The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-03-02
THE FRENCH SpoLIATIoN BILL.

| ligencer. 1t was written before the veto me.
sage was sent into Congress:
No one subject has ever been so long ol
more thoroughly discussed. 1t has at differ.
ent times, whenever the subject has been de.
bated, engaged nearly all the eminent talent
in Congress Immediately following the cause
| that gave rise to the claims, when every cir.
cumstance was fresh and known to ali; and
the first report, like all that followed, was ia,
vorable.
Its earliest efforts were when the SAVIOR OF
revolutionary virtue was shaping the deber-
ations of Congress 1t came before the wise
and pure men of that day upon its intrin sic
merits, and they endorsed it by their votes
Its vitality, through all the extraordinary and
protracted efforts that have been made to
starve it to death, has been its justness aud
the majorities in Congress in its behalf, that
said, "go on" "perSeUere." To tiiis has been
added the opinion OF jefferson, Madison, Ad.
ans, Marshall, Giles, Pickering, and 9th.
ers of that day and generation, all, all in its
favor.
Ought such case to be strangled by any
doubtful power or questionable exercise of
it?
Suppose for moment that the Govern
ment Of the United States had demand
against any individual, corporation, or set of
men, and it had only moiety of the justice
that distinguishes this French indemnity,
would not its daily history prove that every
proper expedient within its power would be
employed to recover it? Our government is
eminently exacting and persevering ia the re-.
covery of all its dues; it is its duty to be so;
whilst it sets an example of this kind let it
nlete out the same measure of justice to those
who have proper claims against it. Because it
has the power to enforce its own demands, and
the power to withhold the demands of others
on its c. itsrs, let it not stain the great att,i-
butte of justice by an arbitrary exercise Of
power to enforce what is wrong in principle
and unjust upon its merits.
The great prerogative Of power in GOV.
ernment shoaId carry out all its teachings to
serve the ends of justice. Whenever il de-
parts from this stern rule, it demoralizes so.
ciety by its example, and fraud will plead in-
munity by the high delinquency OF govern
mental precedent.
1t is better that power should lean to the
demands of equity, even while little short
OF rigid justice, than 50 to stretch its prcrOga-
tive us TO make it oppressive. But when JUS
tice comes up fully armed in the sutliciency
of her proof, and standing upon principles
recognised by MS high authority as is known
to the constitution Of the country, the veto
expedency cannot stand the test of reason,
nor will it be deemed n sufficient plea for
driving rudely away those who bear her stan
dard and have been made poor by claims
long delayed and suppiants by oppres-
sion.
What a beautiful commentary upon gov
ernment to see it lifting up weakness TO the
level of its own strength, that justice may be
impartially administered; and its example
teaching and purifying that moral strength
that is paid back to government in the virtue
of its citizens
When President Polk vetoed the bill that
passed Congress for the relief of these claim
ants, has any one ever said that in doing so
he protected the constitution Has it been
said that he defeated injustice Was he com
mended by any popular expression of opinion
that he had done right! Did not Congress
feel that he had degraded their power by
stretch of his own! Was it not the intelli-
StHb W tho N'uHtll tlldL ~ Wdo NV u
case for the rightful exercise of the veto
power! Did he rs Il Statesman gain any re-
putation for his act? Were not his reasons
looked upon as impo,ent and unsatisfactory?
He urged, in fact, no objection of consttu-
tional difficulty or even OF strong defect in
the claims. His objection was rather ms to
time, and want of due seiberation. he fol-
lowing extract contains the gist of his OBJ
lection:
PASSED, as this bill has been, near the close
of the session, and when many measures of
importance necessarily claim the attention OF
Congress, and possibly without that full and
deliberate consideration which the large sum
it approprates and the existing condition of
the treasury and Of the country demand,
deem it to be my duty TO withhold my APP
proval, that it may hereafter undergo The re.
uision Of Congress-"
Well, it has undergone the "revsion" the
deliberate revision of Congress, and has been
re-afiirmed and passed again by an increased
majority Were Mr. Polk now living and
he would, by his own showing, be
obliged to sign this bill.