The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-05-19
Veto Message.


Returning to the Senate the bill entitled " An
king grant of public lands TO the several States for
the benefit of indi gent insane persons, with state
ment ofthe objections which have required him to
withhold from IL his approval.
To the Senate Of The Uniteu States:
The bill, entitled &c An act making grant OF
public lands the several States for the benefit of
! INDECENT insane persons" which presented to
! me on The 9th uItimo has been matureIy consid-
cred, and is returned to the Senate the house in
which it originated, with 4 statement Of objections
which have required me 10 withhold from it my
approval.
In The performance Of thisduty prescribed by the
! Constitution, | have been compelled 10 resist the
deep sympathies of my heart liz favor of the hu-
name purpose sought 10 be accomplished, and to
overcome the reluctance with which dissent from
the conclusions of the two houses of Congress,
and present my opinions in opposition 10 the
action OF a coordinate branch Of the government
which possesses so fully my confidence and res
pecr.
II, in presenting my objections to this BILL
should say more than strictly belongs to the meas
ure, required for The discharge of my official
obligation, let it be attributed TO a sincere desire
20 justify my act before those whose good opinion
so highly value, and To that earnestness which
springs from my deliberate conviction that strict
adherence to the terms and purposes of the feder-
al compact offers the best If not The only, sccuri-
ty 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 apporroned
among them in the compound ratio of the geoera-
phcal area, and representation of said States in
the House of Representatives.
Second. That wherever there are public lands
in a State subject to sale at the regular Price Of
private entry, the, proportion of said ten millions
OF acres falling to such State shall be Sc ected from
such public lands, land scrip shall be issued to
the amount of their distrbutive shares respective
iy said scrip not to be entered by said States but
TO be sold by them, and subject to entry by :heir
nssignees, provided that of it shall be sold at
less than one dollar per acre, under penalty Of
forfeiture Of the same 10 the United States.
Third. That the expenses of the management
ana superintendence of said lands and fthe mon
eys received thcrerom, shall be paid by the States
10 which they may belong, out Of the treasury OF
said States.
Fourth. That the gross proceeds of the sales of
such lands, or land scrip granted, shall be in
vested 10y the several States in safe stocks, to con-
stIlute perpetual fund, the principal of which
shall remain forever undmnshed, and the inter-
est 10 be appropriated to the maintenance Of the
INDECENT insane within the several States
Fifth. That annual returns of lands or scrip
sold shall be made by the States TO the Secretary
of the Interior, and the whole grant be subject to
certain conditions and limitations prescribed in the
BILL TO be asSented to by legislative acts Of said
States.
This bill, therefore, proposes that the federal
government shall make provision 10 the amount OF
the value OF ten millions of of land, for an
eleemosynary object within the several States, to
be administered by the political authority of the
same; and it presents, at the Threshold the ques-
non, whether any such act on the part of the feder
al government, is warranted and sanctioned bv the
constitution, the provisions and principles Of which
TO be protected and sustained as q first and
paramount duty.
1t cannot be questioned that If Congress have
power TO make provision for the INDECENT insane
without the limits OF this District, ii has the same
power to provide for the INDECENT who are not in
sane, and thus to transfer to the federal government,
the charge Of all the poor in all the States. 1t has
The same power 10 provide hospitals and other 10.
cal establishments for the and cure OF every
species of human inhrmity, and thus to assume all
that duty of either public philanthropy, or public
necessity, to the dependent, the orphan the sick,
or The needy, which is discharged by the
States themselves. or by corporate institutions, or
private endOwmentS existing under the Legislation
Of the States. The whole field OF public benef-
cence is thrown open to the care and culture OF
the federal government. Generous impulses no
longer encounter the limitations and control Of our
mperous fundamental law; for, however worthy
may be the present object in ITSELF it is only of
a class. 1t s not exclusively worthy of benevo-
lent regard. Whatever considerations dictate
sympathy for this particular object, apply, in like
manner: if not in the same degree, to idotcv, to
physical disease, to extreme desliuron. If Con-
gress may and ought to provide for any one Of
these objects, it may and ought TO provide for them
all. And ii it be done in this case, what answer
shall be given when Congress shall be called upon,
as 1t doubtless will be, 10 pursue similar course
OF Legislation in the others II will, obviously, be
vain to reply that the object is worthy, but that the
application has taken wrong direction.
The power will have been deliberately, assum.
ed, the general obligation will, by this act, have
been acknowledged, and the question OF means nd
eXpcdiency will alone be lett for considerations
The decision upon the principle, in any one case.
determines 1t for the whole class. The question
presented, therefore, clearly is upon The constu-
ionaiy and proPrIeiy Of the federal government
assuming 10 enter into novel and vast field Of
'"SsIatl"n-n namely, that Of providing for the
and support of all those. among the people of the
United States who. by any form of calamity, be-
come Int Objects OF public philanthropy.
readily, and. trust. feelingly, acknowledge
the duty incumbent on all, as men and citizens,
and as among The highest and holes of our duties
10 provide for those who, in the my ysterous order
OF Providence are subject 10 want and to disease
OF body or mind but cannot find any authority
in the constitution for making the federal govern
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