Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-08
GOVERNORS VETO.

has given ont that any law to repudiate
any of the bonds of the State will have
to be passed by a two-thirds vote over his
veto. He also says that he has never
issued bonds to sny railroad without first
having the opinion of the Attorney Gen
eral of thes State as to the legality OF
issuing them.
Our Governor, then, proposes to put
in active use at an early day his veto
power lately granted him by the new
Constitution, to protect himself and
friends in fraud perpetrated on the
people of the State. He must be aware
in signing certain railroad bonds
that the statute under which they were
to be issued, was grossly violated. The
conditions were that given amount of
grading should be done on these roads
and the iron put down before the compa
MES were entitled to have issued to them
the State bonds signed by the Governor.
This condition in several instances was
not complied with, as is shown by the
report of the joint select committee of
the Legislature, appointed to investigate
the affairs Of the railroads Of the State.
1t is now proposed to protect the tax
paying part of the community by refus-
ing to pay these obligations wherein the
State would not be held legally bound
before a court Of law Senter raves at
the bare mention of such thing by the
Legislature, and swings aloft his shillelah,
threatening to strike the measure on the
head. If the blow should descend it
must be very light one, as the power Of
the Governor is exceedingly limited.
Heretofore, in our State, the Executive
was not granted veto Of the laws
passed by the Legislature, but the late
Convention thought it best to alter the
Constitution in this respect which now
requires that every bill passed by the
General Assembly shall before it. be-
comes law be presented to the Gov
ernor for his signature. If he APP
prove it he shall sign it, and the
same shall become a law; but if he
refuse TO sigh it he shall return it with
his objections thereto, in writing, to the
House in which it originated, and said
House shall cause said objections to be
entered at large upon its journals, and
proceed TO reconsider the bill If, after |
such reconsideration majority of all
The members elected to that House shall
agree to pass the bill, notwithstanding
the objections Of the Executive, it shall
be sent with said objections to the other
House, by which it shall be likewise re-
considered. If approved by a majority
of the whole number elected TO that
House, it shall become law II may
be found out then that Governor Senter
does not possess the extraordinary
power of requiring a two-thirds vote of
each House in favor of any measure, be-
fore il can become law. A simple ma
jority of all the members elected to each
House is sufficient TO make law, re-
gardless of the signature of the Cover
nor. And, as to his signing the bonds
after consulting the legal opinion of
his Attorney General, that of ITSELF J
amounts TO little Il is required
of every citizen to understand =
and know fullywhat the statutes require !
of him, and ignorance Of the law ex- 3
cuseth no man We have our doubts as ?
to the Governor being at loss to under /
stand the plain wording of an enact a
ment that a schoolboy may have read,
perfectly comprehending its meaning. Il
Senter viii be shown to be in with the
corrupt railroad ring" or having been n
duped by designing members of that y
body who have made false representa- y
tons tohim. Further investigations in
these matters may expose some people in 4
a very unenviable light ),
a