The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-02-19
VETO I
04V. John W. osary, the Tribune Of
the People, Stays the Philadel-
phia Metropolitan PO-
lice Bill.
DAwN OF A BETTER DAY.

Governor Geary, of Pennsylvania. sent
to the Senate of that State, on the 10th in
stSnt, the following message, vetoing the
Metropolitan Police Bill :
TOT the Senare and House of Representatives of
lie Commonwealth Of PenDsylv,ni,
GENTLEMEN Having carefully consid-
erfd Senate bill No. 20, entitled, IAN act
to provide for the appointment of Metropo-
li4n Police for the city Of Philadelphia, T"
an although actuated BY a sincere desire to
conform my action in regard to it to that Of
thu General Assembly, l am constrained to
withhold the executive sanction, and proceed
to|the constitutional duty Of giving my rea-
sOhs for disappearing,
lin the first place the title is not in confor-
NIFTY with the eighth section Of the Eleventh
Article of the Constitution, which declares
that mo bill shall be passed by the legisla-
tdre, containing more than one subject, which
sElll be clearly expressed in the title" As /
lad the bill one of its most important feat
ules is the election Of five police commits
sbners; and yc: this idea is neither clearly
expressed, nor even remotely indicated BY
tke title. . -,
Another objection to the bill is that the
VI mole sixteen pages are jumbled together
ihto one section. 1t is usual and proper to
divide bills Of such length into sections, each
etnbracing some marked features, and to have
the sections arranged according to some ma
tdral order Although this is only matter
OF form, am aware of no good reason for
this departure from usuage, and utter disre-
grid of all sound precedent.
Much has been. said about the character
aid lneficiency of the police of Philadel-
Phia; and l am fully persuaded many Of
them are not such as the good order Of the
city demands. But whilst this is an ack-
4wledged evil, and proper subject for le-
gslative consideration, / more than doubt
tie wisdom Of the remedy proposed by this
Bll. II is manifest, however, that it is q
most important one, and that it contemplates
ah entire revolution in this branch Of the
city government.
The constitutional authority Of the legis-
ltture, in a period Of profound peace, to Gre
se power such as is contemplated BY the
metropolitan Police Bill'' to operate over
the whole State, or any part thereof, is a
question Of great magnitude, and one which,
9nder republican form Of government de-
asrves serious consideration, as It involves
Inherent and indefeasible rights and other
fundamental principles in a government es-
@blished for the benefit and happiness of
ehe people.
! The bill under consideration is fraught
fith mOmentOus consequences to the citizens
If Philadelphia and Of the State. And the
position that the power can be taken away
rom so large portion Of the people Of Penn
h7lvania, without their consent, for a period
bf years, and lodged in the hands of six per-
hons, is to me extraordinary, untenable, aud
" violation Of the spirit, meaning and intent
pf the first and second sections Of the 18th
Article of the Constitution. The second
section declares that all power is inherent
n the people, and ~ free governments are
Ounded on their Authority, and Instituted
FOR their peace, safety ard happiness" The
Constitution sets forth, in such plain and un-
,equIvocal ter the principles upon which
\ republican government shall be conducted,
shat comment would be superfous, and
would weaken rather than strengthen the
Ease.
If there. exists any right or authority in
3he legislature to concentrate power in few
men for term of years, then it must be adj
united that they have the right to do it for
my number Of years, or to make it a perpe-
puity.
To recognize the right to legislate thus
specially for one city is virtually to &c
knowledge that the Legislature has authori-
~ to make similar enactments in every
!Pther city, borough. village, county and
township within the State and that by the
same reasoning congress possesses like power
70 leglslate for the different States, enact
grand Metropolitan Police bill, and secure
,plenary executive, legislative and judicial
powers in the hands Of few persons, and
llhus exclude the masses of the people from
|all participation in the government of them
selves. j must confess that m entirely
unprepared to sanction any slslation so
mlschievous in its tendencies, and 80 anti
republican in its character, and which is
calculated to uproOt and destroy tho dearest
principles aud privileges Of the people,
which underlie the Institutions of our well
regulated Commonwealth. Justice and the
dictates Of sound public policy rsquha that
the citizens Of every political and corporate
division, however great or small, should be
permitted, as an inherent right Of selfgov-
eminent without "oficious intern eddling"
from any quarter, to manage their own local
affairs in their own way, through officers
selected at the ballot-boxe by themselves.
In remarking upon this subject have
elsewhere said, !" The great principle, then,
upon which our free institutions rest is the
unqualified and absolute sovereignty Of the
people; and constituting, as that principle
does' the most positive and essential feature
10 the great charter of our liberties, % il is
better calculated than any other to give
elevation to our hopes and dignity to our