Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-07-16
THIRD VETO-pRESIDENT TYLER
To The HonSc of REPRESENTATIVES..

return the bill which originated in the
House Of Representatives entitled can act
to extend for limited period the present
laws for laying and collecting duties on inn
ports" with the following objections:
Ii suspendsin other words abrogates
for the time, the provision of the act OF
1888, commonly called the Compromise
Act. The only ground on which this de-
parturo from the solemn adjustment of a
great AMI agitating question, seems to have
been regarded as expedieni, is the alleged
necessity of establishing by legislative en-
actment rules and regulations for assessing
the duties to be levied on imports after the
30th June according to the home valuation;
and yet the bill expressly provides that "if,
before the first Of August, there be no fur
Their legislation upon the subject, the laws
for laying aud collecting duties shall be the
same as though this act had not been pass
ed" In other words--that the act of 1888,
imperfect as it is considered, shall, in that
case, continue to be, and to be executed as
law under such rules and regulations as
previous statutes had prescribed, or had en-.
asled the Executive Department to pre-
scribe for that purpose-!eaving the suppo-
sed chasm in the revenue laws jus, as it was
before.
am certainly far from being disposed
10 deny that additional legislation upon the
subject is very desirable. On the contrary,
the necessity, as well as difficulty, of estab-
fishing uniformity in the appraisements to
be made in conformity with the true inten-
ton of that act, was brought to the notice
Of Congress in my Message to Congress at
the opening Of its present session. But
however sensible | may be of the embar-
easements TO which the Executive, in the
absence Of all aid from the superior wis
dom Of the Legislature, will be liable, in
the enforcement of the existing laws,
have not, with the sincerest wish to acqui-
escc in its expressed will been able to per-
suade myself that the exigency of the oc-
casionis 50 great as to Justify me in signing
the bill in question, with my present views
of its character and effects. The existing
laws, as am advised, are sufficient to au-
thorze and enable the collecting officers
under the directions Of the Secretary o;
the Treasury, to levy the duties imposed by
the act of 1888.
That act was passed under peculiar cir.
cumstances to which it is hot necessary
that should do more than barely allude
Whatever may be in theory, its character
have always regarded it as importing tho
highest moral obligation. 1t has now exs-
ted for nine years unchanged in any essen.
tial particular, with as general acqniescence
il is believed, of the whole country, US tina,
country has ever manifested for any of hci
wisely established institutions. 1t has en-.
sured to it the repose which always flows
from truly wise and moderate councils
- &C y,
long and angry agitations which preceded
il. This saulary law proc|aims in express
terms the principle which while it led &c
the abandonment Of scheme &c .irn.d:recl
taxation founded on false basis and push
ed TO dangerous excess, ustfies any en-.
largement Of duties that may be called foI
by the real eXigancics of the public service
1t provides "ihat duties shall! be laid for the
purpose of raising such revenue as may be
necessary to an economical administration
of the Government" 1t is, therefore, in
the power Of Congress to lay duties as high
as its discretion may dictate, for the neces-
sary uses Of the Government, without in
fringing upon the objects Of the act Of
1888. | do not doubt that the necessities
of the Government do require an increase
of the tariff of duties above 20 per cent,
and as little doubt but that above as well
as below hat rate Congress may so dis
crminate as to give incidental protection
to manufacturing industry-thus to make
the burdens, which it is compelled to i'm.
pose upon the people for the purposes OF
Government, productive Of double bene.
fit This, most of the reasonable oppo-
nents of protective duties seem willing to
concede, and if we may Judge from the
manifestations Of public opinion in al
quarters, this is all that the manufacturing
interests really require. ] am happy in the
persuasion, tina; this double object can be
most easily and efiectually accomplished al
the present juncturc, without any departure
from the spirit and principle Of the statute
in question. The manufacturing classe:
have now an opportunity, which may never
occur again. Of permanently identifying
their interests with those Of the whole
country, and making them in the highest
sense Of the term, national concern. The
moment is propitious to the interests Of the
whole country in the introduction of har.
mony among all its parts and all its severa
interests. The same rate Of imposts and
no more as will most surely rc-estab!ish the
public credit, will SEIZURE to the manufac
turcr all the protection he ought to desire
with every prospect of permanence and
stability which the hearty acqucscence 0!
the whole country. Oh q reasonable system
can hold out TO him,
But of this universal acquiescence anL
the harmony and confidence and the many
other benefits that will certainly result from
il. I regard he suspension of the law fo
Of no :.