The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12
A Veto by President Madison.

The following is printed from document found
among the papers left by DR.. John d. Rice. Inc
facts embodied are probably unknown to most OF our
readers, and they will notice with interest the rea
sons given for his veto by President Madison.-ED.
Cen. PRES.
Extract from the Journal of the House Of Repre-
sentatUes of the United States Of the 2lSt Of Feb
ruary, 1911.
GA message was received from the Presi.
dent of the United States by Mr.. Edward
Coles, his Secretary, who, by command of
the President, returned to the House the bill
passed by the two Houses, entitled An act
Incorporating the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the town of Alexandria, in the
district of Columbia, and presented to the
President for his appreciation and signature,
on Thursday the fourteenth instant, to which
bill the President having made objections,
the same were also delivered in by the said
Secretary, who then withdrew.
"The said objections were read, and or
dered to be entered at large on the journal,
as follows;
ITO the House representatives of the United
| States.
Having e, med and considered the
bill, entitled a t incorporating the Pro
testant Episcc Church in the town Of
Alexandra, in district of Columbia;
now return tn 20 the House of Repre-
sentatives, in it originated, with the
following obje
"Because xceeds the rightful au
thority to ernments are limited
by the esse tion between civil auC
religious fur .snd violates, in particu
lar, the artic the constitution of TIT
United States which declares that Con
gress shall NAL no law respecting religi
Gus establishm t.. The bill enacts into, ant
establishes by NV, sundry rules and proceed
ings relative p rely to the organization AMI
polity of the ,urch Incorporated, and com
pretending ev the election and removal o
the ministers the same; so that no chang
could be made therein by the particular so
ciety, or of the general church of which it i
a member, and whose authority it recog
nizes. This particular church therefore
would so far be religious establishment BY
law, legal force and sanction being givel
to certain articles in its constitution and ad
ministration. Nor can it be considered, tina
the articles thus established are to be takel
as the descriptive criteria only Of the corpo
rate identity of the society, inasmuch a
this identity must depend on other charac
teristics as he regulations established ar
generally unessential, and alterable accord
ing to the principles and canons, by whicl
churches of that denomination govern them
selves and as the iDjunctions and prohibi
tons contained in the regulations, would b.
enforced by the penal consequences appli
cable to violation of them according to tn
local law:
"Because the bill vests in the said incor
porated church an authority to provide fo
the support of the poor, and the education o
poor children of the same !; an authorit,
which being altogether superhuous, if tn
provision is to be the result of piouS charity
would be.a precedent for giving to religion
societies, as such, a legal agency in carrying
into effect public and civil duty.
(Signed,) JAMES MADISON"
Examined.-A copy.
Attest, Tho. DoUGHERTY,
Clerk of House Representatives.