The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-04-07
The gacObins TrampIe the Gu,
preme Court Under Their Feet.
The Judiciary Bill--VetO Message
OF the President--Passed Over
the Veto.

WASHINGTON, March 25--The Presi-
dent this afternoon sent to the Senate the
following veto message Of the bill lately
passed amending the Judiciary aot
To the Senate of the United States.
have considered with such care as the
pressure Of other duties has permitted, q
bill entitled Gan cot to amend the judi
eiary act, passed the 24th OF September.
1879. Not being able to approve all Of
its provisions I herewith return it to the
Senate, in which House it originated,
with q brief statement Of my affections.
The FIRST section of the bill meets my
appreciation, as for protecting the rights
Of property from the erroneous decisions
Of inferior judicial tribunals, it proposes
means for obtaining uniformity by an ap.
peal to the Supreme Court of the United
States, in cases which have now become
very numerous and of much public in
terest, and in which such remedy is not
now allowed, ~ sssjs,5.
The second section, however, takes
away the right Of appeal to that court in
cases which involve life and liberty Of
the citizens, and leave them exposed to
the Judgment of numerous inferior tri-
bunals. It is apparent that the two sec.
Itions were conceived in a very different
spirit, and ! regret that my objections to
one imposes upon me the necessity Of
Withholding my sanction from the other
| | cannot give my consentto to q measure
which proposes to deprive, any person,
restrained Of liberty in violation Of the
Constitution, or Of any treaty orlaw Of
the United States, from the right to ap
peal to the highest judicial authority
known to our, Government To secure
the blessings Of liberty to ourselves ans
our posterity, is one of the declared OBJ.
Ijeets of the Federal Constitution. TX
assure these guarantees are provided il
/ the same instrument, as well against IN.
reasonable searches and seizures, a
against the suspension of thespriyilege 0
the writ Of habeas corpus, unless when il
cases of rebellion OF invasion the public
safety may require. SIS S.
4 It was doubtless to afford the peepl,
means of protecting and enforcing thes.
linestimable privileges that the jurisdic
ton which this bill proposes totake ava.
was conferred upon the Supreme Court Q
the nation. The act conferring that ju
4 risdiction was approved on the h.day 0
February, 1867, with full knowledge o
the motives that prompted its passage
! and because it was believed to be neces
sary and right. Nothing has since oc
CURED to disapprove the wisdem and jus
tiee of the measure, and to modify it, a
now proposed, would be to lessen the pro
lection Of the citizens from the exereis
of arbitrary power, and to weaken th
safe guards OF liberty. which can nege
be made too secure against illegal en-
croachments.
The bill not only prohibits adjndica
ton by the Supreme Court of cases i
which appeals may hereafter be taken, bu
: linterdicts its jurisdiction on appeal
(which have already been made to ths
9 thigh judicial body. If, therefore, !.
should become law, it will. by its retro
active operation, wrest from the citizen
S remedy which he enjoyed at the time {
!, his appeal. 1t will thus operate mo-
t harshly on those who believe justice hs
lbeen denied them in inferior courts.
4 The legislation proposed in the secon
5 5sseetion, ii seems to me, is not 10 harmon
!. with the spirit aud intention Of the Col