The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-20
FRENCH ISOLATION.
Veto Message Of the President.

Of American citizens for spolaons committed by the
French prior TO the thirty first OF july Thousand
eight hundred and and in the discharge of duty
imperatively enjoined by the constitution,
turn the same with my objections, to the House o
Representatives, in which il Noriginated
In he organization of the of the United
States the legislative and executive functions
separated and placed in distinct hands Although the
President is required from time TO time to recommend
to the consideration OF Congress such he
shall Judge necessary and expedent hs participation
the formal business of legislation is limited to the
single duty, certain contingency, OF demandng for
hill particular form OF vote prescribed by the consti
uticn before II become law. He is not invested
with power 10 defeat legislation by absolute veto but
only to restrain and Is charged with the duty in
he disapproves measure, of invoking secord, and
more deliberate and solemn consideration of it on the
mart of Congress II is incumbent the President
10 sign bill as matter OF couse, and thus merely
Authenticate action of Congress- for he exercise
intelligent Judgment be fahless the reposed
IN him Il he approve bill he shall sign it; but If not,
he shall return IT, with his objections that house
Nhcn IL shall have originated for such further action
the constitution demands which is its enactment
at all not by bare numerical majority as in the first
instance but by constitutional majority of two thirds
While the constitution thus confers on the legislative
bodies the complete power of legislation in all it
proceeds in of justice to provide for the pro-
lection OF the responsibility Of the President II does
compel him to ax the signature of approval to any
bill unless it actually have his APPRECIATION for while it
requires him TO sign If he approve, it in my judgment
ture he do approve. In the execution Of his Off
sal duty in this repect, he is not to perform
cbanca part but IL to decide and act according to
scenous convictions of the rehtfulness the wrong
fulness Of the proposed law In matter to which he
is doubtful in his own mind, he may well defer to the
majority OF the two houses Individual members of the
respective houses, owing to the nature, variety and
amount Of business pending must necessarily rely for
their guidance in many perhaps most cases, when the
matters involved not of popular interest," upon
investigation of appropriate committees, it may be-
that OF single member, whose attention has been par
directed rpas
but even 10 greater extent, from the number and
rey Of subjects daily urged upon his attention. the Pre-
sioent naturally relies much the investigation had
and the results arrived at by The two houses hence
those results in large classes of constitute the
responsibility Is to the whole people the United States
that of Senator is to the people particular State
trict and il may be safely assumed that he will not re-
sort to the and limited power Of
hgsaon and calling Tor any measure,
except in obedience to requirements of duty. When,
however he eneItains decisive and fixed conclusion,
not merely Of the unconstutionay but Of the mpro-
pretty or injustice In other respects OF any measure
he declare that be approves it, he is false his OATH
and he deliberately dsIegards his constitutional oogs
tons.
cbeerfully recognise the weight of authority which
attaches TO the action Of majority oil the houses
But in this case as in some Others the trainers OF our
constitution, for wise considerations of public good pro-
vded that nothing less than two-thrds vote of
both Of the houses Of Congress shall effective
bind the co ordinate departments OF the government
the people and the several States II there be anything
Of seeming righteousness in the official right thus
W,
right Of approving disappearing bill accord
ing to each oDe's judgment is conferred every
member OF the Senate and of the House of Representa-
tves
1t is apparent therefore that The circumstances m as
be extraordinary which would induce the President to
withhold approval from bill involving violation OF
the constitution. The amount OF the claims proposed
10 be discharged by the bill before the nature of the
transactions in which those claims alleged TO have
originated the length Of time during which they
occupied the attention Of Congress the country pre-
sent ouch exieency TIER history renders impos
~
siderable degree in public affairs could have failed I,
would deem satisfactory grounds Nevertheless in tead
resting on former op Mons y has seemed TO me proper
so satis ct9ry TO determine the ps'pYs and extent
o. my Obligations in the premises
feel called upon, at the Threshold notice asset
on often repeated that the refusal OF the United
70 satisfy these claims, in the manner provided ny the
present bll rests stain the justice of
Try hit be so, the imputaton oa the public honor ia
aggravated by the consideration that the claims
evs with the present century, and il has been persist
ent wrong during that whole period Of time The aega
ton is that private property has been taken for public
without just compensation in violation of express
provisions Of the constitutions and that reparaon has
been withheld and justice denied until the injured par
ties have for the most par descended 10 the grave But
10 not to be- forgotten or overlooked that those who
represented the people, IN different capacities at tie
time when the alleged obligations incurred and TO
whom the charge OF injustice attaches, in the first in
stan have also passed away and borne with them the
special information which controlled their decision aud
tnay be well presumed constituted the justification of
their scts
IL,
although its admission would nscribe on our history
page which might desire most OF all TO oblterate
and although, II true 1t must painfully disturb
hdence in the Justice and the high If moral
political responsibility Of those whose memories have
been taught to cherish with much and
spect sti we have only OF action left to
and that TO- 10 make the most prompt and ample
ton in power, and consgn the wrong far may
But such heavy sentedce OF should
lightly passed the sagac,ous and patriotic who
participated in the transactions out OF which these
their
amps Of knowledge OF the general subject in its
minute details and from their Official position are pecu.
larry responsible for whatever there wrong nius
tce in the decisions OF the government.
Their justification consists in that which constitutes
the objection 10 the present blnamely the absence
Of any Indebtedness the part United States.
The charge Of denial Of justice in this case, and
yet been endorsed by the people; But II IL
were otherwise this bill 80 far from relieving the past
delble stigma Il admits the justice OF the claims,
comedies that payment has been wroayfully withheld
for Fifty years and then proposes not to pay them but
that whether the claims shall be presented not
ther the lsum appropriated shall pay much little
OF what shall be found due. the law us elf shall
tute perpetual bar TO all future demands This is
pot in my Judgment, the way to stone for wrongs IL
they exist nor 10 meet sdbsistng obligations.
II facts, not known not accessible during the
administration OF Mr.. Jefferson Mr.. Madison, or Mr..
Monroe bad since brought light or new sources
of information discovered this woald greatly relieve
the subject OF embarrassment. Bat nothing Of this
nature has occurred
That those eminent statesmen hadIthe best means Of
arriving at correct conclusion, will deny. That
they recognised the alleged obligation the part
OF the government shown by the history Of their
respective admins traton-. Indeed IL stands, not
matter Of controlling authority, but fact Of histo
~, that these claims have existence
nation, been deemed by any President worthy of
commentator TO Con yress.
Claims 10 payment only the plea OF ndebt.
edpess the part of the government This requires
that should be shown that the United States have
Cured liability to the claimants, either by such
deprive them OF their property, by having actually
taken IL Tor public use, without making just compensa
ton for It,
The 6rst branch OF the proposition that which
equitable claim 10 be indeunhed by the United States
for losses sustaned sht restrequlres at cur
sorry examination of the history OF tbs .tons
which the claims depend The first link, when ia the
chain of events arrests attention, the treaties ALI