The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-08-14
From the Louisville Journal.
Veto OF the narbor and River III

Veto OF the HarbOr and River bill.
We gave, yesterday, the message of Pres
ident Pierce Withholding his assent to the
bill making appropriations for rivers, har-
bors, &c. This document is unanswerable,
because it contains no argument; it does not
condescend to reason, but simply announces
the exercise of an act Of power.
In former times when President felt con-
strained to put his veto on a measure which
had passed the two Houses of Congress, a
decent respect both TO the representatives
and their constituents prompted him TO
spread before the public his reasons for with
holding his signature. The practice was
polite, respectful, and useful. The present
incumbant spurns the usage Of his predeces.
sors, and very coolly tells that he has not
had leisure to examine the bill in its details,
but, that he has determined to veto it now,
and examine it afterwards, and at some fu-
ture period when he has more leisure he will
deem it incumbant on him to let Congress
know what sort Ola bill it may pass. This
is reducing legislation to one idea with
veng, ante. 1t reminds us of magistrate in
Virginia before whom free negro was tried
for an offense. the punishme mt for which was
whipping. The justice heard the testimony,
and the attorney for the man rose to address
the court in his behalf, when the justice turn
cd to the constable and directed him to lake
the negro to the whipping post and gave him
thirty. nine lashes; then bowling to the attor.
ney, h, very politely legged him to proceed
with ii, argument But the President says:
On such an examination Of this bill as it
has been in my power TO make, l recognise
in il certain provisions national in their
oh, al III
would be compatible with my convictions of
public duty to assent to; but at the same
time, it embraces others which are merely
local, and not, in my judgement, warranted
by any safe or true construction.
lfthere is any argument or reason in the
veto message at all, il is contained in this
extract. The Presidents friends may insist
that it is an argument; and, to please them.
we will so regard it.
1t is an argument that has been often
clearly and triumphantly answered. All
works must have localities, no matter what
may be the objects for which they are erected.
The Louisville and Portland canal, for i'm
stance, is located in Kentucky, yet it can be
shown that the State of Pennsylvania, New
York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri,
Louisiana, &C., are as much interested in it
as kentucky, III not mtre.
The same principle applies to harbors and
lighthouses on the great rivers and lakes
of the West. Every sand-bar or snag in
river is located somewhere within The bounds
of some States and the same may be said of
every lighthouse, breakwater, fortification,
and harbor which has been made with the
public money on the seacoast.
Take the case of the Illinois river as an
other illustration. This stream lies entirely
within the State Of Illinois, yet on its bosom
are borne the trade and travel of many
States, amounting annually to several
millions of dollars. Again the harbor of
New Orleans is in the State of Louisiana,
yet more than half of the States of this Union
are directly interested in its preservation.
We venture to say that the harbors OF
Buffalo and Chicago are of more Importance
to the commerce OF the Union than all the
harbors from Maine to New York, on which
millions Of money have been expended in
past years.
We presume that Mr.. Pierce belongs to
the school of salt water constructiODists.
The doctrine of this school is, that every
thing is constitutional on salt water, and
nothing on fresh vat r-these sapient souls
maintain that fresh water was made to drink
and not tor use in navigation. The President
b is recently vetod two important bills, this
one and the bill appointing lands for the
benefit Of the indignant insane. He did not
scruple to sign other bills giving lands in
large quantities to railroad companies. The
companies had stock to dispose Of to friends
and partisans, but the INDECENT insane had
nothing to give, no stock to sell, nor con.
tracts to let out. He can display his chivalry
by ordering the destruction of defenceless
village. and he would pay one hundred mil
lions of dollars for the acquisition of Cuba;
but, when the people by their represe ntstives
desire to expend few millions in works of
great public utility on their ou n soil, he in
terposes his veto. and, adding insult to in
jury, very cooliy says, by and by | will tell ,
you what manner of public works you may
have.
This is the sort of President that the Dem.
ocrats have inflicted on this country, and from
any more ofthe same kidney we have no
doubt that party, in its secret heart, will join (
US in saying, "Good Lord, deliver u.s."
OF Dr.. s. E. Leonard, an old and inHu-
ontial riti1op of Nau, An,au ALL tbeya IN