Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-13
H OF Mr.. FOOT,
BIZ VERMONT,
tIDENTS VETO MESSAGE.
tENATE, MAY 3, 1854.

hat the message lie upon the table
ave followed it with motion to post
Of the reconsideration Of the bill to
saw next Monday If that time will be
htors, had not the Senator from Vir
N interposed motion to print an extra
isapd copies-of the message; upon.
Senator from Mississippi Mr.. Brown
addressed the Senate, and to whom 1T
eeable to me to yield the floor. l rise
lie motion had before intended to make,
Senator's an opportunity to examine the
il shall have been printed, with more care
n than it is possible to give it upon merely
"a from the Secretarys table. Before max
ion, however, and pending the question OF
extra number | desire TO submit TO the Sen
marks in reference TO some of the positions OF
ge All will admit that 1t IS very important
not merely affecting the fate OF TINS Dill, out
hing the whole policy of the Government IN respect
administration of the public lands.
Exceedingly regret that the President of the United
BIS has felt himself obliged return this bill to the
ate without his approval. This feeling OF regret
abt not win be very extensively shared by the country
large have listened to the message which has just
read in our hearing not with sentiments OF regret
bnly, hut with small degree Of disappointment and
even of surprise apprehend it will strike the country
with equal disappointment and surprise-disappolnt-
ent at the loss the probable loss OF just and beneh
measure and surprise at the reasons assigned oy
the Executive for arresng its passage 1t is true had
heard it in whispers all around doubtless most OF us
had before the passage OF the bill through TINS
chamber had read it in Geographic dispatches and
in written communications sent of to distant parts OF the
country and to distant presses forthwith upon its passage
through the other House. that the bill was to be arrested
by the Executive veto nevertheless increduous
not then prepared to believe, am not now quite
prepared believe that the President had so far depart
ed from the manifest propriees of his position rs to
have authorized these announcements am
to believe that any one was authorized to apprse the
country of oregoue conclusion of the President as to
his action upon BILL should it be presented for his
Of the action of Congress upon the question, and
during its peHdency, he would attempt to control or IN
fuenoe their action upon it by causing it to be made
known to them through any covert or indirect commun
cation that it the Executive pleasure that the Con-
Sress Of the United States would not pass this bill
But, sir, the matter is longer in suspense. The
veto has It, for at least yerihes the utter
of the thousand lying tongues of rumor What but
yesterday was at most only apprehended has to-day
tuay pass What but yesterday was only dark
~ limited or but dimly and doubsy foreboded has to-
day become historic truth 1t is not purpose nor am
at all disposed to mpugn the motives OF the President
in Withholding his assent from the BILL trust under
stand well the proprietes which belong to this
sence and appreciate too well the respect which rs due
to the Chief Magistrate Of the country to allow me to
call in question the integrity of his purpose or even to
indulge in unavaing complaint account Of his official
action. In this concede, he has but exercised
doubted constitutional Frerogaye But 1t is, neverthe-
less right and privilege it 10 the right and privi
ge Of every Senator in respectful terms to endeavor to
answer his objections and to examine, with entire fres
DOM TIE grounds upon which he has chosen to rest his
judgment. a2
that hs is act of hasty and nconsiderate legislation
In fact ts bill has received larger share of consdera
ton IN both Houses not only Of the present but OF
cedng Congresses an has ordinarily been bestowed
other measures Of less public Importance
and upon full discussion has received the sanction
decisive maorties than most have been
able to command upon division The President makes
objection to the object OF the BILL He admits it to be
enenty humane end praiseworthy measure and pro-
fesses profound regret that upon other grounds he fluids
himself unable to give his sanction to bill whose end,
and aim, and object Are noble and beneicent The
character Of the measure as one Of comprehensive bens
violence and philanthropy, is not questioned
viii take occasion to remark here that far the
simple question of the policy expedieney of
sure is concerned, it belongs properly will not say
excusivelyts the legislative department. that, except
in and peculiar cases. it furnishes ustsble
sderaon for the nterposion Of the negative power Of
the Executive The exercise of this remnant Of despotc
power ought rarely to be resorted to- and then only in
of hasty and .nconsderate legislation and in
of fragrant and palpable injustice neither of which is
imputed to this bill and in of manifest inractien
of the Constitution say manifest nfracton, because
hold that if legislative act be of doubtful constisu
operation and cosH qs s and 10 its
ter general rule to suffer it to become law and to
submit the question of its constitutionay to the judi
cia tribunals Of the country than that the should
be arrested by the inerposton of the Executive veto
as that would deprive the country Of the benefits of
Of admitted bepecence and utility which the
courts might adjudge to be constitutional in case the
question could be brought before them
auu 0DJectl0n OF the PRESIDENT to
this BILL as understand from his message rests upon
constitutional considerations He regards it as an in
fringement upon the Constitution! His heart approves
the object of the BILL but the exercise of his best intel
lectua powers does enable him to find authority IN
der the Constitution to make the grant, He seems pain
fully anxious to approve the bill for the amount of
good it would accomplish, but the Constitution forbds
This BILL which makes grant Of ten millions of of
the public lands to be eqnitably apportoned among all
the States and its proceeds applied for the relief and
support Of the INDECENT insane of the country he thinks
is violation of the Constitution unable to concur
in this opinion. dissent from il entirely, with all due
respect to the authority from which it emanates This
BILL undertake to say nearly than any which has
been passed by Congress- and presented to the consde
ration OF any Executive, carries out according its
spirit and its letter, the original contract by which the
public lands ceded to the Federal Government by
the States 1t differs from hundreds of acts which have
received the sanction of every Congress and every Pre-
sident almost from tha foundation of the Government
only insomuch as it il general more universal if
not more benehcent in its operation Yet in the opinion
OF our PRESIDENT is unconstitutional This after ALL is
but the opinion OF one man. though that man be the Pre-
sden OF the United States But suppose that Presidents
are not always infalbe expositors of the Constitution
that President Pierce may fall into error on anes
ton of constitutional construction At any rate his
opinion in this instance is subject to our examination and
revision Is this, then unconstitutional act? We
have already expressed opinion by the passage OF
the BILL that it is not Every Congress and every Pres
dent under the Constitution have expressed the opinion
that it is not by the passage and approval Of bills nyolv
ing the principles and the question Of power
James Monroe and the Congress Of 1919 found con-
the public lands to the State Of Connecticut for the bene
NJ OH far tha inf and umh Jnhp n,;nr