Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-24
Veto Message.

veto message.
The President to day communicated
the following message to the House of
Representatives,:
The accompanying bill regulating the
duties on imported copper and copper
ores is, for the following resspns, re-
turned without my approval to the House
| of Representatives, in which branch of
Congress it originated. Its immediate
effect will be to diminish the public re-
ceipts, for the object of the bill cannot
be accomplished without seriously affect
ing the importation of copper and cop
per ores, from which considerable rev
enue is at present derived. While thus
mpairing the resources of the Govern
ment, it imposes an additional tax on an
overburdened people, who should not be
further impoverished that monopolies
may be fostered ard corporations en-
riched.
IL is represented, and the declaration
seeing to be sustained by evidence, that
the duties for which this bill provides are
nearly or quite sufficient TO prohibit the
importation of certain foreign ores of
copper, Its enactment, therefore, will
prove detrimental 10 the shipping inter-
ests of the nation, and at the same time
destroy the business, for many years suc-
cessiully established, of smelling ores in
connection with smaller amount of the
imported article. This business. it is
asserted, has heretofore yielded the
larger share Of the copper production of
the country, and thus the industry which
this legislation is designed to encourage
is actually less than that which will be
destroyed by the passage Of the bill.
Il seems, also, to be evident the effect
of this measure will be to enhance by
seventy per cent the cost Of blue vitrol,
an article extensively used 10 dying and
manufacture of printed and colored
cloths. To produce such an s<gumenta-
ton in the price of this commodity will
be to discriminate against other great
branches Of industry, and by increasing
the cost to expose them most unfairly to
the effects or foreign competition. That
legislation can neither be wise or just
which seeks the welfare Of single in
leFest at the expense and to the injury of
the pany and various interests equally
important and equally deserving.
Indeed, it is difficult to fnd any reason
which will justify the interference of the
Government with any legitimate indus
try, except go far as may be rendered
necessary by the requirements Of the
revenue. As has been already stated,
however, the legislative Intervention pro-
posed il the present INSTANCE, will di,
minish, not increase, the public receipts.
The enactment Of such Law is urged as
necessary for relief Of certain mining
interests Of Lake Superior, which, it is
alleged, are ll a greatly depressed eondi-
ton, and can only be sustained by an
enhancement Of tie price Of copper.
II this result should follow the passage
Of tae bill, tax for the exclusive benefit
Of a single class would be imposed on
cOnsumers Of copper throughe ut the en-
lire country, not warranted By need OF
the GOvernmeui, and the profits Of which
would not 10 any degree find their way
into she Treasury Of the. nation. II
the mines Of Lake Superior ere in 3
condition - vani, il cannot be justly
affirmed that ibe 6oEerument lhould e1s
tend charity 70 them 10 preference 10
those Of lie ciflzens who in other portions
Of the country suffer in Ike manner.
Least Of al should the endeavor TO aid
them be based or q method 90 uncertain
and indirect IS that contemplated by the
bill, aud which, moreover, proposes to
continue the exercise Of It's henefactic=
through an indefinite period. IL is also
reasonable 10 hope that positive suffer
ipg from want " i really exists, will