The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-01
WHY Didn't He !?

There is great complaint against GOV
ernor HoLuanAY because he did not COM
municate to Legislators his views upon the
BARBouR bill. 1T is intimated that had his
views been understood the Legislature
would moi haYe,wasted time in passing that
bill
This seems to be bit Of strategy to
blame the G Governor for consequent delay,
and to throw upon him the responsibility
Of a pecuniay smash, which profound
statesman had the irankness to say chad
"to come sooner or later, and it would be
4sbest to 20 home and let it come" Elk
actly. Aud what sort OF craftsmanship Is
this? The Governor vetoes bill because,
so he thinks, it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL and
grave Representatives OF the people say this
brings on the 6 crash - (Which must eSme
sooner OF LATER and propose to go bone
and let it cone. Such recklessness ehnac-
terizes the action of men who have the
name Of representatives, and who are sent
to guard the public welfare and protect the
order anamsintain the justice OF the public
economy.
But the complaint against the Governor
for mis- veto is backed by an allegation that
he promised not to veto any act with regard
to the settlement OF the public debt. What
ever the Governor might have said, no gen
tleman will presume to say that any promise
of his could possibly have been Intended to
deprive himself OF the right and duty 70
Apply the Executive veto to any bill from
the Legislature which, in his opinion, con
temp.ated violation OF the Constitution.
In his veto message he thus speaks OF the
bill:
@ nWhen read its clauses by themselves
2 I can come to but one conclusion, that they
are both unjust and unconstitutional"
Can any man honestly say that any pledge,
Indirect or positive, could have been given
In advance by Governor HOLIDAY that
could bind him to approve bill which he
regarded unconstitutional
In the matter OF a free communication OF
the Governors opinions and purposes to
members of the Legislature, do not these
gentlemen see the indelicacy Of it? Have
they not Indignantly expressed their own
view OF the obtrusiye nature Of such a
3 thing Did not General EcHoLs, for ven-
turing to speak Of some one or more letters
that had been received by the Governor
with regard to the public debt, incur the
title Of tie $ Governors Messenger? And
was not what he said selected as the occasion
Tor censure as the manifestation OF dispo-
sition Of the Governor to intrude upon the
legislative department with bis infoTmation
or views, for which there was no inclination
in the Legislature to thank him? These
gentlemen have short memories, aud appear
to be willing to turn everything to their own
advantage and to the damage OF the Gov
ernor. sa $50
But apart from their own rebellion against
the remotest idea that the Goyernor-the
Executive should be allowed to trespas
upon the freedom OF the Legislative depart
ment, there Is property about the mat
{ Ter, and no man has q keener sense OF
shat propriety than Governor HoIiIDAY
himself. The departments soi the govern
ment should be most ieaIously kept within.
their respective boundaries, and the Legis-
fature itself cannot he more guarded against
] intrusion from the ESecutiye than Is the.
Executive cautions and delicate about ex-,
eeeding the bounds Of his own privilege or
authority
The indig nant gentlemen forget them-
! seIYes de would be q prstty Governor
Z who should maintain iinresf strained commu-.
nlcatton With the Legis lat nra and endeayor
md signail canes 10 legislative.
hich had TO undergo his investi-s