The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-03-20
THE VETO.
From the DanviIle Regiser.]

rested. and who was TO sulieI oIl "ny .n
fake which might be made, co9ld Iee, .pe
| f1Il weight of responsibility. we thlnh t.e
caImer Judgment of the people WIN sus''' ~ :
| the Governor in his actlon.
rErom the Lcesburg Mirror.1
Whatever the grievances sought to be re-.
nemedied by this new charter may be-and
we doubt not they are intolerable enough
these outbursts of indignation against the
Governor will in no wise tend to lessen the
| burden. Not being able to approve the Dill,
| he was bound by his oath to veto it; and
with that fearless intrepidity which carried
him in the front rank of danger during the
late struggle for southern independence, he
had the nerve and the manhood to say "Eo."
| 1t was not a party issue; and even if it had
been, however much his party friends might
have desired--ether foriparty ends or the
good of the suffering citizens of Peters
burg--that he should have arrived at diff
ferent conclusion, the heroic services and
bloody sufferings of Governor kemper in
behalf of Virginia and the South are too
we'll remembered and too highly appreciated
to justify his expulsion from the Conserva-
tive ranks because of an honest difference OF
opinion in regard to the charter Of city.
from the Louisville Cousier.I
The case is similar to that OF the LeXing-
ton charter passed by the Kentucky Legis-
lature two years ago. In Lexington che ne
groes predominated at the polls, and new
charter was sent to the Legislature, backed
by the resolution OF public meeting that
its passage was impcratiVely demanded By
their best interests, was necessary to save
their city from ruin, and was called for by
vast majority of the white citizens" Gov
ernor Leslie vetoed the bill because sit was
yiolatiye of the spirit OF our Constitution,
was not in harmony with the genius OF our
republican institutions, and was subrersige
of the time. honored traditions and cherished
principles of American democracy" &C., nc.
From the Recspritlse CidsenI
TEE PErERspuRG CHARTgR.-Governo
Kemper has vetoed tie bill granting new
charter to the city OF Petersburg, and las
been sustained by the Senate. This action
on the part of the Governor has caused the
appearance of some editorials in the Peters
burg and Richmond papers which can but
be regretted when time has been given for
sober reflection.
Charges have been made against Governor
Kemper which cannot have shadow of
foundation. And whilst we are not dis
posed to condemn 80 sweepingly his action
in the matter, we yet do regret that Gov
ernor Kemper, seeing the opposition his
message would provoke, hastily penned
words which are unbecoming the executive
of great State.
The message is. to say the least, undigni-
fed and ill-consdeTcd.
If Governor kenpers usually well-bal-
anced head was from any cause disordered,
the press should preserve Its equilibrium,
and not too hastily condemn the action of
our chief magistrate. '
The whole question is one of constitution
atty. Upon this point we have no informa-
ton, and consequently are not prepared TO
give an opinion.
Desperate diseases sometimes require des-
perate remedies. If the Constitution is de-
tectiye it should be changed, and the blame
nlaced there, not upon Governor hempcr,
who has sworn to support that Constitu-
ton. ~
We hope that the recent excitement about
Governor Kemper's veto of the Petersburg
charter bill will soon be abated. We believe
the Governor acted conscientiously, and,
probably wisely. Certainly he is not to
blame for conscientiously performing his
duty and carrying out his own convictions
as to what it was right for him to do. Calm
reflection will probably induce many who
now think hard Of him to modify their
opinion.
From the Farmvllle Mcrcury.I
TIE PETERSBURG CHARTER.-The Gov
ernor in yetoing it sent a message to the
Senate setting forth the grounds of his dis
approval, which are briefly that it was a
measure inexpedient, unjust, and in viola
| ton of the fundamental principles Of repub-
| licanism.
Petersburg is indignant, and her press has
very severely censured Governor kemper,
and would not hesitate to read him out OF
the Conservative party if it could.
| We are sorry for Petersburg. We had
hoped the bill would not have been vetoed.
] But it has been, and we believe Governor
Kemper acted from strong sense OF duty,
and that his course will be generally ap.
proved, although there is much in bis mes
sage which we do not like, and which, we
believe, he would not have written unless
under considerable excitement.
From the Roanoke Times.)
GOVERNOR KEMpER.-We are not of those
who believe that Governor Kemper was ac-
tuatcd by any but the purest and most pa
triotic motives. The right-minded people
who know Governor Kemper know that he
is incapable of anything unworthy the high
position he occupies. In conversations with
the people of this section We have yet to hear
the first one denounce the action of the
Governor in this matter. They would, like
ourselves, be willing to do anything for the
deIiyerance of Petersburg, but concede to
the Governor the right to exercise his con.
scientious convictions in the discharge Of his
constitutional duties. 80
1 We, in common with our whole people,
deplore the inconsiderate action Of the peo-
Die of Petersburg, and still more the efforts
Of certain interested people to read Cover
nor Kemper out of the Conservative party.
We do not recognize the right of these self
constituted judges to seek to condemn the
Governor from party standpoint. This is
not q party but local question. and we
think it subversive of party discipline to at-
tempt to make 1t otherwise.
The people of Virginia should be proud OF
the fact that they have Governor who 10
the face of strong party displeasure will still
!, discharge what he opines to be bis sworn
Il duty. His voice will be heard against the
enemies of Virginia as loudly as ever and bis
bosom would be barred in her defence as
readily as twas done on the heights Of
} Gettysburg. Governor Kemper has proven
his loyalty to Virginia on too many hard
fought fields to be.successfally assaiied by
few enraged and prcjudiced Journalists. Coz
knows we truly and earnestly sympathiS'
!, with the good and true people OF Peters
burg, and make all due allowance for thei
exhibition of disapprcbation Of Govesno
II Kemper's course, but their duty to Virgint