The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-08-26
VETO MESSAGE NO. 4.


TO the House IF Representatives. Of the
United States:
l. is with unfegned regret that find
myself under the necessity Of returning to
the House of Representatives., with my
objections, bill entitled SAN ACT to pro-
vide revenue from imports, and to change
and modify existing laws imposing duties
on imports and for other purposes. y
Nothing can be more painlul to any indl-
vidual called upon to perform the chief
Executive duties under our limited Con-
stitution, than to be constrained to with
hold his assent from an important measure
adopted by the legislature yet he would
neither fulfill the high purposes Of his sta
ton, nor consult the truelpasrests, or the
solemn will of the peoWs, the common
constituents of both branches Of the Gov
crnment, by yielding his well.considered,
most deply fixed, and repeatedly declared
opinions on matters Ct great public con-
cernmenl to those Of coordinate Depart
ment, without requesting that Department
seriously to re-eXamine the subjec, of
their difference.
The exercise Of some independence Of
judgment in regard TO all acts of legisla-
lion, is plainly implied in the responsible
lily of approvingit. At all times duty
1t becomes peculiarly solemn and I'M
perative one when the subjects passed
upon by Congress, happen to involve, as
in the present instance, the most momen-
lous issues, 10 affect variously the various
parts Of great country, and to have given
rise in all quarters to such conflict Of
opinion, as to render it impossible to con-
lecture. 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 to Congress for recon
sheraton, be ever expedient and neces-
sary, il is precisely such a case Il, present.
On the subject Of distributing the pro-
cccds of the sales of the public lands, in
the existing state Of the finances, it has
been my duty to make known my settled
convictions on various occasions during
The presen; session Of Congress. At the
opening of the extra session, upwards of
twelve months ago, sharing fully in the
general hope of returning prosperity and
credit, recommended such distribution;
but that recommendation was even then
expressly coupled with the condition that
the duties on imports should not exceed
the rate Of 20 per cent. provided by the
Compromise Act Of 1888.
These hopes were not little encouraged
and these views strengthened by the re-
port of Mr.. Ewing, then Secretary Of the
Treasury, which was shortly thereafter
laid before Congress, in which he recon-
mended the imposition of duties at the rate
of 20 per cent. al valorem on all free ar
tces, with specified exceptions, and sta
ted, "f this measure be adopted, there
will be received in the Treasury from Gus
toms, in the last quarter of the present
year (ls4l,) $4,000, 900; in all of the
year 1912, about S22, 100000; and in
the year 1913, after the final reduction
under the act of March 3, 1888, about
$20,s0O, O0O;" and adds, sit is believed
that after the heavy expenditures required
by the public service in the present ycal
shall have been provided for, the revenue
which will accrue from that or nearly
proxima,e rate of duty, will be sulicien
10 deiray the expenses of the government
and leave a surplus to be annually applied
to the gradual payment of the naliona
debt. leaving the proceeds of the pubE'
lands to be disposed of as Congress shall
sec fit"
| was most happy that Congress, al TIT
time, seemed entirely to concur in the re
concentrations of the Executive, and, an
ticipaling the correctness of the Secretary
conclusions, and in view of an actual sur
plus, passed the Distribution act of the Al
Of September last, wisely limiting its ope
ration by two conditions, having reference
both of them, TO possible state of tn
Treasury, different from that which ha
been anticipated by the Secretary Of tn
Treasury, and to the paramount neccss
ties of the public service. 1t ordaine
that Z" If at any time during the exis,enc
Of that act, there should be an impositio
Of duties on imports inconsistent with tn