Washington sentinel., 1854-05-04
THE VETO MESSAGE.

We lay before our readers this morning the
message of the President sent to the Senate
yesterday, communicating his objections to the
bill which originated in that body granting ten
millions of acres of the public lands to the sew
eral States for the benefit Of the INDECENT in
sane within their respective limits. 1t is not
necessary for us to give sketch Of the bill, for
its features are very distinctly presented in the
message which win be read with attention, as
well by those who dissent from the views it
presents as by those who sustain and applaud
them.
For several days past we have been convinced
that the insane bill would be vetoed by the Pres
ident and we are pleased to find that we were
not mistaken. The object Of the bill is of a
character to arouse and excite the sensibilities
Of every charitable heart but yet that object
is not, in our judgment, within the field of
legitimate congressional action, and it is one
which the public lands cannot be constitu-
tionally used to carry into effect. We think
that upon both Of these points the argument Of
the President is satisfactory and conclusive
The message lays down with great clearness
the distinction between those subjects of legis
lation which come within the cognizance Of the
federal government and those which should be
managed by the State authorities. The mes
sage also makes it clear by quotation from
the Virginia deed of cession that the intent and
purpose which caused the original grants of
domain to the federal government forbid the
idea that the public lands can be rightfuly
given away as charity.
We cannot see any foundation for a. success
ful reply to the position assumed by the Presi-
dent that the same reasoning which would JUS
tify Congress in making provision for the indi-
gent insane Of the different States would en-
power the federal government to take under its
protection the INDECENT who are not insane-to
take upon itself the Office of general almo-
ner, and undertake to relieve the needy, COM
fort the distressed heal the sick, clothe the ma
ked, feed the hungry, and become husband
to the widow and father to the fatherless.
If the principle which is the foundation Of the
insane bill be adjudged to be true and good, we
cannot perceive that there can be any limit or
restraint to the charitable impulses Of Congress.
The whole field will be laid open, and the pur-
leus of the Capitol would soon be filed by men
ruption in their hearts, and plunder-schemes in
their pockets.
The transfer Of public charity from the States
to the federal government would not only breed
corruption, but would be weighty and griev-
GUS afflction to those who need charity. Such
transfer would at once repress private benevo-
lence, and put an end to the philanthropic le-
gislation of the different States. All eyes would
be turned Immediately to the federal govern
ment, and both houses of Congress would be
flooded with plaintive petitions for help, which
they could neither consider nor understand,
unless legitimate business ofthe government
should be left uncared for and unattended to-.
Charity would soon become a trade, demand
ing fees and compensation; and the same cor
rupt log.rolling combinations which have 50
often disgraced State legislation on railroad
and bank charters would be formed by other
canting hypocrites besides the three thousand
blasphemous preachers who outraged all de-
cency few weeks ago.
But perhaps the most important considera-
ton connected with the veto message relates
: to the general principles it announces, which
may be construed to announce the President's
views and determination with regard to other
land schemes now pending. If we read the
message rightly, there is nothing in it which
would decide the fate Of a Pacific railroad bill
unless it may be found in the remark that
donation in lands TO erect and support luna
tic asylums is equivalent to donation ii
money; and that there is no more constitu
tional right to do the one than to do the other
Yet there are certain expressions in that por
ton of the message, comparing the federal gov
eminent to a prudent proprietor, which are Jus
and right in themselves, but leave ground 70
doubt and uncertainty.
As to the other land schemes, we think tha