Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-02-20
LlNCHBUkG . lRGlNIAN.
TUESDAY MORNING. .FEB'Y 90, 1855.
The French So 7l,ation Bi.

The French sp7 liation Bill.
The President vet he~tatrs t. afix his 81 gna-
ture to this hll--nnd The IMPRESSION now amounts
almost TO conviction. that he intend, withholding
his sanction from it, altogether. The principle
involved in the action of the Executive on this
question is paramount to the issues of national
honesty and Justice high aud solemn as they are
To our apprehension, it raises questions Of the
true and intended Interpretation of the eonstitu-
ton, which underlie the whole fabric of our Re
publican system of government.
To men accustomed to regard the will of the
people, expressed according to law and in con
formity with the constitution. as the supreme au-
thority in this land. il may seem incredible thot
any one should have the temerity to galnsay it
and yet the veto of this bill would be practical
assertion of contrary doctrine, aud would ele-
waite the opinion of ONE MAN above the delhe-
rately and repeatedly uttered judgments of the
PEOPLES REPRESENTATIVES,.
We have heretofore cited tie contingencies for
which the veto power provided Any use OF
it resulting from mere difference Of opinion be
tween the President and Congress would be 80
entirely without the contemplation Of the Fra
mers of the Constitution, 50 radically yolative
of the theory of representative power and popu
lar sovereignty, as to constitute nothing less than
revolution in our form Of government. Con
cede this prerogative to the President, and the
government will have ceased 10 be republic,
will have lost the last Impress Of Democracy and
viii have become an Elective Monarchy. It's
our solemn conviction that the employment of
the veto. to defeat this bill, would be such AN
abuse of the constitution, as would Justify and
call for an investigation, under it, imreachng
clause We know net how else the purity and
integrity Of oar relablieaui-u Il nation could
b. indicated.
Referring To the veto Of similar bill, during
q former democratic administration, the National
Intelligencer says: "Whcn President Polk We
toed the bill that passed Congress for the relief Of
these claimants, has any one ever said that in do
ing so be protected the Constitution! lila, it
been said that he defeated inju,ticel Was he
commended by any popular expression Of opinion
that he had done right Did not Congress feel
that he bad degraded their power 10y a stretch of
h> own Vas it not the intelligent opinion of
the country that il was not cuse for the righifu
exercise Of the veto power Did he a. u states
man gain any reputation for his act Were not
his reasons looked upon impotent and unsaii,-
factory lie urged, in fact, no objection of con
sti.utional difficulty even Of strong defect in
the claims. His objection was rather as to time
and want Of due deliberation HE follosiugek
tract contains the gist of his objection:
Passed this bill has been, near the close
e the session. and when mnnv -nros If inn
portanee necessarily clam the attention If Con
gte,s. and possibly without that full and dcitbc
rate consideration which the Hrge snm II pppru-
pratrs aud the existing condition of the lreasu-
~ aud of the country dea.uad,l decmit to he my
duty 10 withhold my approval tina, II may hire
after undergo thf rcriSinR Of Congress-
well" continues the mic.beouccr, ait las
undergone the ''revis,on." tn Deliberate le,j~
ion, of Congress, and ha- been rc affirmed aud
passed again b, an increased majority. uere
Mr. Polk now living and President, he wouh, ~
his own showing, be- obliged Ia sign this bill"
The Congressional history ofthc bill is thus
stated by the same journal; Twenty
times has it been reported upon fayorably, and
n ever has there been an adverse report, Seven
bills for relief have at different sessions been
passed, either by the Senate or the House. Every
vote that has ever been taken in either House
has been favorable. 1t has twice passed both
branches 10y large maiorites
No enc subject has ever been 50 long or
more thoroughly discussed. 1t has at different
times, whenever the subject has been debated,
engaged nearly all the eminent talent in Con
Eress. II started It's struggle in Congress imme.
diaely following the cause that gave rise To the
claims when every circumstance fresh and
known 10 ALI and the first report, like all that
followed, was favorable.
Its earliest efforts were when the SAVIOR of
revolutionary virtue shaping the dehbera-
iion- Of Congress. 1t came before the wise and
pure men of that day upon its intrinsic merits
aud they endorsed ii by their votes. Its vitality
through ali the extraordinary and protracted Of
forts that have been made to starve it to death
has been its justless and the majerites in Con
grass in lis behalf, that said, "go on "perse-
rers." To this has been added the opinion Of
jefferson, Madison, Adams Marshall Giles,
Pickering, and others of the day and generation,
ali, all in its favor.
fought such case to be strangled by any
doubtful power or questionable exercise of it!
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