National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-02

which maze, ana tnht Uut e1ofs uAo DeAoEe
the late Presidential election, referred TO my
previously expressed opinions as being those then
entertained By me. With full knowledge Of the
opinions thus entertained, and never concealed,
was elected By the people Vice President Of thu
United States. -ff
By the occurrences Of contingency provided fof
by the Constitution, and arising under an impress
sive dispensation Of Providence, succeeded 20
the Presidential ONCE Before entering upon the
duties Of that once took an oath that would
preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution Of
the United States. Entertaining the opinions al
luded to. and having taken this oath, the Senate
and the country will see that could NOT give my
sanction to measure Of the character described
without surrsndering all claim 70 the respect Of
honorable men, all confidence on the psrt Of ths
people, all selfrespect, all regard for moral and
religious obligations, without an observance OF
which no government can be prosperous and no
people can be happy. II would be TO commit 9
crime which would not villfully commit 70 gain
an earthly reward, and which would Justly sub
jec, me 70 the ridicule and scorn Of al Eirtuous
men.
President Tyler then proceeds 10 give bris I
history Of the United States bank, Remaining
that, notwithstanding the immense transactions
of the bank In the purchase Of exchange, the
losses sustained were merely nominal while In
enormous, and proved most disastrous to the bank
and the country. Its power, he asserts, Of local
discount "has, in fact, proved to be . fruitful
source of favortism and corruption alike destrue.
tive to the public morals and TO the general veal
The capital invested in banks Of discount in the
United States created by the States, at this time
exceeds ESQ., 900 ooo and II the diseounting oflocal
paper could have produced any bensfcisl effects
the United States ought to possess the soundest
currency In the world; but the reverse Is lament
ably the fact" He gives his objections to the
clause IN the bill by which the directors are In
vested with the fullest power to establish branch
in any State which has yielded its assent and nav
ing once established such branch, It shall not AZ
forwards be withdrawn except By order Of Con-
gress. ....
The assent or dissent is to be expressed uncon-
ditIonaIly at the first session Of the Legislature
by SOME formal legislative act, and II not so e1-
pressed its assent s TO DO implied and the direct
ors are thereupon invested with power, ct such
time thereafter as they may please, to establish
branches, which cannot afterwards be withdrawn
except BY resolve Of Congress. The President re-
CARDS this as an iron rule unbending and infiexi.
BILE, nany Of the State elections having already
taken place without any knowledge on the part
of the people that such g question was to come up
He shows how the will Of the people may be de-
be gained through legislative action. The State
may afterwards protest, but its authority is gone.
To such inference President Tyler says he cannot
yield his consent. No court Of justice would or
could sanction them without reversing all that is
established In judicial proceeding by producing
ct variance with fact and infsrences
1t the expense ofreason.
But, further remarks President Tyler the
HState may express, under the most solemn form
IF Legislation, its dissent which may, from time to
time thereafter, be repeated in full view Of Its
OVID interest, which can never be separated from
he wise and beneficial operations Of this Govern
nsnt; and yet Congress may, by virtue OF the last
proviso, override its law, and upon grounds which
10 such State will appear to rest on constructive
necessity and propristy, and nothing more. re-
gard this bill asserting for Congress the right
10 incorporate United States bank, with power
and right to establish Offices of discount and de-
post in the several States Of this Union, with or
without their consents principle to which have
Always heretofore been opposed, and which can
never obtain my sanction"
rYLRR's VETO OF TIE SECOND FISCAL BANK BILL
Ireadily admit that, while the qualified
Teto with which the Chief Magistrate is invested
hould be regarded, and was intended by the wise
men who made It q part of the Constitution as Q
,reat conservative principle of our system Without
he exercise Of which, on important occasions, a
mere representative majority might urge the Gov
rnment in its legislation beyond the limits fixed
y the framers or might exert Its just powers too
hastily or oppressively, yet It is power which
ught TO be most cautiously exsrted, and per-
laps never, except In case eminently involving
ne public interest, or one In which the oath
4 the President, acting under his convictions,
10Th mental and moral, imperiously requires Its
xercise. In such case he has no alternative
lie must either exert the negative power In
rusted 10 him BY the Constitution, chiefly for Its
wn preservation, protection and defence, or CON-
nit an act Of gross moral turpitude. Mere regard
o the VIII Of majority must not, In q constitu-
ional republic like ours, control this sacred and
GLENN duty Of Q sworn officer. The Constitution
tself regard and cherish as the embodied and
written will Of the whole people Of the United
states. 1t is their fixed and fundamental law,
Fhieh they unanimously prescribe to the public
their mere trustees and servants
his their will and the law which they have
fVen rs as the rule Of our action, has no guard,
o guarantee of preservation, protection and de-
snse but the oaths which It prescribes To public
Ulcers, the sanctity with which they shall relI-
fously observe these oaths, and the patriotism
nth which the people shall shield 1t by their own
overeignty, which has made the Constitution su-
RENE. It must be exerted against the will of
mere representative majority or not at all. 1t
alone In pursuance OF that will that any
lsasure can ever reach the President, and to say
hat because majority IN Congress have passed
bill the President should therefore sanction It Is
abrogate the power altogether and to render
insertion In the Copstitution work of absolute
The duty Is to guard the funda- |
ental VIII OF the people themselves from In this
Ise, must admit, unintentional change or In |
action by majority in Congress: and In that |
ght alone do regard the constitutional duty |
hieh most reluctantly discharge
RESIDENT TTLER's VETO OF THE DISTRIBUTION
OF PUBLIC LANDS REVENUE BILL.
The veto Of this bill, on August IL, 1872 created
most as much excitement throughout the coun-
y az Jaekson's veto Of the United States bank
II. The excitement In New York among the
smoerats was intense, as the measure was o pet
70 Of the wings; and Its veto by Tyler was con.
Tered as reaching crisis In political affairs and
separating his administration entirely from
hig influences.
'EsIDHHT PoLK's vEToEs OF THE RIVER AND
zARBoR BILL. AUGUST 6, AND FRENCH sPoLIA-
rIos BILL, AUGUST IL, 1s4s
In returning the bill making appropriations for
0 iuprovement Of certain harbors and rivers.
esident Polk stated that, should It become q
v, the principle which 1t establishes will newt
ly lead to large and annually increasing appro-
stions and drains upon the Treasury. with
Oh an increase Of expenditure must necessarily
low either an increased public debt or increased
rdens upon the people by taxation.
% returning the French spolistion bill, PresI.
ut Polk said he did 80 upon the grounds Of ito
'xpediency alone. On December Is, lsI7, he
1t IN message to Congress, giving his reasons
full for Vetoing the river and harbor bill Of last
slOn,
PRESIDENT PIERCE
toed the French SpoliatIon bill February 80.
the relief Of the Collins Steamship bill
arch 4, 1885.
PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON
his administration by no less than
leteen Vetoes. His may Faithfully be called
champion Veto Administrator since the .
Eernment vas established. Among his pr,n.
al vetoes were those Of the Owl Rights bill.
Eroh %, 1855; Frsedman's Bureau bill, June IL.
O. the District Of Columbia Suffrage bill.
nusry 8, 1857; Military Reconstruction bill. {
rch g. 1857; Tenure Of Once bill, same date; Z
pplementary Reconstruction bill, July 20, 1857;
mission Of Southern Representatives, June %.
}; Discontinuance Of Frsedmans Bureau, July
1865, &c
PRESIDENT GRANT
eight bills Of private character, {
Wit: January IL, 1870, (hIs rst veto.) for the re-