The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-09
THE PUBLIC LANDS AND THE VETO POWER.

lhE fUbLlt LANDS AND ThE SkIO roWEh.
The last four Democratic National Conventions adopted
the following emphatic resolutions;
Rssossd That the proceeds public Lands ought 10
be saeredy applied 10 the national objects specified the
constitutions and that opposed any Law for the
trbuton Of such proceeds among the States alike ne1ps
dent in policy and repagnant 10 the constitution.
"Rssopsd That decidedly opposed taking from
the President the qualified power BY which he enabled
under restrictions and responsibilities amply sacent
guard the public interests 10 suspend the passage OF bill
whose merits the approval Of twothd Of hs
Senate and House of Representatives ca. the judgment
the people DO obtained thereon and which has saved
the American people from the corrupt and rannic4 dos-
on Of the Bank the United States and from corruptng
system Of general internal improvements"
The fidelity with which these two resolutions have
been adhered has been less the subject Of congra
laton the democracy than OF benefit to the country
With singular application to the veto Of President
Pierce the resolutions may be found in the order In which
print them in the published proceedings Of the National
Democratic Conventions and in this order they were
adopted.
The democratic party foressw that the veto not
only necessary put down the schemes Of corrupt con-
binaton Of bankers and ney-changers but that it
should be used check the advances Of that tide do
morazaon which, baied in its direct assaults upon the
treasury would be turn with unsated appetite upon
the public lands the best OF promoting per
and local objects Deeply and widely the people
Of this country have suffered in their direct and interme
date interests from the despotism and corrupons Of
great moneyed institution and grateful to this day they
are that ii is TO the veto power boldly welded they
indebted for final and complete from these evils
it be doubted that the msapplication Of the
public lands would be the reopening Of fountain Of
woes, which, like the fatal box given to Pandora by
Jupiter, would pour and devastation upon
all the land The which have demanded, and
still demand tie distribution Of the sales Of the pub
lie lands a,aong the States proceeded indeed from the
school Of politicians who insisted upon the Bank
the United States who fastened bankrupt law upon the
country, who advocated high tariff and who adhere to
this day in spite OF the lessons Of experience to the per
ncious doctrine of loose construction Of the constu
ton Had General Pierce allowed the project which his
noble and timely veto has arrested, to pass into law
an Of legislation would have been naugurated, from
which, in few years. the whole people would recoil with
instructive dread We should have had lands granted
every imaginable purpose under the fascinating plea
One class would ask Congress to educate the
poor Of the different States another improve the rivers
and harbors another to build up vast navy another
beautify the national Capitoal TO be paid of the
sales of millions Of Of public lands Not the least Of
the rapidly resulting camites would be the throwing into
the market of of the eminent domain which
necessity would compel TO sudden sale, and of which
SPECTATORS would take advantage to buy and absorb
almost empires of SOIL to be held by them and 10 be used
to coin enormous profits of the future emigran and
settlers
The courageous attempts that have been made
upon the constitution Of the United States we except the
perseyerng hostility OF the abolition party have proceeded
from those who have plausbly reasoned against its true
bearing upon the States and have induced communities
believe in their doctrines in their sincerity by offer
ing many gifts many tributes local benevoen,
objects Mr. Clay, with his mighty influence and high tai
en practically believed in the principles Of the
fathers Of the constitution patriotic he was in many Of
the Of his public life Mr. Webster master Of
the school and he than his great contemporary
resisted the advance Of the strict sateqhts view
constitutional obligations. Both, know, contcnded
against the power when that power applied
protect the fundamental law, well the
mon welfare.
The veto Of President Pierce nothing II destroys
nothing II simply pospones the consideration OF grave
question to allow The people to decide whether it was
right and proper for Congress powers not dele
gated the President believes by the plain and obvous
meaning Of the constitution. The Congress of the
to the States by the constitution IAN powers dele
gated 10 he United States by the constitution
the words amor prohibited by 1t to the States
served to the States respectively the people on
all the powers reserved 70 the people al to the Sa,e
spccyey that be the eeacst tina, Congress should
legislate for objects strictly the Of States
aud not for the common advantage No matter how the
design may be disguised expressed land herein lies The
danger the people should resist all attempts TO gpore
the plain meaning of the constitution, when ,hose
attempts in the attractive shape Of largesscs 70 them
selves-as for instance the bill for the relief Of the ind
gent insane Doubtless shall have General Pierce
sailed upon the various I'D ooptandrm grounds so wei
adapted 70 the scienc. Of arguing against the honest
depreciation q he constitution; and and roiccs
win be loudly invoked against him because he would
sign bill 10 gise away aesriain amount u public lands
the indR gent insane But he relies confidently upon
intelligence Of his countrymcn He bases his acoa upoh
the warnings Of the days Of the revolutionary era lie be-
eves that the people insinctvely shrink from any viola
ton Of the plain intentions Of the athers Of the republic
in their charter Of hhcrythe constitution Of the limited
States. Apart from this high and conscientious conric
honn itself controlling and conclusive If there
other obsaeleshc has given cogcui reasons another
character, which should be satisfactory and which time
viii fully usain The public lands are pledged for alsrg
portion Of thc public debt They have always been
gardcd a. The s0ircc Of in time Of war Further
more IN TIE words Of General Pierce: