Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-12-15
VERMONT PHOENIX.
BrattIeboro, Friday, Dec. Is, lS4S.
Mr. Folks Message.

We published last week so much of Mr. Folks
message as related to matters within his const-
tutional duty to report to Congress; the remain.
der of !. is occupied by dcnunciation and abuse
Of his political opponents and their principles
defence Of the veto power, Just condemned by
the people-and an attempt to prove that Con-
gress is not, in truth, so faithful representative
Of the popular will as the Executive, and that, as
"the people may be temporarily misled," the
despotic veto Of the President is necessary in
order to keep them in the right path.
With every disposition to treat with courtesy
the official acts of the Administration, VIC feel no
obligation to aid in furthering what we regard rs
a fraud upon the public and upon Congress
We shall not therefore publish the remainder Of
the message, unless in connection with continents
on the veto power which may hereafter be made
1t is political and partisan essay, upon past po-
litical measures and parties, assuming to speak
Of the motives Of bis political opponents and
falsely attributing TO them the mos, odious that
he can conceive of,--inserted in an official docu-
ment, to give it greater importance and wider
circulation.
], is a fraud, because, not being the proper
subject matter Of an official message, the last
part Of it is an electioneeHng document annex
ed to the message, and circulated Mt the expense
Of the Government
1t is fraud, because, it being customary for
political opponents to publish official papers Of
that Kind, the President attempts to make them
the vehicle Of denunciaiion and abuse Of them
selves, by inserting it fraudulenty in bis mes.
sage.
Nearly six columns Of the message are devoted
to mean and unmanly attack upon the motives
and conduct Of his political opponents, and upon
the measures which wero at issue in the recent
election. No other President, not even Johr
Tyler ever descended 50 low, or earned for him,
self such unqualified contempt.
Mr. Polk arrogantly assumes that the party tC
which be belongs Is the sole depository Of III,
principles Of republican government, and mod
es,ly accuses the people, whenever his party i
defeated, Of ignorance of their own interests
and defends the veto power in LOcoioco Presi
dent, as necessary check upon the rash anc
has,y conduct Of the people and their represent
atives in Congress, who, according to Mr. Polk
cannot safely manage their own affairs, withou
, the supervision Of the Executive.
Mr. Polk praciced, in his celebrated Kane let
ter, vile fraud upon the people Of Pennylva
mia, by inducing them to believe be was in favor
Of the tariff Of 1912. lie remained silent pend
ing his election, when he knew he was repre-
sented in that State as friend Of the tariff. by
this means be fraudulcnily secured his election.
lie deceived them then, for he made 1t the inst
use Of his power to break down the tariff Of AZ
The people Of that State have remembered
and rewarded that treAehery, and Gen. Taylor
owes his election to the marked condemnation
BY the people Of Mr. Polk's treaeherous destrue-
ton of the tariff of 4?. Yet Mr. Polk lectures
the people whom he thus grossly deceived, like
a school-boy, for daring TO condemn his treach-
cry, and rePudiate his tariff OF 1886.
SO, again--Gcn. Taylor stood more openly
committed to a restricted use of the veto power,
than any other measure, and bis election is an
emphatic popular approval Of that principle
Yet Mr. Polk Justify defends the veto power,
and tells the people they are easily "misled, {"
are always wrong when they differ from the
Democratic party, and that an Executive veto
prevents their going wrong.
This message is assuredly about the coolest
piece of impudence, and the most contemplate
partizan document ever published by an officer
Of the Government. We shall recur to this
matter again, when we have more space.