Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-01-30

of his oath to support the Constitution -
Ten days Sundays excluded, are allowed
the Executive to consider bill, and to
approve or veto it, after which it will be
come law without his signature, if not
previously returned. The practice Of my
predecessors has been occasionally to permit
bills to become laws by this limi alton of
time. They have taken effect in the entire
absence of Executive action, But believe
this has only occurred where the Executive
has found it impossible to form positive
opinion upon the measure where, though
not unotj jectiouablc, it was trivial--or,
where it was manifest that veto would
not cause its defeat. This Executive
! practice ought not to be extended, ard the
practice itself is open to question. For if
the provision that bills neither signed nor
returned within ten days, shall become
laws, was intended as guard against
Executive abuse, in holding them an undue
period, and not as mode by which the
Executive might cause them to take effect,
without the responsibility of acting upon
/ them, it would seem clear that the practice
of holding them over for such purpose
cannot be defended.
I Bu tho Lcgisl turc by its adjournment
With, ten days after the passage of bill,
may deprive the Executive of due time for
considering it, and hence it is provided
/ that in such case it shall become law
unless sent back within three days after
the next meeting, In modern practice
large number of bills are usually sen. to
the Governor within few days Of the
adjournment Of the Legislature, which it is
impossible for him to consider duly before
the adjournment takes place. In fact
many are sent to him in the very closing
hurs of the session. But it would seem
plain thtt the Executive could reasonably
ask in such case only The full constitutional
period of ten days for forming his opinion,
and til It all bills he believes it his duty to
approve shall be actually signed within
that period, By the exercise of reasonable
industry this can in all clscs be accom-.
plishcd. Then, such bills as he dsapproves
will be held over to be returned to the
proper branch of the General Ass mbly
within three days after their next meeting,
acc 'rd ing to the constitutional provsion.--
This will probably dispose of Ill bills in
his htnds at the ndjournmcnt, upless udeed
it be allowed to hold over bills and permit
them to become laws without his action.
The proprcty Of signing bills by the
Governor between the sessions Of the
Legislature has been questioned. 1t does
not accord with the old practice, and is
certainly Liable TO abuse. During my
term it will be strictly confined to the FIRST
ten days after an adjournment, and all
bills not then approved, may be considered
as awaiting the next meeting ol the General
Assembly, to be returned with the Execu-
tive disspproval. The Exccu i've should
not bo subjected for long period of time to
the solicitations of those interested in bills,
nor should he be subject to the imputations
of indecison, or favoritism almost una
voidable in such cases. Nor is it right that
he should have in his hands the means OF
influence which the holding open of his
decision upon bills during recess would
confer. Besides grea. wrong may be
done to those interested in legislation, by
continuing them for an undue period in
Uncertainty as to the fate of bills in which
their rights, tn ir property, or their business
may be involved. These are evils which
an Executive may obviate, by settling his
policy firmly in the outset of his admins
tration. 1t would be well, also for the
Legislature to so shape its action as to
ayoid the necessity of sending many i'm
portant bills to the Governor in the closing
days or hours Of session.
FShca0 Citizens Although it will moi
be expected that should at this time dis
cuss in detail the particular questions
.whirh will probably come before the
government during my term, l desire
briefly 20 give expression to the general
, views of public policy to which | hold, in
, their appli alton to practical issues now
pending. The currency of the State is in
such a dsordercd condition, that general
} and wholesome public opinion demands it;
! reform, and the establishment Of cffcctual
) barriers against future coDvulsions. This
, is a subject which will test the intelligence
, the frmness, and the patriotism Of the
i Representatives of the peopo in the Leg
, islativc department, and may impose grave
D responsibilities upor the Executive. My
views are decidedly hostile to the emission
, and circulation of small notes as currency;
t to tie increase of Banking capital uudel
c present arrangements; ard to the issues
b Of bank paper upon securities inadequate
, for their redemption. The want of uni
formity in the legal provisions under which
G existing banks operate, is Objectionable
2 In the revision and amendment of oul
! banking system, the public interests il
c my opinion demand the extension of th
S specie basis upon which issues are made
n the suppression ofthe smaller denomination
t of notes heretofore allowed; thorough
: reports of the condition and business o
$ banks With their frequent publication
0 additional security, (other than specie( t.
a consist of the bonds OF this State or of tn
c United States, for the redemption o
S circulating notes, including in all case
n individual liability of stockholders ant
o directors, fitted for convenient and actua
. enforcement with supervisory and con
=. trolling power in some proper officer 0
,f 81, ~ 10 sfrnt IN