The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-27
WASHINGTON SATURDAY, MAY 81, 1854.

printed with and delberaon than IL possible
to give upon merely hearing read from tho Secretary
table Before making this motion, however end pending
the question Of printing the extra number desire 10 submit
70 the Senate few remarks IN reference 10 some of the POI
sions OF the message. All will admit tina, Il very I'M
portant document not merely affecting the fate of this
BILL bat involving the whole policy OF the government in
respect to the administration OF the public lands
exceedingly regret that the President VI the United
States has felt himself obliged To this bill 10 The Sem
ate without his approval This feeling of regret doubt
not will be very extensively shared by the country at large
have listened TO the message, which has just been read IN
our hearing not with sentiments al regret only but with no
small degree of disappointment, and of surprise
apprehend \ will strike the country with equal disappoa.-
able oss OF so just and benehcent measure and surprise
at the assigned by the Executive for arrestng It's
passage 1t is true had heard it in whispers, all around,
doubtless most of had before the passage of the
bill through this chamber had read in teegraphic deS
patches and in written communications sent oil to distant
of the country and to distant forthwith upon
It's through the other house, that the bill was to be
arrested by the Executive veto. was nevertheless m
cscduous was not then prepared to believe, am not
quite prepared to believes that the President had SO Tar
departed from the manifest proprees of his position ns TO
have authorized these announcements am not prepared
to believe that any authorized apprisc tho
Of foregone conclusion ofhe President to his action
upon the BILL should he presented for his consideration
Nor prepared believe that in advance Of tho action
of Congress upon the question: and during its pendency he
would attempt control influence their action upon by
causing to be made known to them, through any covert
indirect communication, that the executive pleasure
that the Congress- of the United States would not this
| bill. @
But, sir, the longer in suspense The veto
has come It, for once at least veres the uteranco OF the
Thousand lying tongues of rumor What but yesterday
was most only apprehended, has to-day actually come
to pass What but yesterday only darkly hined or
but dimy and donbuy foreboded has to-day become his
torie truth 1t is not purpose ut all disposed
impugn tie motives of the President in Withholding his
assent to the bill understand too we'll the pro-
priees which belong to this presence and appreciate too
well the respect which due to the Chief Magistrate of the
country allow to call in question the integrity OF his
purpose even to indulge in unavaing complaint on &C
count of his official action In this concede, he has but
exercised undoubtcd constitutional prerogatve But it
s nevertheless, my right and privilege, the right and
privilege of every senator in respectful terms, to endeayor
TO his objections, and examine, with entire free
dom, the grounds which he has chosen to rest his
judgment .,, -.
that this of hasy and nconsiderate legislation In
fact this bill recived larger share of consideration in
both houses, only of the present, but of preceding
Congresses than has ordinarily been bestowed upon other
measures of more less public Importance and upon full
discussion has received the Of decisive major
tiles than have been able to command upon
division The President makes objection TO the object
of the bill He admits 1t TO be an eminenty humane and
prasewohy measure and Processes profound regret that
upon other grounds he finds himself unable TO give his
sanction bill whose end and am and object noble
and bcnecent The character Of the measure, of
comprehensive beneyoence and philanthropy not ques-
toned Ela @
i will take occasion to remark here that so far as the
simple question Of the policy expediency Of is
concerned, belongs property will not say exclusively
the legislative departments that except in rare aud pecu-
erpostlon of the negative power of the Executive The
exercise of this of despotc power ought rarely
to be resored and then only Of hasty and ncon-
sdeaie legislation and Of fragrant and papable
Justice neither of which imputed this bill and
of manifest nfraetion of the constitution say manifest
nracton because hold that fa Legislative act be of doubt
ul consutonsiy yet of conceded justice aud benecence
in its operation, and conducive the public Interest," 10
BETTER general rule suffer it to become law, and to
submit the question of It's consiiuuonay TO the Judicial
tribunals Of the country than that the should be
arrested by nteposon OF the Executive veto that would
deprive the country Of the benefits Of of admitted
benehcence and utility, which the courts might adudge TO
be constitutional the question could be brought be-
! fore them
The chief and controlling objection Of the President
this BILL understand from his message, upon
stutioDa considerations. He regards it infringement
upon the constitutional His heart approves the object of the
b but the Of has best intellectual powers does
enable him find authority under The constitution make
the grant He painfully anxious approve the bill
for the amount OF good would accomplish, but the
constitution orbds This BILL which makes grant of ten
millions of Of the public ands to be oquaby APP
portoncd all the States, and s for
the relief and support OF the INDECENT insane of the
try he thinks is violation Of the constitution am
unable TO concur IN thus opinion. dissent from en-
trely with all doc respect the authority from which II
emanat.s This bill undertake say, nearly than
any which has been passed by Congress- and presented
the consideration Of any Executive out according
TO its spirit and It's letter. the original contract by which the
public lands cedeI the federal government by the
States ders from hundreds Of acts which have received
the Of every Congress and of every President al
most from the foundation OF the government, only insomuch
az il is more general more universal IL benefocn
in It's operation Yet IN the opinion Of our President II il
unconstitutional This, after all, ~ but the opinion OF
man. though that be the President Of the United States
Bot suppose that Presidents always infalble
postors OF the constitution that President Pierce may
fall into question Of constitutional construction
At his opinion this instance Is subject TO
animation and lie this unconstitutional
Wehave already expressed opinion by the Of the
b that il Is not. Every Congress and every President
under the constitution, has expressed the opinion chat Il IL
not by the passage md approval Of bills involving the
principles end the same question Of power.
James Monroe and the Congressof 1919 found no con-
stituOnal difficulty IN making grant Of township of the
public lands the State Of Connecticut for the benefit OF
asylum for the deaf and dumb. John Quincy Adams and
ton upon the constitution 10 granting township OF the
public lands the State Of Kentucky for like purpose
those constitutional and this unconstitutional
Those like this, in AID Of objects Of benevoence
and charity Those grants individual States, and
single and isolated objecs This grants all the States
and therein just and equitable f there be any dis
tineon In principle, ie in favor OF the bill under
consideration Those like this, designated the object
Of the grnns and by necessary inference restricted tire
States the application Of the proceeds Of grants the
object specified This differs from those insomuch
il embraces all Of particular class throughout the country
II Dispenser It's blessings far and wide the soourge
Of the msledy IL proposes to relieve.
Let here remark, In passing that the power dis
pose Of the public Understanding that Congress has that
powcrcarries with proprio pgoe the power to impose
conditions. II would present anomaly legislation
make appropriation Of money without specifying the
cct Of Il. Would It be any the ess to make grant Of
land to State without designating the object Of it, and
thereby restricting tho application Of s proceeds that OBJ
ectl This point requires argument Where the upon
your sntuobooks gantng lands TO any State which does
specify the object Of the grant and thus by
implication restrict the State in the application Of the pro-