The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-08-18
VETO NO. A.
To the House o OfRepresenta,ives

House of Represent allVes, with my OblectO ne
a bill entitled An act to provide revenue from
imports. and to change aud modify existing
laws imposing duties on imports, for other pul
poses.' Nothing can be more painful TO any
individual called upon TO perform the chief Ex'
eeuliVe duties under our limited Constitution
than 10 be constrained 10 withhold his assem-
rom an important measure adopted the Leg
islature; yet he would neither fulfil The high
purposes Of his station; nor consult the true
interests ofthe people, the common constitV-
ents Of both branches Of the Government, by
yielding his we-considered, most deeply fix.
ed, and repeatedly declared opinions on matt
ters Of great public co0eernment 10 those of a
coordinate Department, without requesting
that Department seriousI TO Te-examlne the
subject of their difference.
The exercise Of some independence of
judgment in regard to all acts Of legislation,
Is plainly implied in in the responsibility of ap.
proving them. At all times duty-it becomes
peculiarly solemn and imperative one, when
the subjects passed upon by Congress happen
to involve, as in the present instance, the
most momentous issdes, TO effect variously the
various paris ofa great country, and to have
given rise in all quarters to such conflict
opinion, as 10 render it impossible 10 conjec>
iure, with any certainty, on which side the ma
jOrty really is Surely, if the pause for re-
Election, intended by the wise authors Of the
Constitution, by referring the subject back to
Congress Tor Reconsideration be ever expedi-
ent and necessary, il is precisely such case
as the present.
On the subject Of distributing the proceeds
e al. 4 ~ 4. in tba
stale ofthe finances, it has been my duty TO
make know n my settled convictions on vari-
Gus occasions during the present session Of
Congress. At the opening Of The extra ses-
sion, upw ards of twelve months ago, sharing
fully in the general hope Of returning prosperity
and credit recommended such dis rbution;
bat that recommendation was even then ex.
press!y coupled with the condition that The du-
lies on Imports should not exceed The rate of
~ per cent provided by the compromise act of
1855 These hopes were not little encour-
eyed, and these views strengthened by ths re-
port of Mr.. Ewing the Secretary Of the Trea.
sury, which was shortly thereafter laid before
Congress, in which he recommended the i'm
position Of duties at the rate of20 per cent. I'D
0alOrem on all free articles, with specified ex.
eeptions, and stated, III this measure be adop>
ted; there will be received in the Treasury
from customs in the last quarter of the present
year (l94l,) $500, 900; in all the year 1912,
about $22, 500 600; and in the year IS43, after
the final reduction under the act of March 2, |
1888, abou, 500, 800 000;' and adds. 1t is be. |
lieved that after the heavy expenditures requi- |
red by the public service in the present year
shall have been provided for, the revenue
which will accrue from that or a nearly prox-
innate rate of duty, will be sufficient to defay |
The expenses of government, and leave a sur
plus to be annually applied to the gradual pay
nent Of the national debt, leaving the proceeds
Of the public lands 10 be disposed Of as Con~
gress shall see 6.'
was most happy that Congress, at the
lme, seemed entirely to concur in !he recon.
nendaIiohs ofthe Executive, and anticipating
he correctness Of the Secretary's conclusions
'nd in view Of an actual surplus, passed the
distribution act of the 4th September last, wise
=, limiting its operation by two conditions hav
ng reference, both of them, 10 a possible state
It the Treasury, different from that which had
cen anticipated by the Secretary Of The Treas
~ and TO tho paramount necessities ofthe pub
G service.
II ordained that, 'if at any time during the
xstence of that act, there should be an i'm
Osition of duues on imports Inconsistent, with
he provision of the act, of The I'd March
S33, and beyond the rate Of duties fixed by
hat act, 10 wit, 20 per cent. on the value of
uch imports or any Of them, then the dlsribu-
ION should be suspended, until The cause
bou'd be removed BY previous clause it
ad in like spirit of wise and cautious patri-
lism, provided for another case in which all
re even now agreed that the proceeds Of the
aIes of the public lands should be used for the
efence of the country.
1t was enacted that the act should continue
nd be in force until Otherwise provided by
Nv, unless the United States should become
lVolved in war with any foreign power, in
hcb event. from the commencement of hos
lilies, the actshouId be suspended until the
essaiion Of hostilities.
Not long alter the opening Of the present
'ssiOn 0fCongress. the unprecedented and
difficulties that have recently
nbarrassed ths Gnancies of the country be-
'nlIo assume serious aspect, 1t soon be-
lme quite evident that The hopes under which
8 act of the 4lh of September was passed,
I'd which alone justified it in the eyes either
Congress who imposed or Of the Ex-
;utUe who approved the first of the two con-
lions just fec1ied, were not destined 10 be
l6led. Under tho pressure ,hovoCo,a or,Lo