Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-01-14
THE VETU MESSAGE.


the close Of the last session Of Congress,
a bill was passed making appropriations
for tho improvement of the western rivers
and the harbOrs on the lakes. The presi-
dent not being willing 10 sign the bill, il
was defeated by what is termed "pocket
yeto.' At the commencement of the
present session, however, he comes out
with an elaborate Message, not only in
justification of his course, but to prove
. that the whole history and practice of
the United States Government. the con-
duct Of his predecessors, and even his oacn
acts, have been wrong, and in violation Of
the Constitution" The president thinks
IN granting these appropriations, g conf
dence, at home and abroad, in the wisdom
and prudence of the government, would
be so far impaired as TO make it difficult
to maintain the public credit, and to pre-.
serve the honor of the nation and the oIo
ny OF our arms, IN prosecuting the existing
war TO successful conclusion" So It
appears, as far rs the president is concern
ed, at least, the interest Of the citizens of
the great west is 10 be sacrificed. TO graf
ity the Prejudices of the man they have
elevated to the highest office in the Gift
of free people. We trust however that
there is sufficient independence in Con-
gress 10 pass the bill without the aid Of Mr.
Polk. We are gratifed TO see the stand
taken by several members who have here.
tofore acted with the President. in all
the leading measures ofhis administration.
The following pertinent remarks Of Mr..
Petit, democratic member from Indiana.
are as conclusive as any thing we have
seen upon the subject:
Mr.. Pitt wished to detain the House
on that motion. If any man more than
another could claim the honor Of having
raised Mr.. Polk TO the Presidential chair.
he could do it. If any man more than an
other could claim the introduction Of the
tariff Of 1916 as his own measure. he
could do IT. In short, if any one, then he
himself might claim the honor of having
brought about all the great measures Of
reform which the government had recent
y adopted = from the great financial
measures which had been adopted, ard
the improvements IN the commercial in.
terests Of the nation, and the glorious dis
play of their victorious arms on the battle
fields of Mexico. So with regard TO IN.
crnal Improvements he was prepared to
go as far as any man could consistently
go. He was not little surprised at the
course which the President had seen fit 10
adopt. He once understood the President
10 be IN favor of Improvements in the
navigation Of salt water and the lakes
now, II seemed that he was in favor OF
no Improvements at all. With regard TO
the power to improve harbors and rivers,
lie understood the President TO saw. that
in no line of the constitution did this
power exist. He understood him 10 de-
moliSh it, line by line, like a straw. He
could not agree with the President in thus
pertinaciously declaring that they had no
power to clear out harbors, rivers. &c
He could not agree, however with some
gentlemen, that under the power to regu-
late commerce. they had power to dig ca
mails &c. Neither would he agree with
his colleague on his right, strictly in say
ing that they had the power, by the pro
vision of the constitution for the rcrula
ton of commerce. to improve all harbors
and rivers. In what part of the consti-
tuition, then, was this power to be found
lie had laid II down rs urinciple. that
wherever the power was found in that IN
strumont, there were also found all the IN.
cJdental provisions for CARRYING out that
power. BY what authority had the Pres
ident's mansion been built, except that
the constitution provided that there should
he President, and he must reside some
where Ey what power had this Capitol
been erected, except that the constitution
provided for the meeting Of Congress, and
they must Of necessity have a place 10
meet an 7 BY the same mode OF reason [
'ng, he sustained the proposition which he /.
LAID down. that the power necessarily i'm !
piled the means for carrying it out. So. I
IN the present case, the assertions Of the /
President 10 the contrary notvithstand- /