Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-08-16
directly condemning the veto Of Prcsident
Polk. was as follows:

"s"hS TIE veto Of PrcSidel
" Polk. was as follows:
AKesofred. That the reason. assigned bx =
l. President in his veto message Of 5th n...yy
ISL. for his refussl Ia approve and s;sn -. =:
passed March ID. 1917. making arpsopr;.s;n,
Tor the improvement Of certain karhov, =.
rivers, are deemed insufficient and unsstisf.e
tory"
{ This resolution was adopted b. a yo,,
J OF ninety-onr tan ayes to seventy onc IN
) nays. pom this resolution many Of thos,
democratic members who profess 10 b,
friendly to Internal Improvements. and
who voted for the bill which was vetoed.
refused TO VOTE. Their dread Of their
constituents would not permit then, to vote
IN approval Of the Presidents course.
while their party E.alty and their dread 81
Executive displeasurc. equally prevented
them from votin. in condemn alton of il.
ddsIcr part OF valor.- and declined the re-
sponsibility of voting on either side.
/. SIR. there can be no doubt Of the fact
ihat large majority Of the people desire
these appropriations to be made. lf tho
river and harbor bills which have been We.
iocd could be submitted to the direct test
ct popular vote. there would be an over.
whel"ing majority in their favor. Let me
inquire. sir. in what way. under our
Constitution. are the wishes Of the people,
1" regard to matters Of internal policy,
to be asccrtained! have always sup
posed. under q republican government like
ours. that the wishes and opipions of tho
people were to be make known through
their Representatives. These Rcprescn.
tatives are elected from every district.
They come here after personal inter.
course with the people Of every town. viii
lage. and neighborhood. Their opinions
upon these questions are presented 10 tho
people before the election. and they como
here pledged to vote in accordance with
those opinions thus expressed. Yet, sir.
we are gravely told that the opinions Of
the President are TO be taken as the test
al public sentiment. and that the people,;
Representatives must not dare to pass any
bill which conflicts with his opinions.
And this is csllcd Dcmocracy Well
might ! repeat the exclamation made on
Yesterday By the gentleman from Georgia;
MIR. lvcrson,) I'D shame! where is thy
blusl!'
Ii is a matter Of surprise and astonish.
ncnt that such sentiments can he advanc-
cd in a free government; and that those
who promulge .hem are not hurled by tho
people, whom. they are calculated 10 de-
grade. from place aud power.
Let me inquire whether the people Nv.
ing on the margin OF the Ohio river, who
are represented by my Democratic coll,
leagues. Mr.. Henley aud Mr.. Robimson,)
are opposed to appropriations for the in..
provement Of that river! How is il with
the constituents Of any democratic coilea.
que. Mr.. Cathca ART. } whose district borders
on Lake Michigan! Are they opposed to
for lake harbors! How is
il with the people Of Tie great COMMERCIAL
city of St. Louis. represented here by a
Democrat. CHR. Bowlin)! Arc tGey opt.
posed to appropriations for the improve;
'"cnt of the Mississippi river! | should
ike TO Hear from the gentleman frpm
Chicago. (Mr. Noteworthy is his dis.
trict. with its four thousand democratic
opposed TO the improvement Of
lake ,harbors!
Here Mr.. Wentworth, remarked that he
always voted for the river and harbor Lill.,1
Yes. (said Mr.. Smith,) | admit yoi al
ways vote for these bills, and then You are
always sure TO vote for a man for Presi.
dent who will veto them. How long will
It take your constituents to get their hsr.
bors completed under this system Of hav.
ing Representative to vote for tile Hills
in Congress. and a President TO veto ihcii
alter they are passed.
might enumerate many other Dcmo.
cratic members here whose constituents
are largely Interested in iHese works, and
desire these appropriations. They are sd
numerous as TO leave no doubt Of the
strong Predominaiing sentiment Of the
in their favor. Nor is this express
sion Of the Representatives Of the people
in their favor, a mere ebullition Of ieelibt
growing out Of local excitement. II IS
the deliberate and settled judgment Of tho
founded upon knowledge Of its
ncce ssities and rights. II has been ex-
pressed time and again, in Democratic as
well as Wing Congresses. overriding all
the force and discipline Of party, and re.
sisting all the threats and promises Of Ex.
ecutive power. But what avails. Mr..
Spea ker. these expressions Of the peoples
will in regard TO this system of policy?I
What boots it that their Representatives.
decide by large majorities in their favorl
There sits in the '.Wbite House, our
Democratic President, claiming TO be Inc
peoples master, and armed with the for.
nidable power of the veto. telling Them:
II forbid these appropriations
And why. sir. under free govcrnhienf,
should a system like this bic loleratedl-
Why should the veto power. designed by
the trainers of the Constitution Gr purpo-
ses SO different. be suffered to he Used a
an instrument Of tyranny 10 control and
lhwan the - ishcs aud Interests Of the oco.
plel Let me inquire Of those ON the oh.
ef side Of the House who make such loud
professions Of their Democracy, do yod
consider the people capable 81 scifgov-
ernment.Are they competent TO determine
what policy should be adopted BY dieii
Government! ATE yots siliise - -.
knowledge The principle. thaa the willof DID
country should be carried into execu(ion3
You IRE profatse in yodr avossais If I Is:
gard fbr popular rights. Yoa esdsai0r ID
create the false insPsssuiis1v - dose ved
refuse TO subscribe 10 lkcipJes o(
your bastard Deupocrarsot $500 ~