Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-02
VETO MEssAnE-

VETO ME y GE.
To ths House Of Representatives..
| return the Bill which originated in the House
OF Representatives: entitled IAN act 10 extend for
limited period, the present laws for laying and col
Letting duties on imposis." with the following Oh
jeetons:
II suspends-in other words, abrogates FOR the
| time, the provision OF the eci OF 1888, commonly
called the Compromise Act. The only ground on
which this departure from the solemn adjustment
OF great and osrating question, seems to have
| been regarded as expedlent in the alledsed neees
sity OF establishing by legislative enactment, rules
and regulations foe assessing tho duties to be levied
on mposs after the 30th Of June. according to the
home valuation; and yet the Bill expressly provides
that "f before the first of August there be no fur
Their legs ,ion upon the subject the law for LAYING
and collecting duties shall be tho same as though
this act had not been passed" In other words that
inc act oil 1885, mperiee, us it is considered, shall
IN that case continue 10 be, aud to be executed as
law under such rules and regulations as previous
statutes had prescribed or had enabled tho Execu.
tive Department TO prescribe for that purpose-lenv.
ms The supposed shasm in the Revenue avs lust
as Il was before.
am certainly fac from being disposei 10 dony.
that additional legislation upon the subject is very
ueSlrable-on the contrary, the necessity as well
as difficulty OF establishing uniformity in the ap-
praisemen,s TO be made in conformity with the true
intention oil that act, brought TO the notice Of
congress IN my message TO Congress at the open
ING OF its present session. But however sensible
may be o. the embauassments TO which the Execu.
tive IN the absence OF all aid from the superior wis
dom OF the Legislature, will be liable in the enforce
mont OF the existing laws have not with the sin.
eerest wish TO acquicscc in its expressed WILL been
able 10 persuade myself that the cxiscncy OF the
occasion is so great as TO justify signing the Bill
IN question, with my present views of its character
and effects. The existing laws, MS am advised
are sufficient to authorize and enable the collecting
ohcers, under the directions OF the Secretary OF the
Treasury, 10 levy the duties imposed by the act Of
1888.
That oct was passed under peculiar circumstances,
10 winch It Is not necessary that should do more
than barely ailude-whatever may be in theory its
character, have always regarded rs importing the
highest moral obligation. IL has existed for
nine years, unchanged in any essential particular
with as general ncquiescencc, is believed Of the
whoe country, as that country has ever manifested
for any oil her wisely established institutions IL has
ensured to II the repose which always COWS from
truly wise and moderate councils-aroposc the more
striking because OF the long and angry agitations
which preceded II. This saluiary law proclaims in
express terms the principle which, while it led 10
the abandonment oil scheme OF indirect taxation,
founded or false basis, and pushed 10 dangerous
excess, Jcstfes any enlargement Of duties that may
be called for by the real exisencies Of the public
service IL provides, Chat duties shall 10 laid for
the purpose OF raising such revenues s may be ne
nesslry TO an economical administration OF The Co
Vcrnment." IL is, therefore, in the power Of Con
gross 10 lay duties, rs high its discretion may &C.
tate ior the necessary Of the government with
out infringing 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
twenty per cent-nnd little doubt but that above
as well as below that rate Congress may 50 dscri-
inmate as to give incidental protection to manuac
turlng inuustry-thus 10 make the hutthens which
It IS compelled toimpose upon the people for the pur-
poses OF government, productive of n double benefit
ihs, most OF the reasonable opponents of piotec-
i've duties seem willing to eoncede, II we may Judge
from the manifestations of public opinion in all
lulricrs this IS all that the manufacturing interests
really require. am happy, in the persuasion that |
ms double object can be most easily and eiiectua-
y accomplished al the present iuncture without any
departure from the spirit md principle OF the statute
W question. The manufacturing classes have now |
an opportunity. which may never occur again, of
permanently identifying their interests with those Of
-he whole country, and making them, IN the highest |
tense oi the term, national concern. The moment
s proptious 10 the interests oihe whole country IN
NE introduction OF harmony among all its ports aud
III rs several Interests. The same rate of imposs
ma no more MS will most surely nc establish the
public credit, will secure TO the manufacturer all the
protection he ought TO desire with every prospect of
and stability which the hearty acguies.
ence OF the whole country, on a reasonable system,
an hold out to him:
But oil this universal ncquiescenee, md the har-
noay and confidence, and the many other benefits |
nat VIII certainly result from it, regard the sus.
