Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-05-26


| exceedingly regret that the Pres
dent of the United States has felt
himself obliged to return this bill to
the Senate without his approval
This feeling of regret, | doubt not,
will be very extensively shared by
the country at large. have listen
ed TO the message which has ust
been read in our hearing, not with
sentiments of regre' only, but with
no small degree Of disappointment
and even of surprise. apprehend
it will strike the country with equal
disappointment ami surprise disap-
poIntment at the loss, the probable
loss, Of So just and benedcent mea-
sure, and surprise at the reasons as
signed by the Executive for arresiing
its passage. II is true had heard
il in whispers all around as doubt
lie, most of us had, even before the
passage of the bill through this cham
Der; ! had read it IN ;elegraphic de-
spatches. and in written communica-
lions sent off to distant parts of the
country and TO distant presses,
forthwith upon IFS passage through
the other House, that the bill was TO
be arrested by the Executive veto. |
was nevertheless incredulous. | was
not then prepared to believe, am
not now quite prepared to believe,
that the President had so far depart
ed from the manifest prophecies Of
his position as TO have authorized
these announcements. am not pre-
pared to believe that any one was
authorized TO apprise the country of
a fore one conclusion of the Presi-
dent as to his action upon this bill,
should 1t be presented for his consid-
Grafton. Nor am | prepared to be-
lieye that, IN advance OF the action
OF Congress upon the question, and
during lis tendency. he would at
tempt TO control or influence their
action upon IT 10y causing it To be
! made known To them, through any
covert or indirect communication,
that 1t was the Executive pleasure
that the Congress of the United
States would not pass this bill.
But, sir, the matter is no longer in
suspense. The veto has come. 1t,
Tor once at least, yeri6es the utter
ance OF the thousand lying tongues
Of rumor. Wha, but yesterday was
at most only apprehended has 10 day
actual, come to pass. Wha, but
yesterday was only darkly limited or
but dlmly and doublfully foreboded
has today become historic truth. 1t
IS not my purpose, nor am ! at all
disposed, to lmpugn the motives of
the President in Withholding his as.
sent from the bill trust under
stand too well the proprielies which
belong to this presence, and appreci-
ale too well the respect which is due
10 the Chief Magistrate of the coum-
try, 10 allow me TO call in question
the integrity OF his purpose or even
To indulge IN unavaillng complaint on
account of his official action. In
tins, ! concede, he has but exercised
an undoubted constitutional preroga-
tive. But it is, nevertheless, my right
aud privilege, as II is the right and
privilege Of every Senator, in re-
specttu terms, to endeavor To answer
his objections, and 10 examine. with
entire freedom, the grounds upon
which he has chosen to rest his iudg-
ment.
No objection is made, and none
could have been made. that this is
an act of hasty and inconsiderale le-
gislalion. In fact this bill has recei.
we'd larger share Of consideration in
both houses, not only of the present,
but Of preceding Congresses, than
has ordinarily been bestowed upon
other measures OF more or less pub
nc Importance and, upon full dis
cnsslon, has received the sanction OF
more decisive majorllies than most
measures have been able to command
upon division. The President
makes no objection to the object of
the bill. He admits il to be an en-
inenlly humane and praseworlhy
measure, and Processes profound re-
greet that, upon other grounds he
finds himself unable to give his sane
ton to a bill whose end, and aim,
and object are so noble and bene6-
cent. The character of The meas
ure, as one of comprehensive benev-
olence and philanthropy, is not ques-
TONED.
| will take occasion 10 remark here
that, so far as the simple question of
the policy or expedlency of meas
ure is concerned, il belongs properly
i will not say exclusively -to the
legislative department; that, excep,
in rare and peculiar cases, it furnish
es no justiii.hle consideration for the
interposition of the negative power
of the Executive. The exercise of
this remnant of despotic power ought
rarely to be resorted to, and then on
ly in cases of hasly and inconsiderate
legislation, and in cases of fragrant
aud palpable injustice, neither of
which is imputed to this bill, and in
cases OF manifest infracilon Of the
Constitution. ! say manifest infrac-
ton, because | hold that if a legisla-
tive act be Of doubtful constitution
ality, yet of conceded justice and
bene6cence in its operation, and con-
ducive to The public interest, ii is
! haiIar q . Z. .rana.nl Ill. a.. LII. Il L.