as general acquiescence, it is be-
lieved Of the whole country, as that
country have ever manifested for any of
her wisely established Institutions. 1t
has ensured to it the repose which al
ways flows from truly wise and moder-
ate cOuncils-a repose the more strik-
ing because oflhe long and angry agi-
tations which preceded it. This sal
utary law proclaims in express terms
tn, principles which, while it led to the
abandonment Of an indirect taxation
founded on false basis, and pushed
TO dangerous excess, justified any
enlargement Of duties that may be
called for by the real exigencies oflhe
public service. II provides, 'lhat du-
ties shall be laid for the purpose Of
raising such revenues as NAV be ne.
nessary to an economical administra-
;ion of the Government" 1t is, there
fore, in the power Of Cong ess TO lay
duties, as high as It's discretion may
dislate, for the necessary uses Of the
government, without infringing upon
the act Of 1893, do not doubt
that the necessities Of the infringing
government DO require an increase Of
the tariff Of duties above twenty per
ccnt-and l as little doubt but that
above as well as below that rate Con
gress may so discriminate as to give in
cidenlal protection to manufacturing
industry-thus to make the burthens
which It's compelled to impose upon
the people for the purposes Of govern
ment, productive ola double benefit
This most Of the reasonable opponent
Of protective duties seem willing tC
concede, II we may judge from the
manifestation Of public opinion in al
quarters; this is all that the manulac
turing interests really require. l an
happy, in the pursuasion that thiSdou
ble object, can be most easily and ef
fectually accomplished at the presen
juncture, without any departure frou
the spirit and principle ofthe statute il
question. The manufacturing classe
have now an opportunity which ma,
never accur again, of permanently iden
tifyirg THEN interests with those Of tn
whole country, and making them, j
the highest sense Of the term, nation
al concern. The moment is propitiou