'snson of The law for distributing the proceeds of the
'h"tt thiius rs an lnuSpensl bte condition. Ihls
MEASURE ls IN my Judgment called for by large
lumber II not great majority OF the people OF tho L
United Staies-by the state Of tho public credit mud
lnances-by the critical posture Of our various
oresn roalions,,and above all by th,t mos, sacred
u all duties, public nith. The act OF september last
which provides for the distribution couples it insc
'arably with the condition that il shall cease: Ist In
aso OF war. 2nd. AS and long as the rate Of
iu'es shall for any reason whatever be raised above
twenty per cent. Nothing can be more clear, ex.
press and imperative, than this language.
Ii is in vain to allege that deficit in the Trcasu.
~ was known to exist and means taken 10 supply
i 5y loan when the act was passed 1t is true that
a ,eah was Suthnrzed at the same session duniug
when the Distribution law was passed, but the
most sanguine of the friends OF the two measures
entertained no doubt bat that the loan would be ca
gery taken up by capitalists, and speedily re.im.
Oursed by country, destined ms they hoped, soon
10 enjoy an overlooking prosperity. The very
terms Of the loan, making it redeemable in three
years demonstrate this beyond all cayil Who Al Il
that time forssA- OF imagined tho possibility OF the
actual state OF things, when a nation that has paid
off her whole debt since the last peace while ali m,
other great powers have been increasing theirs and
whose resources, already 50 great, are vet but in
the infancy Of their Development should be com.
PEELED TO bagse IN the money market for a paltry
sum, not equal 10 one years revenue on her econo.
mical system II the distribution law is TO be in
definitely suspended, according not only TO its own
terms, but by universal consent, in case of war
wherein are the actual cxgences of the country or
'he moral oDnsauon 10 provide for them less under
present circumstances, than they could be were we
actually involved in war; 1t appears to me TO be
the Indispensable duty OF all concerned in the nd :
mlnisraton Of public ofiirs, to sec that state of
things so humiatng and so perilous should no, last
a moment longer than 10 absolutely unavoidable /
much less excusable should we be in parting with
any portion Of our unavailable means, at least, un-
I'll the demands Of the treasury were fully multi.
Piled. But besides the urgency Of such considera.
tons, the fact undeniable that the distribution act
could not have become a law without the guaGan
tee IN the proviso Of the act ITSELF
This connection, thus meant TO DO inseparable.
10 severed by the bill! presented to me. The bill
violates the principle Of the acts Of 1888 and Sem
lember 1871, by susponding the first, and render
ing, for time, the last imperative. Duties ntoye
twenty per cent ore proposed TO be levied, and vet
the PrOUtSo in the Distribution Act is dsregarded-
the proceeds oftho saesaro to be distributed on the
hrst OF August-so that while the duties proposed
TO be enacted exceed twenty per cent, no suspen.
SION OF tho dsirbution 10 tho States is permitted 10
take plaee-To abandon the principle for month
opens the way to its toai abandonment. II such is |
not MEANT why postpone at n-why not let the
distribution take place on the first OF July. If the
Jaw so directs which however, is regarded as nues.
uonable, but why not have liiAited the provision |
70 that effect us it for the accommodation Of the
Trensufyl ! see no reason to believe that the /
treasury will be in better condition TO NEE, the !
payment the first Of August than ON the fr,t ~