Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-05-10
PRESIDENT p1ERcE,s VETO MESSAGE.

the 27th ultimo has been maturely considered, ana
ia returned to the Senate the House IN when u orr
ginated with statement of the objections which
have reoi1ired me to withhold from it my approval
In the performance of this duty prescribed by
the Constitutions i have been compelled to resist
the deep sympathies OF my own heart IN itsof u
the humane purpose sought to be accomplished,
and to overcome the reluctance with which dts
sent from the conclusions of the two Houses OF
Congress- and present my own opinions III Oppose
ton to the action Of coordinate branch OIL the
Government which possesses so fully my confidence
and respect. go ,
If in presenting my objections to this bill, [
should say more than strictly belongs TO inc
measure or is required for the discharge OF my ou-
ia obligation let it be attributed to sincere desire
to Justify my act before those whose good OPINION
so highly value, and to that earnestness WHEN
springs from my deliberate convIctlon that stricI
adherence to the terms and purposes OF the FcceTa
coapact offers the best if not tho only security lot
the preservation of our blessed inheritance OF repre-
Z sentative liberty.
The bill provides in substance:
First That ten millions of acres OF lana DC
granted to the several States, to be apporuoned
among them in the compound ratio OF the geograPh
ical area, and representation OF SAID States IN inc
House of Representatives.
Second. That wherever there are pubic LANDS IN
State subject to sale at the regular price OF private
entry the proportion of said ten millions OF acres
falling to such State, shall be selected from such
lands within it; and that to the States III when
there are no such public lands, land scrip shall be
issued to the amount of their dstributlye shares,
respectively; said scrip not to be entered by SAID
States but to be sold by thcm and subject to entry
bv their assignees provided that none OF 1t shall be
sold at less than dollar per acre. under penalty
of forfeiture of the same to the United States
Third. That the expenses of the management
and superintendent of said lands, and OF the mo-
neys received thererom, shall be paid by the States
to which they may belong, out of the treasury of
said States
Fourth That the gross proceeds of the sales of
such lands, land scrip so granted shall be invest
ed by the several States in safe stocks to constitute
a perpetual fund, the principal of which Shall re-
main forever undimnishcd, and the interest to be
appropriated to the maintenance of the in'igent in
sane within the several States
Fifth. That annual returns of lands or scrip
sold shall be made by the States to the Secretary
of the Interior and the whole grant be subject to
certain conditions and limitations prescribed in
the BILL be assented to by Legislative acts of said
States.
This BIZ, therefore, proposes that tie Federal
Government shall make provision to the amount of
the value of ten millions of acres of land, for an
eleemosynary object within the several States to be
administered by the political authority of the same;
and it presents at the threshold, the question,
whether any such act, on 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 para
mount 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 same
power to provide for the INDECENT who not in
sane; and thus to transfer to the Federal Govern
ment the charge of all the poor in all the States
1t has the power to provide hospitals and 9TH
local establishments for the and cure Of every
species of human infrmity, and thus to assume all
that duty of either public philanthropy, public
necessity to the dependent the orphan the sick,
ths needy, which is now discharged by tie States
themselves by corporate institutions, private
endowments existing under the legislation of the
States. The whole field Of public beneticcnce is
tO thp md 0f Eptp
Government. Generous impulses no longer encoun-
ter the limitations and control of our mperious fun
damental law. For, however worthy may be the
present object in ITSELF it is only Of class. 1t
is not exclusively worthy of benevolent regard.
Whatever considerations dictate sympathy for this
particular object, apply, in like manner, if not in
the degree, to iiotcy, tc physical disease to
extreme restitution. If Congress may and ought
to provide for any of these objects, it may and
ought to provide for them ALL And if it be done in
this case, what answer shall be given, when Con-
gross shall be called upon, it doubtless will be- to
pursue similar eff legislation in the others?
1t WILL obviously be vain to reply that the object is
worthy, but that the application has taken a wrong
direction.
The power will have been deliberately assumed
the general obligation will, by this act, have been
acknowledged, and the question of means and expc
dicncy will alone be left for consideration. The de-
cision upon the principle, in any case, deter
mines it for the whole class The question present
ed, therefore, clearly is upon the constitutionaty
to enter into novel and vast field Of legislation
namely, that of providing for the and support
of all those, among the people of the United States,
who, by any form of calamity, become fit objects Of
public philanthrophy.
readily, and trust feelinsly, acknowledge the !
duty incumbent on us all, as men and citizens and
as among the highest and hottest of our duties, to
provide for those who, in the mysterious order of
Providence, arc subject to want and to disease of
body or mind, but | cannot find any authority in !
the Constitution for making the Federal Government
the great alnoner of public charity throughout the
United States. To do so would in my Judgment,
be contrary to the letter and spirit of the Constitu
tlon and subversive of the whole theory upon which
the Union OF these States is founded. And if it !
were admissible to contemplate the exercise of this
power, for any object whatever, cannot avoid the
belief that it would in the end be preiudcia rather
have the charge of them transferred from the States
to the Federal Government Are we not too prone
to forget that the Federal Union is the creature of
the States, not they of the Federal Union? We
were the inhabitants of Colonies distinct in local
government one from the other, before the Reyou-
lion. BY that Revolution the Colonies each became
IN independent State. They achieved that indepen-
1snce and secured its recognition by the agency of
/ consulting body which, from being an assembly
of the ministers of distinct sovcregntes instructed
20 agree to no form of government which did not
cave the domestic concerns of each State to itself
vas appropriately denominatcd Congress- When
laying tried the experiment of the confederation,
hey resolved to change that for the present Federal
Union, and thus to confer on the Federal Govern
nent ample authority they scrupuously measured
UGH of the functions of their cherished sovereignty
8 they chose to delegate to the General Govern
nent, With this aim. and to this end tho "a thoro