Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-08-13
The Veto.

The Message Of the President vetoing the bill for the
payment OF the claims arising from French Spoiatons
American Commerce prior TO lsOO read in the Senate
on Monday last. We condene from the Baltimore Amer.
Gao the following sketch Of what said and JoRo
Mr.. J. NJ CLAYTON said this the first time in the his
Tory the u States that the had been applied pr
bill The President had undertaken TO veto this BILL
and pronounce the claim doubtful one, without having
a he confessed, examined II thoroughly.
Mr. c. did intend TO make speech against the
power express a desire 10 have expunged from
constitutions but he wished say that this OF the
IN which designed by the trainers Of the
constitution that the power should be exercised. Such
Of placed the claims OF individuals in the hands
OF without the TO appeal from his decision
except nominal appeal. Ancient democracy sought
10 restrict the Executive power-modern democracy,
the contrary, seeks to enIargeit.
Mr. c. then entered into brief review Of the reasons
given by the President for his Veto and exposed their fall
Mr. WEBSTER said he must forego what he intended to
upon this and upon the FIRST Of this administration
but opportunity should Offer here but in mingng
with his fellow citizens, he intended discuss them both
length.
MIR. W. said he would now content himself with protes
tng against this veto-proestng against It's principle
principle and alarming IN the history OF Executive
power lie protested against the nconclusye weak
in lis and act Of great and crying Bus
hundreds and thousands Of PERSONS who have been
applying 10 their country for upwards Of 40 years and
repfohended for having applied so long.
Mr.. w said the principle Of the veto dangerous
No question Of Constitutional law had arisen 1t was q
private claim, and had been investigated by Congress
through Committees OF both Houses passed. and the
President vino could not and had not investigated it, had
undertaken veto a.
Mr.. BENTON defended the Veto and said i, involved
principle older than any constitutional question, and that
whether government bound 90 to foco.
debt due To ts citizens, pay il.
Mr.. MoREHEAD briefly replied, and oonended that
the question presented By the Senator from Mo was not
the question at ssue-but that the real question whoh
the United States not bound indemnify these cai
mnnts tor their claims which II had undertaken ren-
qush France for valuable considerations lie concluded
by protesting against the veto as new sind dangerous
eroise Of Executive power.
Mr. WEBsrEE briefly stated the question involved in the
bill IL not whether this had prosecuted
these elaine with proper vgor MOTT not whether
Il was bound TO to war for hom whether quasi
al-bnt twas SIMPLY whether having made Of them
10 procure the renqushment Of large claims which France
held against ~ and thus precudng their by
citizens against the French government our government
was or was not bound TO pay them.
Mr. DIV briefly defended the veto, and alluded 20 the
small msIorites by which the bill bad passed in both
Houses
Mr HUuEoToy protested agains the veto in behalf Of
The caimaI1 and hoped tho bill would pass n spite Of It,
Mr. "a. CLAYTON again sad few words 8 10 tho no
tue OF the claim aud took the occasion neither
he nor any relative, cry in any way connected
with hin bad ony interest, direct Indirect the amount
Of a single cent In Them.
The qusdon then put, "s1a this bill pass the OBJ
Jtcon n tho President 10 the contrary Notwithstanding "
and che yeas and nays being ordered resulted yeas 81
nays %
80 tsO-hitdsnot voting in the affirmative, the bill wa,
Lost
The closing remark Of Mr. Clayton wss elected BY tho
couro u NJ Allen, who rcad from Jefefs5ns Manual a
cauc, declaring that member could not vote on any bill
IN whch he had pcounisy interest Mr. Clayton asked
M. a. he meant intimate thst he or any member on
she, aDor interested in this hill but Mr. A. refused
20 give direct snswof-iayng that he reed the lsw-and
that " VS. interested, t spilled 10 no ono Hh
purpose meany insnuae what he dared not nssor
The National lutellgencer says u sl the Senators ID
ths civ bad been present "ts probable that wohird
would have shewn the Of the Senate upon tb
hs, introduction into The Gsnsrs Government Of Oh,
principle 81 RErUpauos IN Of is revolving forms
SO refy obnoxious t adds) the principles Of s
ihs moral sense, that there Senators politics
isuds the President) who voted against the bill whsr
passed hat body and yet would sgsns, IL upor
thit qaesuon Of su.tsnina the veto"
a. We are Informed By The Washington Union o
Moadsy nieh uat "ho BIN confirming the Cherokee
a. firh hsd haca tWicr rsred in the Senate on gstur