The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-08-10
VETO MESSAGE.
TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, OF
THE UNITED STATES,

imposing duties on imports and for other pur-
poses" Nothing be more painful to any
individual called upon 10 'rform the chiei Ex-
eeutIve duties under our limited Constitution,
han TO be constrained TO withhold his assent
from an important measure adopted by The Lee
glslature; yet he would neither fulfil the high
purposes of his station, nor consult the true IN
terests, or the solemn will of the People, the
common constituents OF both branches of the
Government by yielding his wel-consldered,
most deeply fixed, and repeatedly declared OPP
mons on matters of great public concernment
TO those of a coordinate Department, without
requesting that Department seriously 10 re-ex
anime the subject of their difference The eX-
erclse of some independence of Judgment in
regard 10 all acts of legi,aon is plainly Inn
Piled in the responsibility OF approving them.
AT all times duty-t becomes peculiarly so
| Tenn and Imperative one, when the subjects
passed upon by Congress, happen to involve, as
| in the present instance, the most momentous is
| sues, 10 affect varlously the various parts OF
great country, and to have given rise in all quar-
| ters to such conflict opinion, as to render ii
| impossible to con- ecture with any certainty on
which side the majority really is. Surely, if
| the pause for reflection, intended by the wise
authors OF the Constitution, by referring the
subject back 10 Congress for re- consideration be
ever expedienl and necessary, il is precisely
such case as the present.
On the subject of distributing the proceeds OF
the sales OF The public lands, in the existing
stale OF the finances, it has been my duty To
make known my settled convictions on various
occasions during the present session Of Con
gress. Al the opening Of the extra session, up
wards of twelve months ago, sharing fully in the
general hope of returning prosperity and credit,
| recommended such distribution but that re-
commentator was even then expressly coupled with
the condition that the duties on imports should not
coed the rate of copper cent provided by the Compro
mise act of 1888 These hopes were not little encou
ragged and these views strengthened by the report of MIR
Ewing, then Secretary Of the Treasury, which was
shortly thereafter laid before Congress, in which he
recommended the imposition Of duties at the rate of
20 per cent ad Ualoren all free articles with spe
CITED exceptions, and stated :! if this measure be
| {" adopted, there will be received in the Treasury
from customs, in the last quarter of the present
about S22 500 0O0 and in the year 1913, after the
90 final reduction under the act of March 9 1888,
g about $50 800 600 p and adds it is believed that
after the heavy expenditures required by the public
service in the present year shall have been provided
g for, the which will from that a
nearly proXmate rate of duty, will be sufficient to
deiray the expenses of the Government and leave
surplus to be annually applied to the gradual pay
ment of the national debt, leaving the proceeds of
the public lands to be disposed of Congress shall
see fit" | was most happy that Congress, at the
time, seemed entirely to concur in the recommended
tons of the Executive, and, anticipating the correct
ness of the Sccretarys conclusions and in view of
actual surplus, passed the Distribution act OF the
4th September last, wisely limiting its operation by
two conditions, having reference both of them, TO
possible state Of the Treasury, different from that
which had been anticipated by the Secretary of the
Treasury, aud to the paramount necessities of the
public service. 1t ordained that, if at any time du
ring the existence of that act there should be an inn
position Of duties on imports Inconsistent with the
provision of the act of the Cd March, 1888 and be-
You'd the rate of duties fixed by that act, TO wit, 70
per cent. the value of such imports or any of
them then the distribution should be suspended and
|
be removed" BY previous clause it had in like spi
r of wise and cautious patriotism, provided for
Their in which all agrced that the
proceeds OF the sales of the public lands should
| be used for the defence of the country. 1t was
enacted that the act should continue and be In force
until otherwise provided by law unless the United
States should become involved in with any TO-
| reign power in which event, from the com
mencement of hostiiles the act should be suspended
until the cessation of hosiilities.
| Not long after the opening of the present session
OF Congress- t. unprecedented and extraordinary
difficulties that have recently embarrassed the finances
of the country began to serious aspect. 1t
soon became quite evident that the hopes under which
the act of 18th September passed. and which
alone justified it in the eyes either of Congress who
imposed Of the Executive who approved the first of
the two conditions just rected not destined to
he fulfilled. Under the pressure, therefore, ofthe EN-
barrassments which had thus unexpectedly arisen, it
appeared to that the be pursued had been
clearly marked out for the Government by that &C, it.
self The condition emplated III 1t, requiring
a suspension of its operation had occurred 1t be-
necessary In the opinions of all to raise the rate
OF duties upon imports above 20 per cent, and with
view b,th to provide available means to meet present
exi5encies and to lay the foundation for successful
negotiation of loan, felt it incumbent upon to
urge upon Congress to raise the dut accordingly
imposing them spirit of wise discrimination for
the two-lod object Of alorjng ample for the
Government and incidental protection to the various
branches of domestic industry. also pressed, IN the
most emphatic bu, respectful language | could en-
poy the necessity of making the land sales available
to the Treasury as the basis of public credit. did
not think that could stand excused, much less JUS
ufcd, before the People of the United States nor
| Cnnll reconcile % myself recommend the