The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-05-17
The Presidents Veto Message.
o the Senate of the United Siates:

The bill entitled .sAn act IN aking gran,
of public lands TO the several States for the
benefit Of INDECENT insane persons which
was presented 10 me on the 9th ul!irno.
has been maturely considered, and is re-
turned to the Senate the House in which
| i, originated, with a statement Of the OBJ.
jec,ions which have required me to with
hold from it my approval a...;4 49,
| In the performance Of this duty pre-
scribed by the Constitution, have been
compelled to resis, tie deep sympathies OF
my own heart in favor OF the humane pur-
pose sought to be accomplished. and to
overcome the reluctance with which | dis
sent from the conclusions Of the two Houses
af Congress. and present my own opin-
ions in opposition to tho action of n CO.
ordinate branch oitthe Government. which
possesses so fully my confidence and re-
spect. .H 37-F2 l
Ii, in presenting my objections to this
bill, should say more than strictly be-
longs to the measure. or is required TO, the
discharge Of my official obligation. let il
be attributed to sincere desire 10 us;ity
my ACT before those whose good opinion /
so highly value, and 10 that earnestness
which springs from my deliberate conyic-
ZION, that a strict adherence to the terms
and pursoses o. the Federal compact, of
iers the best. if,not the only, security for
the preservation Of our blessed inheritance
of representative liberty.
The bill provides. in substance:
First That ten millions OF acres OF
land be granted to the several States. to be
apporiioned among them in the compound
ratio Of the geographical area. and rep.
of said States in the House OF
representatives. a.-
| Second. That wherever there are public
Hands in State subject to sale al the reg
uar price Of private entry. the. proportion
'of said ten millions Of acres falling to such
State. shall be selsc,edirom such lands
Within it; ansitl,at to the States. in which
there are no such public lands. ,land scrip
| shall be issued toihe amount Of their dis
lribotive shares, respectively; said scrip
not TO be entered. by said States. but TO be
sold by them. and subject to entry by their
Eassignees. provided that none oI it shall
| be sold at less than one dollar. per acre.
under penalty OF forfeiture OF the same to
the United States. s4r s
| Third. That the expenses Of the man.
agement and superintendepce Of said
lands. and of the moneys received there
from shall be paid by the States TO which
they may belong. out of the. treasury o.
said States. IL. fa,..
Fourth s'rha, the gross proceeds Of the
sales OF such lands. or land .scrip so grant
ed, shah be. iaxesisd- by. Iha4 several State.
| in safe stocks. to consiituts a perpetual
fund, the principal OF which shall remain
! forever undi,nillislied, and the interest Il
be appropriated to the maintenance Of the
INDECENT insane within the several States
Fifth. That annual returns o! lands o,
scrip sold shall be made by the States IL
the Secretary Of The Interior. and the Whole
grant be subject to certain conditions ant
limitations prescribed in the bill. TO be AS
seri,ed 10 by Legislative acts Of said States
This bill. therefore. proposes that the
Federal Government siral make pt ovisior
to the amount Of the value OF ten million:
of acres OF land, Tor an eleemosynary oh
iect within the several States. TO be admin
istered by the political authority Of ,h,
same; and it presents. at the threshold
the question whether any such act. on tn,
1 part OF the Federal Government. is war
): ranted aud sanctioned bv the Constitution
the provisions and principles OF which ar,
4 to be protected aud sustained as d frs
and paramount duty. ass& ls - .
!, II cannot be questioned that If Congress
have power to make provision for the in
, digent insane without the limits Of th
, District. il has the same power TO provid
for the INDECENT who are not insane; ant
thus to transfer to the Federal Govern
} meDt the charge of all the poor in all III
| States. II has the same power TO 'provid
hospitals aud other local establishment
! Tor The care and cure OF every species o
) human infirnity, and thus To assume al
, that duty of either public philanthropy. o
public necessity TO the dependent, the or
J phan, the sick, or the needy, which is no,
discharged by the States themselves, or b,
| corporate institutions. or private endow
, men,s existing under the legislation OF tn
, States. The whole field of public benefi
! cence Is thrown open 10 the care and cul
ture OF the Federal Government. Gencr
, Gus impulses no longer encounter the Iimi
T taions and control Of our imperions fun
Qamental law. FoT, however WoFthy ma
5 be the present object in itself. it is onl
. lone of a class. |, is not exclusively wor
v thy OF benevolent reg ard. Whatever con
! silera,ions dictate sympathy for this par
/ ulariobject, apply, in like manner, ii no
lin the. same degree, to idiotcy. 10 physica
i disease, to extreme fdesiilution.t II Con
a gress may and ought 10 provide for an.
/; one Of these objects, j, may and ought i:
!? provide for them all. Aud if il be doue il
n .his case. what answer shall be given
. when Congress shall be called upon. as j
!. doubtless will be, to pursue a similar cours
!, of legislation in the others? :, II viii. obvi
E lously, be vain to reply that the. objee, j
!. worthy but ,hatth application, has take
;. la wrong direction. eas
y The. power will have been deliberatel
! assumed, the general obligation will. b
e this act. have been acknowledged. and III
$ question of means and expediency wi
e alone be left for consideration The de-
4 cision upon the principle. in any one case
II determines il for the whole class. rh
!! question presented. therefore, clearly
,tupon the constitu,ionality andipropriety :
? the Federal Governments assuming to enie