Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-06

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Mr. HUNTER observed that it would be better to pro-
coed with the Indian bill until the afternoon and then
the Senator might submit his motion
Mr. SEBASTIAN then withdrew his motion, and the
Indian bill was taken up.
Mr. WALKER moved an amendment arpropriatng
$500 600 for the payment of eight mous of acres of
land taken from the friendly Creek Indians without COM
pensaton by the treaty of capituaon OF Fort Jackson
in 1914
Mr.. WALKER had spoken for nearly half an hour in
strenuous support OF his amendment, when message
was received from the President Of the United States
end at the suggestion of Mr. Foor the further action
the bill was suspended by general consent.
PRESIDENTS VETO OF THE BILL FOR THE BENEFIT
OF THE INDECENT INSANE.
The Message of the President of the United States
was then read as follows
WASHINGTON, May 9, 1854.
TO the Sersrte Of tie United States:
The bin entitled An act making grant of public
lands to the several States for the benefit of INDECENT in
sane perspns, which was presented to the 9th
umo has been maturey considered and is returned to
the Senate the house in which it originated with state
ment of TIE objections which have REQUIRED me to with
hold fromh my approval.
In the performance of this duty prescrbedby the Con-
sttuton have been compelled to resist the deep sympa
thes of my own heart in favor OF the humane purpose
sought be accomplished and to overcome the reuc-
lance with which dissent from the conclusions Of the
two Houses of Congress- aud present my opinions in
opposition "a the action OF the coordinate branch Of the
Government which possesses fully my confidence and
respect.
IT, in presenting my objections to this bill, should say
than strictly belongs the measure or is required
for the discharge of my official obligation let il BIO atri
buted to sntere desire to justify my act before those
whose good opinion highly value and to that earnest
ness which springs from my deliberate conviction that
strict adherence the terms and purposes Of the Federal
compact ofershe best if not the only security for the
of our blessed inheritance of representative
liberty. The bin provides, in substance
of of
the several States be apportioned among them in the
compound ratio Of the geographical and representa-
ton of said States in the House of Representatives.
Second That wherever there public lands in State
subject theregular price private entry hepro-
portion of said ten millions Of falling to such State
shall be selected from such lands within it and that to the
States in which there such public lands land scrip
shall be issued to the amount of their dstrbuye shares
respectively said scrip not to be entered by said States
but TO be sold by them and subject to entry by their
sgnees provided that of it shall be sold at less than
one dollar per acre, under penalty Of forfeiture of the
same to the United States.
Third That the expenses Of the management and su-
perntendenceof said lands and of the moneys received
therefro, shall be paid by the States which they
belong out of the treasury Of said States.
Fourth That the gross proceeds OF the sales OF such
lands or and-scrip so granted shall be invested by the
several States in safe stocks, to constitute perpetual
fund.- the principal Of which shall remain forever undi
minished, and the interest to be appropriated TO the
maintenance Of the INDECENT insane within the several
States.
Fifth Thatannual returns of lands scrip sold shall be
made by the States to the Secretary of the Interior and
the whole grant be subject to certain conditions and mi
taons prescribed in the BILL to be assented to by egs
ative acts Of said States.
This BILL therefore, proposes that the Federal Govern
ment shall make provision to the amount of the value of
ten millions Of of land for eleemosynary object
within the several States to be administered by the pot-
cal authority of the and presents at the resh
DID, the question whether any such act the part Of the
Federal Government is warranted and sanctioned by the
Constitution the provisions and principles of which are
to be protected and sustained 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 it has the power TO provide
for the inagen who insane and THUG to transfer
to the Federal Government the charge of al the poor in
all the States. 1t has the power to provide hospi
tails and other local establishments for the and
of every species OF human nfrmy, and thus to
all that duty of either public philanthropy public
cessy to the dependant the orphan, the Sick the
needy which is discharged by the States themselves
by corporate institutions private endowmens exist
ing under the legislation of the States The whole fell
Of public bene6cence is thrown open to the and cul
ture of the Federal Government Generous impulses
longer encounter the limitations and control of i'm
perious fundamental law; for however worthy may b
the present object in ITSELF it is only Of class It
not exclusively worthy Of benevolent regard. Whateve
considerations dictate sympathy for this particular obec
apply in like manner if not in the degree to idiot
Cyl to physical disease to extreme restitution If Con
gresS anu ought TO rOYlde Tor any one OF these
jects it may and ought to provide for them all and
be done in this case what shall be given wheI
Congress shall be called upon it doubtless will be, tc
pursue similar course Of legislation IN the others?
will obviously be vain to reply that the object is worthy
but that the application has taken wrong direction.
The power will have been deberativey assumed, the
general obligation will by this act have been acknowledge
ed and the question Of means and expediency will alone
be left for consideration The decision upon the princ
pie any determines it for the whole class The
question presented therefore, clearly is upon the const
tutionaty and proprety of the Federal Government as
Stunning to enter into novel and vast field Of legislation
namely that of providing for the and support of al
those among the people Of the United States who, by
any form of calamity, become fit objects of public phi
lanthropy.
readily and trust eelipgly, acknowledge the duty
incumbent on all, and citizens, and amor
the highest and hottest of duties provide for those
who in the mysterious order Of Providence, subject
to want and to disease of body mind but cannot find
any authority in the Constitution for making the Fedora
Government the great amoner of public charity through
out the United States To do SO wonl in my judgment,
be contrary to the letter and spirit of the Constitution
and subversye of the whole theory upon which the Union
of these States founded Aud if it admissible
contemplate the exercise of this power for any object
whatever cannot avoid the belief that il would in the
end be preudcal rather than beneficial to the noble
offices of charity have the charge of them transferred
from the States to the Federal Government Are we
prone to forget that the Federal Union is the
of the Sstes they Of the Federal Union We were
the inhabitants of Colonies distinct in local government
one from the other before the Revolution. By that
Revolution the Colonies each became an independent
State They achieved that independence and secured its
recognition by the agency of consulting body which,
from being assembly of the ministers Of distinct
reignes Instructed agree to form Of
which did leave the domestic concerns of each State
to itself, appropriately denominated Congress.
When having tried the experiment OF the confederation
le Fade