Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-07-30
The Press 0n fhe Yeto.


We append the views Of the leading journals d
Philadelphia and New York on the Veto Message
The Press says
In the Intellectual and practically unmeanine
message OF yesterday, one good column is taken uT
IN Impressing upon any who reads it the patent
fact that by the act Of Congress the military author
ity Of the United States ia the ten rebel States is
paramount TO all others-a fact which all the cour-
try, Mr. Stanbery excepted, has known for some
time. Following this statement Of simple fact
comes pitiful catch about Illegal State Govern
ments to be carried on by lawful Federal officers.
This legal legerdemain deceiyss no one now. The
people have gotten beyond conundrums in this mat
ter Inc President thinks II is hard, and complains
at length These eaptious and qurulous paragraphs
ana re-" concluding reflections, which are CON-
menda5le IN that they do not threatan violanca fo
the Republicans make up the message on which the
business OF the country has been waiting for several
DAYS From first to last the President deals ,v;tb
points and never faces the great question He
and catches at sections and clauses and loses sibt
entirely of the great subject in hand-rsconstruc
tion-which is peace and prosperity for the whole
country. It is this that is so humiliating. While
the people are graphing with the vital issues Of the
times the Executive, bafied in his ambitious de-
signs is playing at logic and tossing about the syl
logistic puzzles of the school books.A
The Age declares $500
@According to the provisions of this bill, Con-
gress can, by simple act Of power cancel the en-
tire corporate life and being of State and destroy
the rights of its people to participate in any Of
those duties which are the evidences of American
citizenship. These being the aims and purposes of
the bill presented to the Chief Magistrate Of the
nation veto was naturally expected By all who
still cherished veneration and regard for the form
OF government under which this nation has grown
to such magnificent proportions. The facts pre-
sented By the President in support of the different
positions he assumes are plain and unanswerable,
and his arguments and illustrations clear, cogent
and convincing. But they will have no effect upon
the revolutionary party now in power, who prompt
~ passed the bill, notwithstanding the Presidents
objections. They have determined to hold authori-
ty at all hazards. The President has done his duty.
He has exhausted all his constitutional powers in
defense of the Constitution the rights of the States
and the people. II American citizens desire to re-
main freemen, they must now take the matter in
their own hands. The issue is made up between
Congress and the people, and the latter must meet
it like men, their liberties will soon be memory
ofthe past"
The North AnlsTican saws:
President johnson sent in yesterday the expect
ed veto of the decsratory act Just passed By both
Houses, and its contents sufficiently indicate thst
there is to be no truce between him and Congress
In the same hostile spirit that he originally entered
upon his contest with Congress, he now renews the
war; and completely bellies all the fair promises that
had been made his behalf, and on the strength Of
which congressman appeared to be in such desper-
ate haste to get through their special task This
can mean nothing else than defiance of Congress
and direct refusal to submit to this act especially
when we read the insulting passage with which he
closes his message. The emergency is q grave one,
and requires mature consideration. Evidently the
subject not to be disposed of easily Congress
supposed. The President is determined TO use his
power to the utmost"
The New York Tribune says:
His message goes further than we thought even
he would dare to go. he has hitherto opposed the
laws; now he would defy them. If the President
should undertake to carry out his argument he will
begin new rebellion but, like the old rebellion,
it will be crushed. To the extraordinary argument
which Mr.. johnson opposes TO the Supplementary
Reconstruction act, the Senate replied with con-
temptuous silence and the immediate passage of the
bill over his veto. 1t is almost unnecessary TO an
swer his evident sophistry, though Mr.. Butler ably
exposed in the House the pretense that the legsla
ton OF Congress in reference 10 Federal Courts in
the South, and Constitutional amendments admit
ted the power TO place the rebel States under mill
tary rule. 1t is not with the Presidents argument
but with the spirit of the message that the country
VIII take issue. We pass by this fimsy logic but
we must listen to his threats. To us the emphatic
portions of the message that which insults the
people by declaring that Congress has placed twelve
millions of American citizens under a rule than |
which there has been none more intolerant, and
more especially that which refuses TO execute the
act. His objections 10 the bill are worth nothing
now that it has become tina law. He is bound 10
discharge the high duties of his executive Office to
the letter and in the spirit and we need not predict
what would be the result should this servant of the
people persist in affirming / will not when the !
Nation has again, and believe for the last time
commanded You shall"