Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-02-24
Veto Message.


the President is very elaborate i n his discus
sion of the subject, reviewing the whole hls'o-
ry Of The question, and the Treaties bearing
upon it. His conclusion is satisfactory 10 our
minds, and convinces us that the claims are
not founded in justice, but simply another OF
those speculations SO frequently entered into by
men W no live by their wits. Had the claim
been Just, and the right of the claimants found.
ed upon any reasonable basis, their merits
would long since have been ack now lodged bv
The men who served in the national legislature
when they were first presented. It they are OF
such character as not 10 have received the re-
commentator Of single President during
over half century, and 10 have been refused
by the representatives of the people, cotem7o-
raneous with their first presentment, when the
facts OF their origin and merits were fresh in
the knowledge Of all Of them, we cannot see
he justice or expediency of allowing them
now, wher iheiEtrue virtue and history are
not known by one in ten. We are pleased
that President Pierce has had the nerve 10
meet this unjust claim upon the national funds
with his veto. Although the act may be the
cause OF a vast deal Of abuse being heaped upon
censure aud complaint, YET be will be sustain
ed, and respected the more by those who desire
TO see The affairs OF the country correctly and
| ludiciousy administered. A similar veto era
rated from James X. Polk, one of the puresl
and best Presidents the Country has ss,yer had
and Ike abuse "as directed .owa,ds him.
" zen we nave q man al the head Of our ma.
tlonal aGalfs, who, regardless Of the emb,lered
! attacks AID vIndlctlve spleen OF Interested pee
nlalors boldly and feares<ly meets he resron-
sibillty OF his position, il is then the patriot
may rest secure in his hopes Tor the faithful
administration OF the government The man,
who in the lace oil The most frantic opposition
The country has ever witnessed, declared that
the Fugitive Slave Law must be enacted, and
who with equal firm ness inierposcd his dissent
to the Insane Land Bill, the River and Ha,bor
Bill and also 10 the French Srolianon Bill, can
be safely trusted BY The American people.
The President, in our estimation, lays down
the proper rule by which the Executive should
De governed III exercising the veto power in
these terms:
s'Whie the Constitution thus confers on the
leg lsallve bodies the complete power Of esls-
ldtlon III all cases, it proceeds, ii. the spirit of
justice, 10 provide for the protection oi the re-
sponsblty oil the President. 1t does not COM
pei him TO affix the signature Of approval to any
bill unless II actually have his appreciation tor,
while II requires him 10 sign il he approve, 1t,
III my judgment, imposes upon him the duty OF
withholding his signature II he do not approve
In the execution oil his official duty III This re
spect, he Is mol to perform mere mechanical
part but 10 decide and act according TO con-
scieDiious convictions oil the Tiehltuness or the
wrong ihne,s OF the proposed ,awo
To assume that the President has no right to
in,erpose his veto save in cases where he con
stilu,lonaity oil measure is broagh. in ques-
ton, is directly contrary TO the express provi-
sion of the Constitution delegaling this power.
|. is commended that where The simple question
of eIpediency is urged rs an objection 10 bill,
the President has not The rig BIT 10 interpose his
veto, Such construction OF the constitutional
clause is unwartanted and degrades the Prss-
deut TO The position vi a mere machine, whose
operation is entirely subject to The will of Con-
gress. Ills privilege OF free thought beqnea,h-
ed ty his maker, and The inallenat4e night to
act in osellence 10 the dictates OF his own cou-
science and his solemn oath ITO faithfully exc
cute the office of President OF the Uuned
States, :" would be compromised, or rather taken
| from him, anu his office construed Into a mere
inactive appendase to government, without
| the power oil positive action, but as an unwhole-
some restraint upon natural right. The Con-
siinlion provides that 9every bill which shall
have passed the House OF Representatives and
The Senate, shall. before il become law, be
presented to the President Of The listed States
| Il he approve, he shall sign it, but il not, he
shall return II, with his objections, to that
| House IN which it shall have urieinated."-
i oil III ,ti,s Ih, Pres dor
should he not approve a bill. in returning i. 10
Congress, Notwithstanding question oil consi.
| tuii,onal right is not involved. He has the
powe, expressly granted of exercising his veto
| Gu measures OF expectancy as we'll as Of consti.
nationality.
! The veto is delicate power entrusted with
f.. Exec uiive for his own protection and the
prot, .'clion OF the country IRON hasly or i'm
proper> legislation. The case must be saisfac.
,ily mat on' and the reasons Tor its exercise,
substantial a nd tangible, before we could sane.
ton It's use. The case before u.s. we conceive
10 be such. Tho message establishes. by ref
erence to treaty s,..oua'ions, lia, the United
States are not bound TO llquidale any claims
based upon spolialions ,ailor 10 1900, and The
circumstances which bea,' upon The subject,
clearly sustain the proposition. Hence, we JUS
liiy this acl Of President Pierct
Below weglve the arguments, AS suh'inee up
in the conclusion OF the message.
Now, from the provision of the treaties hus col
lated, the following deductions undenably follow,
namely:
First. Neither the second article of the CONVEX
ton of 1900 it originally stood, the retrench
ment OF that article, the provision in the iatica
ton by the First Consul the action the Senate
of the United States thereon regarded By either
France or the United States the announcement of
any claims of American citizens against France
Second. On the contrary, in the TIRE aties of 1903
the two governments took up the question precisely
where it was left the day of the signature of that
of 1900, without suggestion on the part of France
that the claims of citizen excluded by the
retrencmen OF the second article, the note of the
First Consul, aud then proceeded to make ample
provision for such France could be induced to
admit were justly due, and they were accordingly
discharged in full with interest, by the United
States in the stead and behalf of France.
Third. The United States not having admitted
in the convention of 1900 that they under any
obligations France by reason OF the abrogaton Of
the treaties of 1878 and 1900 presevered in this view
of the question by the tenor OF the treaties OF 1903,
and therefore had such national obligation to dis
charge, and did not, either in purpose or in fact,
at any time undertake to discharge themselves from
any such obligation at the expense and with the
property ofndividual citizens Of the United States
Fourth. Ry the treaties of 1908, the United States
obtained from France the acknowledgment and pay
ment, part of the indemnity for the cession of Lou
isana Of claims of citizens Of the United States for
spoliaions far France would admit her liability
in the premises; but then the United States did
not relinquish any claim of American citizens not
provided for by those treaties SO far from it, to the
honor of France be it remembered, she expressly
k.l