The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-03-21
THE VETO.

| tho hour. !ADoDhN,
THE VETO.
i From the Clarke Courier.l
We sympathize with the white citizens
and taxpayers Of Petersburg, and though
they may be sorely disappointed and cha
grined at Governor Kemper'5 action, they
cannot escape the conclusion, after mature
land calm reflection, that it was wise, states
manlike, and for the best interests Of the
State at large. He is the Governor of State
and not of party, and he has no right to
countenauce legislation that sets at naught
the will of majority of city because the
political faith of that majority is not pinned
to that of the party in power In the Legis-
lature. It would be establishing precedent
to make municipalities the yassals of the vi.
cissitndes of legislative majorities. 1t is bet
ter for the people of Petersburg to suffer
for a while from misgovernment than to
open way by which anarchy and ruin may
enter and ride down our liberties by discard
ing old established principles of free govern
ment. .--.....
1t was only short while ago that the Con-
seryative press of Virginia and Of the entire
| South were hurliDg their anathemas at PreSi-
dent Grant, Judge Durell, and other Federal
| officers Tor ignoring the will Of the people of
Louisiana and placing their party friends in
power; and now, almost before the breath
| accompanying our maledctions has cooled,
we would initiate their example by enactiug
the Petersburg charter.
We are glad that Governor of Virginia
had the frmuess, in the face Of SO many pre-
cedents afforded him by the Federal Govern
ment since the war, to interpOse his power
to arrest anything like partisan legislation,
even though his sympathies are enlisted in
behalf of the parties to be benefited by it.
1t is sign Of return to the purer and bet
ter days of free government, and will leave
an imprint of the lesson it teaches upon the
minds of those who abused the Federal
power with which they were invested that
may lead to good results.
From the Page CourlerJ
While we regret the veto, and do not con-
cur in the views of the Governor, we know
he honestly entertains them, and has ex-
pressed them with the same fearlessness and
sense of patriotic duty that always actuated
" old Hickory" when be Illuminated his veto
anathemas at the bank of the United States.
We regard his views of the soundness of the
policy of. the veto, from his standpoint,
under present circumstances, as Of much
more force than the fundamental principles
upon which he bases his message. But we
cannot quarrel with Governor Kemper for
exercising his constitutional privilege in ye
tong bill which he could not Conscientious
" approve. That he has been actuated by
any sinister motives, or "large expectations"
in the future of political uptumbings we
do NOT believe. IT he has ambitions he has
right to have them, and if he seeks their
qualification in as modest and honorable
way as he did those he now wears, we will
with as much pleasure help to crown his
brow with the laurel wreath as We did last
fall. Veto or no veto, we are still! the friend
of the gallant Kemper.
IFrom the Fredericksburg News.I
The Petersburg charter fuss is subsiding.
Most of the newspapers outside of Peters
burg never saw the charter. Why, there
fore, write frantically and "cuss" Kemper?
He could not say he ''approved" it if he
didn't "approve" it. Many other people
did not approve it. All are sorry for Pc
tersburg's negro majority and the conse-
quences thereof. Fix up another bill, and
get all the relief you can, which will be
"approved." "Better luck next time"
From the Marion Patriotl
A TEMPEST IN TEAPoT.-GoYerno
Kemper has raised n perfect storm about
his ears by vetoing the charter for the city
of Petersburg, recently passed by the Legis-
Iature. This charter, which contained some
very extraordinary and very radical clauses,
was gotten up for the declared purpose OF
taking the city government out Of the hands
of the Radicals, that party having majority
of voters in the city. Several Of the papers
of the State, and the Petersburg papers
especially, have criticised the Governor very
severely. We insist that this TRADE of abuse
of Governor Kemper is unjustand unwise.
The Governor was right in vetoing the char
ter. because it was in violation of the spirit
if not the letter Of our Constitution. Its
passage into law would have been dan
gereus precedent to establish in this State,
and could not but have been hurtful to the
Conservative party.
1t is to be deeply regretted that the neces-
sity ever arose for this conflict of opinion
between the Executive aud the Legislature,
but when the momentary passion has sub
sided the people of Petersburg even, who
now find no epithet too bitter to apply to
Governor kemper, will concede that he acted
wisely to refuse bis assent to the charter.
Petersburg eau and will be rescued from
the rule of Radicaism without reSorting to.
any such dangerous and revolutionary mea.
sures as those proposed in the defeated
charter.
from the Louisville Courier.
/ In spite Of the argument, we do not hest
tate to say that Governor Kemper has acted
wisely. There are but two parties in this
country-the Radical party and the party
that opposes it. II the declarations of the
Democratic party are sincere, they are as op-
posite as two partie, can be. They are as far
apart rs the poles. The one certainly has no
respect tor the Constitution or the principles
upon which it was established the other yen-
crates and adberes to both. The one is seeking
in every possibly way and by every paItry
pretext to destroy the essential and master
pillar which upholds our shattered institu-
tions-the right Of local government; the
other is seeking to restore it in all its strength
and symmetry There is but one barrier
that prevents the success Of the former, aud
that barrier is the opposition Of the latter.
But il the Democratic party unite in the
work of demolition what is to prevent the
complete ruin Of the building? II the guar
dams Of the edice undermine its chief pill
lar no protection will be left, and no one can
doubt that it will fall.
And with what consistency can one party
| oppose another because it subyerts certain
Fundamental principle to perpetuate It's
power when the same principle ID trampled
on BY the opposition Itself whenever iL has