Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-05-06
Trc Pre.idcn,,. Veto.

Trc Presidents Veto.
We publish this document more as n matter of
course than on account Of any merit it possesses
will be found to be genuine Locofoco production
markedly the usunl display of counterfeit regard for
the Constitution and State rights, and exhibiting in
its reasoning and conclusions, the most glarng in.
consistency between the professions of its au-
D thor and some of his acts
The President appears to have been sadly exercise
cd in this matter of the veto. He had even to ''re-
( sist the deep sympathes of his own heart" Of
the humane purposes of the bill he murdered, and
al,o 10 overcome" the great reluctance" he felt in
dissenting from the conclusions of Congress- body
he tells us, which possesses so fully his confidence
and respect confidence Id respect which Con.
gress is not in the least suspected of recprocatnc
He seems toe, to have been penetrated by an uncom
mon and feverish desire to Justify himself before
those whose good opinion, he con escends to As,
sure us, he 'highy values"-and of which, no ,ubt
he is IN lamentabc want at this par ocular time and
hence, 1t became matter of paramount necessity
| with him to quo'e extensively from NJ ,dison and
Jefferson, and Jackson, and indulge in the usual
amount of clap-trap euogy upon the fathers of the
| Republic. 1t was an exceedingly "unwclcome duty"
he had to perform, and has any conception of
the intense mental distress with which he was afi Ct
ell for many days and nights, in consequence OF Il
stern necessity i'm posed upon him Of discharcirc it.
firmly and bravely at the expense of the h,ri,
beunpleasantness of differing from many distinguish
c members of his party, belonging to the same
Statc-rights and strct-consructon school with him
self IL must have been melancholy thing, indeed
to be compelled to dissent widely from brethren of
the same noble faith, standing upon precisely the
same glorious Platform, and equally competent TO
consirue the Constitution, anil quite much entitled
To consideration at the hands OF their party and the
Country both on account Of their ability and services
as himself The Presi lent evidently placed in n
painful dilemma and probably afflicted with the most
torturing doubt and embarrassment to the most
prudent and polite course to pursue under the cir
cumstances. II he sanctioned the bill presented for
his signature, he would necessarily offend large ms
jory of his party in both houses of Congress if he
refused to sign it, he would cast harsh reflection
upon the Democracy and featy to principle of
spectacle minority of his friends and convict them OF
an abominable laxity of Constitutional construction
and fragrant disregard of the rights of the states-
This was unfortunate and disagreeqble fix to be
in, but Mr.. Pierce entirely equal to the emergen
cy. Like all selfish, housing politicians, he careful
y calculated the effect of either course upon his own
square his conduct to suit the views of the majority
Hence, the veto with which the country has been IA
vorcd.
II is not to be presumed that the President in We.
toing the INDECENT Insane bill, has been guided by
any regard for principle, or by any wish to conform
his conduct to his views of constitutional duty ms
set forth in his message To concede such to be the
fact in the instance before u.s. would be to convict
&c
his constitutional duty in precisely similar instance
lie ia es. in his message, the broad and distinct
ground, that Congress has no authority to appro-
pirate either land or money to relieve 'any form of
calamity" If it has the power provide for the in
dgent insane it has, also, the power to provide for
the INDECENT who not insane: and thus provision
for the poor, throughout the entire land would de-
volve upon the Federal government. The INDECENT
insane H. only Of class of objects equal.
ly demanding the benevolent aid of government If
you grant any favor to them, you must extend
like relief to all. There would thus be no limit to
Congressional power upon this subject; and the gene
government would finally become the great almoner
Of public charity for the insane the idiotc and the
destitute-for the halt, the lame, the blind and the
deaf in every State Of the Union. That is the view
Of the President He then declares hat the decision
O'' tue Pete w any ono case deteFHInes ~ JOT the
rhOle class
How, then, does the President stand, according to
his own reasoning and according to his own expos-
ton Of the Constitutional power of Congress upon
this subject Has h, never deviated from the rin-
cples thus pomponsly laid down in h message p
Has ne never gwen his sanction to any bill dtspens.
iug government relief to objects of charityS And
tue relief thus extended, not IN wildcat Ian Is either
but in pure, hard cash. fresh from the vaults of the
Federal treasury! If are not mistaken, and if
the Who'll; Country is not likewise dcluded, then Mr.
Pierce dill sgn bill Of this Identical character less
than three months ago Mt bill appropriatiny
land simply, but he sanctioned direct appropriation
of money or the relief Of the sufferers by the wreck
| Of the steamer San Francisco lie eyen approved
a gift in money isolated inliyiduls, rs a reward
FOR their fearless intrcpIity in exerting themselves so
noby to their lelo PASSENGERS from watery
grave. Nov, we ask, in all sincerity, where is tn.
fcrencs in Poiatof principle between affjrdng re
lief to the indigeIt insane, and aTording it to thu
fortunate sh'pwrecked2 Can the Presider him
self or any # his friends show any reason Tor dis.
C Eliminating between the twoS
| The Pres dents language is, that the "dccision
the principle, in any case, determines 1t TO-
tie ole class Has he not therefore, as FAR as res,
with him, decided the principle in favor Of extend
ins government relief u the all c,ed anI destitute.
by sanciionng the bill referred 70? Nothing, il see ms
to us, can be clearer lis approval Of that bill is.
hercfne,a sufficient and conclusive reply to the labor.
cd argument contained in his message We leave hin,
to reconcile his higrant inconsistency as best he
may.
Squatisr Sovereignty